New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-25
Committee Reports Meas
ure Carrying $24l, 100000
for Coming Year.
PROVIDES FIVE BIG
BATTLE-CRUISERS
Proposes an International Tri-
bunal to Settle Disputes
and ArmamentS.

Washington. May 24-An elaborate
report explaining the s241,OOo,OOO naval
appropriation bill was submitted to the
House to-day by the Naval Committee.
Republican members Of the committee
joined in minority report. to be pre-
scented tomorrow, attacking the meas
ure as inadequate and demanding that
Congress provide for navy ranking
second among the worlds lighting
forces on the sea.
The bill, which authorizes a building
programme for next year, including five
great battle-cruisers, will be taken up
in the House next Monday or Tuesday
under q special rule limiting debate and
providing for a final vote before the end
Of the week.
A provision that may cause consider
able discussion empowers the President
st the close Of the present war to in
vite all world powers to conference
to organize an international tribunal
for settlement Of disputes and TO dis
cuss armament. and provides that II,
before the bills appropriations are
contracted for. competitive ornaments
should be rendered unnecessary, eX-
penditures inconsistent with any en-
gagements entered into may be sus-
rended by Presidential order. An item
of $500, 900 is included for expenses in
cident 10 the proposed conference
Nearly S99,OOOOOO for New Ships.
The report says that the 91,787,2S7
increase over last years appropriation
was found necessary "to place the navy
in a better state Of preparedness" A
total Of S9S,s59,37s is provided for new
ships. including the FIVE battle cruisers,
and to continue ships now building.
Referring TO its failure to recon-
mend additional dreadnoughts in the
1917 programme, the committee says
it does not wish 10 be understood as
holding that battleships have been dis
placed as the main naval dependence.
On the contrary, the report says, all
naval experts told the committee dread
noughts formed the real fighting line
of any feet.
"Ou- feet of dreadnoughts and pre-
dresdnoughts," it is explained, "has
reached such proportions that the con-
struction of battle cruisers must now
be authorized and begun at once in or
der that our feet be properly balanced
for fighting efficiency
The total cost of the new ships rec
commended is placed at Sl6O.OS7,357, of
which S59.244,326 is appropriated for
1917, with S28,869,127 for continuing
present building.
The bill carries an appropriation OF
nearly S14,OOO,OOO for active and re-
serve ammunition, in addition to SILL
600. 900 for ammunition for the five pro-
posed battle-cruisers.
The committee estimates that under
the bill the shortages In the commits
stoned men of the navy will be met IN
a few years, and that the 1873 addi-
tional men provided for are all that
will be needed during the next fiscal
year. The bin also includes com
rlete and detailed naval reserve sys-
TEN worked out by the Navy Depart
ment.
The rank Of full admiral is provided
for the chief of operations, with au-
thority 10 issue orders in the name Of
the Secretary.
Provisions for Aircraft.
Two million dollars are provided to
purchase additional aircraft and mo-
tors and 70 put machines aboard the
armored cruisers.
"This will provide a division of
scouts fitted with aircraft for the At
lantic feet says the report of this
plan works successfully aeroplanes will
be put aboard all the armorcd cruisers
in the Pacific and If possible, aboard
battleships" Seventy-hvc hydr0-aero-
planes are provided for.
In proposing $4,000 for the naval
advisory committee on acronautcs. the
committee says this organization Is
protecting the military and naval ser
vice from useless experimental work.
The Edison civilian consulting board is
continued with a $4,000 appropriation.
new app "i'i i"t''" W. F'-''"'" 10
made for steel torpedo nets TO be
dropped from Blooms from battleships
when at anchor. For reserve ordnance
supplies, including powder, mines and
submarine defence equipment, S4,5O3,
424 is provided.
Commodore Veeder and Captains
Potts. Gibbons. Hill, Rust Ellicott and
Quinby. retired by the plucking board.
are restored 20 the active list under
the bill