The Washington times., 1916-05-24
Naval Budget Sets
Expenditure Record
Measure Reported to Congress Carries Unprece-
dented Sum-Minority Protest Expected Be-
cause Battleships Are Not Provided.

A naval appropriation bill OF unprece-
dented totai-s2f. 44s. ISL. ss-was reported
to the House today by the Democratic
members OF the Naval Affairs Com
mittee,
A minority report will be filed tomor-
row by the Republicans. who will as
sert that the bill does not 60 far
enough toward the program OF pre-
paredness and that II was a mistake TO
bring in a bill which carries authoriza-
ton for no battleships.
Details Previously Announced.
The bill provides for five battle cruis-
ers. OF tremendous power and great
speed, but no dreadnaughts.
One OF the unusual items In the bill Ia
that proposing an outlay Of 100000 for
the expenses of a peace commission to
discuss permanent peace and disarma-
ment among the nations after the Eu-
ropean war. The President is to take
the initiative in calling a conference OF
nations In the interest OF peace. Never
before has a bill appropriation millions
for weapons OF war contained such q
provision.
Details of the naval budget were
announced by the committee and pub
lished several days ago. The report
filed todayrwas mainly interesting be-
cause of the explanation regarding
the temporary abandonment of the
battleship as a fghting weapon. On
this report the bill says In part:
1T Is a significant fact that officers OF
the War College who have been study
ing war games and the officers OF the
feet. including its commanders in chief
of the Atlantic and Paciru uvsts. who
have been taking mart N -" war games
and In the maneuvers. recommend The
con5truction of battle cruisers. even TO
the exclusion OF battleships. In this
years program. These officers con-
tend that battle cruisers are needed TO
support our own scouts ard assist them
TO brenk through the enefny's screen:
also that they are needed to support
our own screen and prevent the enemy q
scouts from breaking through: also to
seek and DESTROY the battle chuisers OF
the enc my which might he operating
to intercept the supply ships along out
trade routes or on our COSTS.
The compelling reason for the rec
the battle cruiser 10 the fact that
each of several foreign navies have
battle cruiser. and II therefore be-
comes an absolute necessity for the
for the United States TO likewise
equip the navy with this type of yes
sci.
Advantages Of Cruisers.
III duuitiOu inc
ties OF the battle cruiser. the Euro
pean war demonstrates that a battle
cruiser 1acting independently can
act over wide areas, protect Its own
commerce. and destroy the enemy's
merchant marine. They even prove
successful In raids on vulnerable
points of the enemy's coasts, and
owing to their great gun power can.
within a very short period OF time.
work great destruction before a SUI
perior, enemy force can arrive on the
'e "Afser an exhaustive investigation a.
to the types OF ships necessary to bet
ter balance our fleet and increase its
fighting efficiency, the committee rec
ommend the following ships be added TO
the navy:
give battle cruisers. to cost sso.4ss.-
531 each.
-Four scout cruisers. costing s5,51 900
each.
Ten destroyers. costing H.s25,s1L
Three submarines OF a surface dis
placement OF about 800 tons. costing 81
206, 302 each.
Seventeen smaller submarines. cost
Ing s731 SOC each.
Zone fuel ship costing s1.3ss.z7a
"One ammunition ship. costing
$2.704, $50.
zone hospital ship. costing s2.25o. 900
"The total cost OF this program viii
amount to $160.0s7.357. and the APP
preparation necessary to carry this
program into effect for the first year
Will amount to $59,244.326. The am.
munition for these ships Is provided
for in this bill, amounting to ST.
245.925. making in all $70~\0.251. II