Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-12-12
Secretary Daniels Approves
Program for Building Most
Powerful WarShtps Ever De-
signed by Any Country,
volunteer MILITARY
SYSTEM OBSOLETE
Experience of Great Britain in
War Proves That Universal
Training Is Absolutely Nee
eSSay for America,
., ns.mna loynn.. srteI.. l.As,o wlns

10Y NoRuna JOURNAL SPECIAL tSAsSo wtRC
Washington Dec 1.-The atten-
ton of congress was directed sharply
today to matters relating to both the
army and navy which are expected to
be productive or agitation for even
more drastic measures Of national
defense than have yet been seriously
considered.
Secretary Daniels. before the house
naval committee advocated legislation
which would compel steel companies
and other private concerns TO give
preference to government orders for
military supplies He will submit q
new section for the pending naval ap-
preparation bill for this purpose, in
order to hasten battleshlp construction
which he declared was being delayed
by commercial work both in the yards
of private builders and In the steel
plants.
Guardsmen without Experience.
Secretary Baker wrote Speaker
/ CLARK in response to a house resolu-
tion that 71,S3i out of the grand total
Of 1G3,SOO national guardsmen taken
/ into the federal service up to August
! 81 were without previous military
! training, Reflections of enrolled
guardsmen for various causes operat-
ed later TO increase the number of re-
cruits to approximately go per cent
Of the force
In this connection also, army Off
GERS charged with the duty Of study
I ing events Of the European war, both
political and military, made prepara-
! tions to contend before the congress
sional committee that the funda-
mcntal reason for the cabinet crisis in
England was the volunteer military
policy there prior to the passage OF
I the conscription act. The experience
OF Great Britain is viewed by the Of
ficers as the strongest of arguments
for the establishments OF universal
military training in the United States
as urged in the report of Maj. Gen.
Hugh L. Scott chief Of staff, and to
which the entire American general
staff is committed.
Cost of Present System Great.
Another aspect OF the national
guard situation comes from quarter
master General Sharpe who told OF
1926. 600 600 deficiency incurred by the
war department TO equip and pay
state troops now in the federal serv-
Ice If an average Of $1,000 men are
retained on the border until June 80,
he said, the deficiency will be $780,
GOO, 600 The universal training ad-
vocates are expected to use these fig
ures in contending that prOhibitive
cost would be the result of the present
system, If the nation needed a great
army
Secretary Daniels explained TO the
naval committee a statement In his
annual report as to the delays en-
countored IN getting the building pro-
gram authorized at the last session un-
dor construction, lie pointed out that
no satisfactory bids have been received
for the four Battle cruisers of the 1917
building program, nor any bids at all
for three Of the four scout cruisers.
Tney were new types. but vitality nec-
cssary in the opinion of the general
board, the secretary said, and he add
ed.
Every time we make change and
advancement in design the ship build
ers want to stick to the old plans"
$4,000 a Year for Yards.
The secretary will ask 100000 a
year for the equipment of government
yards to build ships. He inserted a
statement in the committee record
showing his approval of the general
boards recommendations for twelve
gun, 23-knot, 42,006-ton battleships in
the 1918 program at a probable cost
for the hun and machinery alone of
SIS, 900 600 each. The ships will car
ry IG-inch, 50-caliber guns, the most
powerful weapons ever designed for
naval use. mounted three to a turret.
The secretary recommended abol-
ishmcnt Of the naval prison at Ports
mouth, N. H., and the establishment
there of submarine barracks for l.
600 men lie said that marine detach-
ments from the naval academy, the
Boston and New York yards and else
whore, would be sent to the prison
ship Southery at Portsmouth Mr..
Daniels praised the services of Boat
swain Hill commanding the Southery,
and approved the suggestion by Rep
resentativc Roberts that he be made
a commander in the navy by act Of
congress.
Extension OF facilities for enlisted
men to enter the naval academy was
urged by the secretary but he disap-
proved the suggestion for early gradu-
alton of midshipmen to fill vacancies
in the service. He intimated that he
might ask lator that the pay OF all
enlisted men, on first enlistment be
raised to encourage recruiting, but did