The Elbert County tribune., 1915-12-10

and explicit a program which has
heretofore been only implicit. held in
| the minds OF the two committees on
naval affairs and disclosed in the de-
bates of the two houses but nowhere
formulated or formally adopted. 1t
seems to me very clear that it will be
to the advantage of the country for
the congress to adopt a comprehen-
sive plan for putting the navy upon
a final footing OF strength and efi-
cheney and to press that plan to com.
pletion within the next five years
We have always looked to the navy of
the country as our first and chief
line of defense; we have always seen
il to be our manifest course of pru-
dence to be strong on the seas. Year
by year we have been creating a navy
which now ranks very high indeed
among the navies of the maritime ma
tions. We should now definitely de-
termine how we shall complete what
we have begun. and how soon.
The program to be laid before you
contemplates the construction within
five years of ten battleships. six bat
tie cruisers, ten scout cruisers. fifty
destroyers. fifteen fleet submarines,
eighty-hve coast submarines, four gun
boats, one hospital ship. two ammuni-
tion ships, two fuel oil ships, and one
regular repair ship. 1t is proposed
that of this number we shall the first
year provide for the construction of
two battleships, two battle cruisers.
three scout cruisers, fifteen destroyers,
five feet submarines. twenty-five coast
submarines, two gunboats, and one
hospital ship; the second year. two
battleships. one scout cruiser, ten de
stroyers. four feet submarines. fifteen
coast submarines. one guhboat, and
one fuel oil ship; the third year, two
battleships, one brittle cruiser, two
scout cruisers, FIVE destroyers, two
lieet submarines, and fifteen coast
submarines; the fourth year, two bat
| tleships, two battle cruisers. two scout
| cruisers. ten destroyers, two fieeta6ub-
marines, fifteen coast submarines, one
ammunition ship. and one fuel oil
ship: and the fifth year, two battle
ships, one battle cruiser. two scout
cruisers. ten destroyers. two fleet sub
| marines. fifteen coast submarines. one
gunboat, one ammunition ship, and
one repair ship.
More Men for the Navy.
The secretary of the navy is asking
also for the immediate addition to the
personnel of the navy OF 1880 sail
ors. 1900 apprentice seamen. and
800 marines. This increase would
| be sufficien to care for the ships
which are to be completed with
in the fiscal year 1917 and also for the
number of men which must be put in
training to man the ships which will
be completed early in 1918. 1t is also
| necessary that the number of midship.
men at the Naval academy at Annap-
| oils should be increased by at least
| three hundred
If this full program should be car
ried out we should have built or build
| ing in 1921, according to the estimates
of survival and standards of classifi-
cation followed by the general board
of the department. an effective navy
consisting of 27 battleships, of the first
line, 6 battle cruisers. 25 battleships
of the second line. 10 armored cruis-
ers. 13 scout cruisers, first-class
cruisers, second-class cruisers, 10
third-class cruisers, 10S destroyers, 1S
fleet submarines, 157 coast submarines,
monitors 20 gunboats, supply
ships. Is fuel ships. A transports
tenders to torpedo vessels, YES
sells of special types. and ammuni.
| Chi f. ha
ted to our needs and worthy of our
traditions.
But armies and instruments of war
are only part of what has to be con
sidered If we are to consider the SUI
preme matter of national self sufli cien
cy and security in all its aspects
There are other great matters which
will be thrust upon our attention
whether we will or not There is, for
example. very pressing question OF
trade and shipping involved in this
great problem of national adequacy
1t is necessary for many weighty rea
sons of national efficiency and devel
opment that we should have a grea,
merchant marine.
1t is high time we repaired our mis-
take and resumed our commercial inde
pendence on the seas.
Need Of Merchant Marine.
For it is question of independ
ence If other nations go to war OF
seek to hamper each others com
merce. our merchants, it seems, are
at their mercy. to do with as the,
please. We must use their ships, ant
use them us they determine. We have
not ships enough Of our own. We
cannot handle our own commerce OF
the seas. Our independence is provin
cial. and is only on land and within
our own borders. We are not likel,
to be permitted to use even the shipi