The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-12-09

character to insure the early compile
ton of the program of construction"
| The report touches briefly on many
activities of the navy department and
commends highly the new organiza-
ton and coordination that is being eff
fected by Admiral Benson, chief of
operations. In addition to the report
of the general board, full statement
by Admiral Benson is appended, show
ing the rapid progress being made in
every line of development. The most
disappointing feature of the year, ac-
Ecording to the general board and Ad-
miral Benson, has been the slow pro-
gress with development of naval air
craft.
Undoubtedly much preliminary
work has been done experimentally
which does not show" the board says,
"but the application of this very i'm
portant branch of the service to the
practical uses of the fleet has not yet
been fully developed. Satisfactory
aircraft do not appear as yet to be
available for use with the fleet"
The board recommends a new or
ganization of the flying service under
directing officer in the Office of the
chief 0 Operations. While admitting
the slowness of aeronautical develop
ment, Admiral Benson expresses the
hope that big machine designed and
built by the navy and now under test
may solve the problems encountered.
The report shows that the navy now
has seventeen aeroplanes in active
service and that so more have been
ordered. In addition several French
and British made machines have been
ordered.
In its brief review of the European
war, the general board finds nothing
to warrant modification of its previous
belief that the battleshiplis the "back-
bone of the sea power of nation"
For this reason, the report adds, the
Der, power and size of the guns to be
placed aboard new battleships should
be increased without sacrificing
armor, speed or cruising radius.
Larger ships must be built to contain
| all these characteristics, the report
continues, and for the 1913 ships the
board has recommended "the most
powerful battery which it believes
can be constructed having due regard
to the present State of the art of
building heavy ordnance in this coun-
i try"
i 1t is shown that the batteries de-
cided upon to meet these require
ments will be II 16-inch, so caliber
guns for each ship. A test gun is now
being built.
. Discussing enlistments in the navy,
Secretary Daniels shows that Con-
gress has authorized an immediate
i increase of $4,000 men, only 1924 of
whom have been obtained.
4 "Here again lie new and serious
problems" he says. "More than ordi-
!, mary methods must be used to per-
!: snade young men to decline countless
!. opportunities opening before them in
! commerciar life in favor of service
! with the government.
"Were it not for the gratifying re-
q suits in enlistments already shown, as
: result of the policy of the last few
years of offering educational advant.
ages, particularly along technical
lines, to our recruits, I would feel in
deed that the problem of securing the
: men authorized for our fleets was al
!, almost hopeless one. As it is | fee
: sure it will be solved. but it is still ;
4 problem and what / desire in this re
: port is to warn the public against con
e sidering that the mere passage o
0 laws authorizing additional men il
: equivalent to having these men act
ually on board our ships