New Britain herald., 1916-12-08
US. MUST CONTINUE
 ITS NAVAL PROGRAM
No Let-up Until All Nations Agree
 To Reduce Armament

l tions agree to reduce their mament, 1 the United States must continue to ] increase it's naval power, Secretary
 Daniels declares in his annual report, 1 made public last night, and which 1 urges that funds be appropriated at once to begin building forty-two addi- l tional ships.
 "I feel it my duty to warn as solemnly as I may" the secretary says l after reciting the high expenditures for the navy authorized at the last session of congress- against the dan l ger that lies in a possible feeling on l the part of our people that the navy l has now been attended to. has been placed where it belongs, among the great navies of the world, and there IS nothing further to be done. Com placent retrospection is the father of dry rot We have made a magnificent beginning, but that it must not be forgotten by the public that the same intelligent appreciation of our needs, l the same willingness to provide for l these needs must be shown this year and every succeeding year if we are to finish what we have commenced" . Secretary Daniels recalls that the l9l7- appropriation bill carries provis-
 
 ment agreement.
 T earnestly hope the time is not far
 distant when this act of congress will
 result in such an agreement" he con-
 tinues and that the nations of earth will have the statesmanship to devise effective means of preserving the worlds peace without constantly building ever. increasing dread naughts at ever increasing cost. Until that hour arrives the United States cannot safely adopt any policy other than that of continuing the policy of steadily increasing it's naval strength.
 Fleet of 1921.
 Picturing the result of construction now contemplated, Secretary Daniels says the main fighting elements of the fleet, completer and in commission in 1921 will be 27 dreadnaughts of the first line, supported by six battle 1 cruisers, 25 second line battleships, 3 scout cruisers, 10S destroyers, 12 fleet 1 submarines and 130 coast defense sub | While there is no possibil- l 1ty of predicting what rank among the l naval powers the country will then l take, he adds, the authorization of l such a program has been accepted as l assurance that the United States has | definitely embarked on the policy of l an adequate navy.
 The secretary devotes much atten- l ton to discussion of the problems en- countered by the department in get ting the new ships laid down. Build ] ing facilities and skilled labor are la cking, he says and the program he l has recommended for 1918, featured l by three battleships and one battle 1 cruiser will tax private and public l plants to their utmost even with the l increased building equipm ent author ized for navy yards. It was for that { reason, the secretary adds, that he did ] not follow the general boards recom- l mendation and urge that the four of l the six remaining battleships of the 1 three year program and both of the | battle cruisers be laid doyn at once.
 The board states in it's report ac- | that of the secretary, 1 that it's information as to building fla cilities indicates the 1918 program l outlined could be built. It also rec ommends the addition of twelve mine sweepers, one supply ship and two seagoing tgs to the total of the 15O- ] ship three-year program.
 Department Hampered.
 Secretary Daniels indicates clearly the difficulties faced by the depart ment, however, in the following lan- guage:
 The last naval bill does not give to the department any additional or {! extraordinary powers in connection with placing the contracts for these l vessels or in obtaining materials for l their construction. It is hoped that 1 the necessity will not arise of having 1 to ask for such powers, as number 1 of ship builders and manufa cturers | have shown an attitude of willingness l to assist the department in meeting | the unusual situation created by the 1 desire of the country to commence l and to expedite an entirely unprece- 1 dented naval program at time when 1 the industrial resources of the coun- [ try are already taxed to their ut 1 most capacity in meeting the demands ] of tremendous trade activity, both do mestic and foreign, in every branch l of business. It may be necessary, however, for congress to enact legis- 1 lation of this character to insure the 1 carly completion of the program of ! construction
 The report touches briefly on many 1 activities Of the navy departm ent and ] comments highly the new Organiza- tion and coordination that is being effected by Admiral Benson chief of operations. In addition to the re- port of the general board, a full state ment by Admiral Benson is appended, showing the rapid progress being made in every line of development. The most disappointing feature of the year, according to the general board l and Admiral Benson, has been the slow progress with development of | naval aircraft.
 Undoubtedly much preliminary work has been done eXperim entally 1 Whi ch 6NeS not show" the boar says