Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-19
SECRETARY DANIELS
ENPHESSES HIS VIEWS
Secretary Daniels said

SECRETARY DANIELS
ENrEESsES HIS VIEWS
Secretary Daniels said:
"Of course, think il would havo
been best Il the House committee had
reported the fre-yeaT program, but I
understood that at no time was it
possible 10 secure the votes of ma
jcrit% OF the committee for this larger
proposition.
= ve-y considerable number OF the
nava! Officers who testified before the
committee showed that they favored
building battle cruisers instead OF bat
.leshlrs to. time owing 10 the press
ing need of this type OF ship which
represents the highest type OF warshn
design. The opinion Of the general
beard however, in which concur.
was :hat il was probably wiser to d.
vide cut new construction OF capital
ships this car between prcadnouchts
and battle cruisers.
"Howcvct the need for thcss swift.
huge, heavily cunncd ships is so press
ing when VIC consider the other great
navics OF the world that had far
rather see the number suggested in
creased than diminished AS SAID
At the time. thc program | presented
to Congress represented a minimum
and rot maximum Of each type
II am told tina: tho actual amount
OF money appropriated for this wear in
Inc bill as repcrtcd l.! a Comrittec is,
more than the amour: recommended
in my report. The MIG difference is
that the bill covers this year only,
instead Of committing W. TO def
mite increase tov The four wears TO fol-
low. So far As the other ships are
concerned. outside OF the capital ships
= III
ference between those now i'll tho bill
and as recommended III my report for
the first wear.
II am SORRY that Tho battlc.hps
were eliminated. aud would be graf
ifed II they were restored before the
bin came 10 the President. one thing
abou, the committees report is en-
trcmciN gratifying, and that IL that
members OF tho committee who voted
for only ono hattloshir last year this
year voted for battle cruisers"
DESIGN Fot, SCOUT CRUISERS
ONLY ONE ALREADY COMPLETED
The only now ship design already
FOR tho scout cruisers. They viii dis.
place between 1000 and 5000 tons
have q maximum speed OF thirty-fivc
knots an hour, and mour, ton SIX
inch lonE-ranEe rifles Nothing Of
similar epetd or radius OF action now
any foreign designers, 80 far a. is
known.
Tho battle cruiser designs arc not
complete. although II has boon uevd.
Cd that they VIII bo $50 feet III length
have speed OF thirty-five knots a
range OF action of 10000 sea miles. a
displa cement of $1,000 tons, and either
eight or ton Of the heaviest guns
afloa'. If ter gums arc mounted. they
VIII carry fourteen inch. fifty-Calibc.
main batteries. and if eight guns arc
decided upon. they will carry sixteen
inch ri0oH, .he heaviest ever put aGoat
Plans for the la ttloships which See
rotary Daniels sim is confident Con-
grcSs VIII provide. call for Ss.ooo-tou
ships. mounting ton siXtccn-irIch rifles
each and with speed of twenty one
or more knots an hour. They will
have 1000 tons moro displacement
than shiHs TO be laid down this year
aud exceed by nearly 5000 tons any
foreign hattlcship built or building
so far as navy designers know.
The battle cruisers will cost $40
600. 600 each. a. against $4,000. 900 cs-
hmstcd for tho rreadnouEh,e IN
the basis OF tho committee bill. navy
experts figure that this Congress viii
provide az least total nf $4,000, 900
for now shirc