South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-16
NAVAL PROGRAM
READY IN OCTOBER
Expect u. S. By Inat Time to
Know Remaining Strength
of Europe.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-Signii-
C. 10 is attached to a statement made
by a very high official today that the
naval construction program will not
be definitely determined until late in
October He declared that by that
time the United States government
would know approximately what
would be the remaining strength in
Europe against which the United
States navy in the future would have
to be matched
differences from these statements
by other officials are that the inside
sources of the administration believe
that the European war will be over
by the end Of October or that the
end will be very near at hand.
The result of conferences which
have been held within the past two
days on defence plans indicate that
there will be "A concentration of the
efforts Of the navy department TO get
battleships and submarines.
Among those who have taken part
in these conferences are Admiral
Badger chairman of the executive
committee of the general naval board;
Admiral Benson. chief of operations
at the navy department and also a
member of the general navy board,
and other high navy officers whose
advice Pres't Wilson has asked.
Wants Balanced Navy.
1t can be stated on the authority
OF one Of the cOnferees that navy
officers do not understand Pres't Will
son to be urging a navy second to
none" which would mean equal TO
the navy of Great Britain. They I'M
derstand the president TO mean a
powerful well balanced" navy which
will make a successful attack on the
United States by any power improb-
able and certainly unsuccessful. one
OF the conferees said that If the navy
department were to cOnstrue Pres't
Wilson as meaning that the United
States should be the second to none
il would neceSSitate the building or
so dreadnoughts in short order, even
on the basis of the relative strength
of Great Britain and the United States
at the opening of the war.
The best reports from England show
that she had in 1914 90 dreadnoughts
and predreadnOughts. The best esti-
mate of available fighting ships in the
United States navy at the same period
was 80 dreadnoughtS and predread-
noughts. The difference is so and to
build so dreadnOughts merely for the
sake of catching up with England
would mean an appropriation for
battleships alone of at least $45O,OOO,-
900.
The plan of the expert practical Off
GERS of the department is TO present to
the president a scheme for a well
balanced navy of efficient fighting
strength on the basis of home pro-
lection" This includes the outlying
possessions
SuperdreadnOught Basis.
The members of the general naval
Of fnh A Il al *
president and the members of the
advisory council are unanimous on the
preservation OF the superdreadn drought
as the basis for the next construc-
ton program.
The next factor in order is the
submarine. 1t was printed some
weeks ago that the experts favored
'ch a number Of submarines as
would bring the total number as soon
as possible up TO 100. Ali the new
submarines It can be stated now on
authority will be of the modern type.
Conservative opinions of navy eX-
perts expressed today is that With
economy at nav yards and the prob
able abolition of those that cannot ac-
commodate first class ships, congress
will cheerfully make an appropriation
for four battleships and a number of
submarines of the modern type to
bring the total of that class up to
100 and within the least possible
time
High ranking officers are in favor
of expending S75.OOO,OOO on battle
ships and about S50.000,0OO on sub
marines at 100000 each. The ex-
penditure of S5O,OOO.O00 would not
necessarily be immediate and in a
lump sum.
Want Definite Program.
These opinions of experts are eX-
pressed on the growing belief that
there should be a big definite annual
battleship md submarine construction
program. They say that Germany be-
gan 20 years ago and mapped out a
building program perfectable in 1920.
This. however. did not prevent her
emergency building such as is now
going on and which il is understood
has been carried on especially as to
submarines one or two years before
the outbreak of the war.
The suggestions TO the president by
the navy board experts which he has
invited will provide this definite an
nual construction program; but it viii
begin at once with the urging Of four
superdreadnoughts of the type which
has been worked out by Rear Adj
miral D. w Taylor. chief of the bu-
reau of construction. With this rec
Ommendation will go, of course one