The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-08

and 1880 men. .
Army increase at once to nearly
Of annual training would not necessarily
exceed " months in tho year.
II would. depend upon the patriotic
feel.ng OF the younger men OF the coun-
try whether they responded to such a call
to service or not. II would depend upon
tho patriotic spirit Of tho employers Of
the country whether they made II pos
siblo for the younger men In their en-
ploy TO respond under favorable condi-
lions or not. !. for one. do not doubt
the patriotic devotion either Of our
young men or of those who give them
employment-those for whose benefit
and protection they would in fact enlist.
I would look forward to tho success OF
such an experiment with entire conf
dence.
"AbsWlately Imperative Now,
At least 20 much by way Of prepara-
ton for defence seems TO me to be abso-
lutely imperative now. We cannot do
less.
Tho programme which will be laid be-
fore you by the Secretary of the Navy Is
simila:i y conceived. II involves only n
shortening of the time within which
plans long matured shall be carried out (;
but 1t does make definite and explicit u
programme which has heretofore been
only implicit. held in the minds Of the
Committees On Naval Affairs and dis
closed In the debates Of the two houses
but nowhere formulated or formally
adopted. II seems to me very clear that
II will be TO the advantage Of the country
for the Congress to adopt a comprehen-
sive plan for putting the navy upon a
hnal footing OF strength and efficiency
and to press that plan to completion
within the next five years. We have al
ways looked TO the a V Of the coun,ry
as our first and chief line OF defence we
have always seen It to be our manifest
course of prudence to be strong on the
sens. Year by year we have been Great
ing a navy which now ranks very high
indeed among the navies Of the mari
tiiie nations. We should now definitely
determine how We shall complete what
We have begun. and how soon.
Great Naval Project,
The programme to be laid before you
contemplates the construction within Ave
years OF ten battleships. six battle cruis-
ers. ten scout cruisers. nifty destroyera,
fifteen feet submarines, eighty-nve coast
submarines. four Runboats, one hospital
ship. two ammunition ships, two fuel oil
ships and one repair ship. 1t Is pro.
posed that OF this number we shall the
first year provide for the construction
OF W ba~ttleships. two battle CRUISERS,
three scout cruisers. ffteen d%estroyers,
hve feet submarines. twenty-five coast
submarines. two gunboats and one hos
pital ship: the second year., two battle
ships. ono scout cruiser. ten destroyers,
four feet submarines. fifteen coast sub
marines. one gunboat and one fuel oil
ship the third rear. two battleships, one
battle cruiser. two scout cruisers, five
d~estroyers. two fleet submarines and hf-
teen coast submarines the fourth year.
two battleships, two battle cruisers, two
scout cruisers. ten d~estroyers, two feet
submarines. fifteen coast submarines,
n ammunition ship and one fuel oil
ship: and the nth year. two battleships,
one battle cruiser. two scout cruisers. ten
d~estroyers, two fleet submarines, fifteen
coast submarines. one gunboat. one am
munition ship and one repair ship.
The Secretary Of the Navy Is asking
also for the immediate addition to the
personnel OF the navy OF 1900 sailors.
$500 apprentice seamen and 1900 ma
rifles. This increase would be sufficient
TO care for the ships which are TO he
completed within 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.
II Is also necessary that the number OF
midshdpmen at the Naval Academy at
Annapolis should be increased by at least
800 In order that the force OF officers
should be more rapidly added to and
authority is asked to appoint. for en-
cheering duties only. approved gradu-
ates OF engineering colleges. and for ser
vice In the aviation corps a certain num-
Der OF men X from NV life.
Effective Fleet by O2I
II this full programme should be car
ried out We should nave built or build
ing In 1921. according to the estimates
OF survival and standards of classifira-
ton fOllowe by the general board of
the department, an effective navy con-
sisting OF twenty-seven battlesh!ps of
the first line. six battle cruisers. twenty
Ave battleships OF the second line. ten
armored cruisers, thirteen scout cruisers,
five first class cruisers. three second
class cruisers. ten third class cruisers,
los destroyers, eighteen fleet subma-
rines, 1874 coast submarines, six mon
TORS. twenty g~unboats. four supply
ships. fifteen fuel ships, four transports.
three tenders to torpedo vessels, eight
vessels OF special types and two am
munition ships. This would be a navy
fitted TO our needs and worthy of our
traditions.
But armies and Instruments of war
are only part OF what has to be
considered n We ARE 10 consider the
supreme matter OF national self-sufi-
cheney and security In all its aspects.
There are other great matters which will
he thrust upon our attention whether we
will or not. There is. for example, a
very pressing question of trade and ship
ping involved in this great problem of
national adequacy. 1t is necessary for
many weighty reasons OF national efi-
cheney n development that we should
have a great merchant marine. Tho
grcat merchant fleet we once used to
make US rich. that great body Of sturdy
sailors Who used to carry our flag into
every sea, and who were the pride and
often the bulwark of the nation. We have
almost driven out of existence by in
excusable neglect N Indifference and
by IA hopelessly blind and provincial poll
Icy OF so-called economic protection. 1t
IL high time we repaired our mistake
and resumed our commercial indepen-
dence on the seas.
"a Question Of Independence"
Fol it Is a question OF Independence.
II other nations 90 to war or seek to
hamper each others our mer-
chants, II seems. are at their mercy, to
do with as they please. We must use
their ships, and use Thorn AZ they de-
termlne. We have not ships enough of
our own. We cannot handle our own
commerce on the seas. Our Independence
IL provincial. and is only on land and
Within our own borders. We are not
likely to be permitted to use even the