New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-21
Sub Committee Begins Its
Work on Estimates, Larg-
est in American History
PLANNING TO BUILD
43 WAR VESSELS
Daniels Awards Contracts
for ArmOr Plate for
Four BattleShips

Washington, Nov. 20.-The appro-
priaton subcommittee of the House
Naval Committee began work to-day
on the 1918 estimates, the heaviest in
American history, to be presented TO
Congress this winter.
The Navy Departments 1918 figures
contemplate construction of half o.
the ships yet to be built in the grca'
three-year programme and show total
appropriations of s379,15l,70l, or more
than see 100000 in excess of the record
total appropriated last summer.
The department estimates call tor
funds to begin construction of three
battleships, one battle cruiser, three
scout cruisers, sixteen destroyers. Our
fleet submarines, fourteen coast sub
marines, one submarine tender and
one destroyer tender, total Of forty-
three vessels 1t is understood tina.
the navy General Board urged that the
two battle cruisers remaining on the
three-year programme and four of Tia.
six battleships be placed in the 1915
estimates. The department decided,
however, to divide the new construc-
ton equally between the 1918 and 1919
bills.
Armor Plate Contracts Awarded
Secretary Daniels awarded contracts
to-day for armor plate for the four
battleships authorized at the last ses-
sion of Congress and approved plans
for an ammunition ship. the last vessel
designed for the 1917 building pro-
grammc
Contracts for the armor plate which
will go on the Colorado. Maryland.
Washington and West Virginia were
awarded TO the Bethlehem and Carne-
gle steel companies, each receiving
half OF the work statement analyz-
ing the contracts says that despite the
Unprecedented European demand for
plate, the prices offered were approx
mately the same as those paid three
years ago, when the Pennsylvania was
being constructed
The figures are: Armor plate, Class
Al, 14,i79.2 tons to each company al
$500 a ton to Bethlehem and S425 to
Carnegie; $40 tons of Az class %
each at S4s5 TO Bethlehem and 1926 20
Carnegie, and 602 tons Class B, at 1865
ton to Bethlehem and $3.50 to Car
negie.
Rear Admiral Strauss, chief of ord
nance, appeared before the sub-com-
mittee. Explaining an item in his
estimates of $1,500,000 for fleet am
munition, he said the cost of pro-
jectiles and other ordnance material
had increased that much since Con-
gress provided S13,000,000 for the 2uf-
pose last year. Prices of smaller
shells, he said, were going down. IN
dicating n decreasing demand from
Europe, but large shells of the 14-inch
size used by the navy showed ~
per cent increase over last years quo
tations.
Munitions Storage Plan
Admiral Strauss outlined the depart
ment's scheme for storing in navy
Yards guns and ammunition with which
to equip merchant steamers as naval
auxiliaries in time of war. More than
100000 for the purchase Of guns
and mountings for this purpose was
provided last year, and this year the
department seeks Sl,500,000 for ammu-
milton.
The department also has recon-
mended the installation of anti-air-
craft guns at naval stations, magazines
and radio stations, the pending estl-
mates providing Sl,000,000 for TINS
purpose. Il will take more than 100
of the navy's 3-inch, 50-calibre guns
for this purpose.
Admiral Strauss said the naval gun
factory was now producing torpedoes,
the first deliveries, however, exceeding
in cost the prices quoted by private
manufacturers. IL is expected thai
the factory will get its costs consid-
erably below the commercial rate
with its next delivery. AT present the
cost of manufacture is in excess OF
quotations by from 5000 to sl,700 per
torpedo. a..
At the Newport station, where the
bulk of the navy's torpedoes are pro-
duced. the admiral said the cost OF
production was from $1,000 TO S2,lOO
below the best prices obtainable from
private manufacturers.
Daniels to Explain
Admiral Strauss will appear before
the committee again tomorrow and
will be followed by other bureau chiefs
and finally by Secretary Daniels and
members of the General Board.
The ammunition ship for which the
Secretary approved plans is the first
craft of the kind ever designed for the
navy. She will have a displacement OF
10000 tons with cargo Of powder and
shells. Special facilities are provided
for handling explosives, and the holds
will be equipped with cooling facilities
% ;rsrra the regulation temperature.
Large refrigeration spaces will make
her easily convertible into a supply
vessel A defensive armament IN
= ;.oh ranid fire Guns and