Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-21
Total of $379,151,7O1

The navy departments 1918 figures
contemplate construction Of half Of the
ships yet to be built in the great three
year program and show total appro-
priations of $379.151, FOL, or more than
$66.0O0,00O in excess Of the record total
appropriated last summer.
Contracts for the armor plate which
will go OH the Colorado, Maryland,
Washington and West Virginia, were
awarded to the Bethlehem and Carne-
gle Steel Co.'S. each receiving half Of
the work. A statement analysing the
contracts says tina despite the unpre-
cedented European demand for plate
the prices offered were approximately
the same as those paid three years ago
when the Pennsylvania was being con-
structed
Department Estimates
The department estimates before the
House Subcommittee call for funds to
begin construction of three battleships,
one battle cruiser, three scout cruisers,
16 destroyers, four fleet submarines,
four coast submarines, one submarine
tender and one destroyer tender It is
understood that the naval general
board urged that the two battle cruis-
ers remaining on the three-year pro-
gram and four of the six battleships
be placed in the 1918 estimates The de-
partment decided, however, to divide
the new constructions equally between
the 1918 and 1919 bills.
Rear Admiral Strauss, chief Of ord
nance. appeared before the sub-com-
mittee. Explaining an item in his esti-
mates of s1.500,0C0 for fleet ammuni-
ton he said the cost of projectiles and Z:
other ordnance material had increased
that much since Congress provided
$l3.O00,00O for the purpose last year.
Prices OF smaller shells, he said, were
going down, indicating a decreasing de-
mand from Europe; but large shells of
the 14-inch size used by the navy
showed 20 per cent. increase over
last years quotations.
At another point Admiral Strauss
outlined the departments scheme for
securing in navy yards guns and am
munitions with which to arm merchant
ships as naval auxiliaries in time of
war.
More than 100000 for the pur-
chase of guns and mountings for this
purpose was provided last year. and
this year the department seeks $780,
600 for ammunition. The department
has also recommended the installation
OF anti-aircraft guns at naval stations,
magazines and radio stations, the
pending estimtes providing $1,000DOO
for this purpose. Admiral Strauss said
the naval gun factory was now pro-
ducing torpedoes. the first deliveries,
however, exceeding in cost the prices
quoted by private manufacturers. 1t Is
expected that the factory will get it's
costs considerably below the CONNER
cial rate with its next delivery. Ad-
miral Strauss will appear before the
committee again tomorrow and will
be followed by other bureau chiefs
and finally by Secretary Daniels and
members of the general board.
The ammunition ship for which the
secretary approved plans is the first
craft of the kind ever designed for the
navy. She will have a displacement of
10000 tons with a cargo of powder
and shells. Special facilities are pro-
vided handling explosives aboard and
the holds will be equipped with COOL
ing facilities to insure the regulation
temperature. Large refrigerator space
will make her easily convertible into
a supply vessel. Propelling machinery
is designed for either coal or fuel oil.
Defensive armament includes four
five-inch rapid fire guns and two
three-inch anti-aircraft guns. Bids are
being asked from ship builders and the
hopes to be able to open,
them by the first Of the eaE: