The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-29
WANTS y. s. NAVY
AHEAD OF GERMAN
Assistant Secretary Roosc.
welt Expresses That Wish
Before House Committee.
TELLS WHAT Is NEEDED

WASHINGTON, March :9.-Frankiin D
Roosevelt. Assistant Secretary Of ths
Navy, In expressing the opinion nat the
navy should be brought back TO the sec
| ond place told the House Committee on
Naval Affairs to-day chat $4,000 mer
would DO needed TO man Tho ships re.
CURED In case Of war.
I'VE have been clipping behind Ger.
many for ten years." said Mr.. Roosevelt
ITO put our fleet on On eQus, basis with
the German feet We need eight battle
cruisers and three dreadnoughts. taking
a. u bss6 tho conditions existing be
fore the war. We don't know how many
ships Germany has built since then"
"Expressing my own personal opinion
no added. land not giving the policy OF
the Department I should like to see the
proposed naval building programme In
creased
would II be possible" asked Repre-
sentative Butler Of Pennsylvsnia. TO get
back into Second place In three or four
years7'
W. must sdopt a great programme
20 do that said Mr.. Roosevelt.
"Aa ethereal Drean."
Chairman Padgett interrupted to refer
to his proposition " IAN ethereal
dream"
your bill hssn't passed the House
yet" retofted Representative Butler.
This may be al ethereal dream. but you
will have 4 chance TO vote on IT,"
with The larger building programme
Mr.. Roosevelt said an increase OF 100
per cent. In number Of enlisted men and
so ger cent. In officers would be the
necessary peace strength. His opinion
that 10 man the ships now In commits
Sion and ships that would be added TO
the navy. including s~uxiliartes. $4,000
men would be needed In event OF war
WIN expressed earlier In his testimony.
EnEiand's naval force. he said. had been
trebled since the outbreak Of the war.
Mr.. Roosevelt WAS peppered with ques-
lions regarding the policy and practice
" the Navy Department. but these he
evaded AS far as possible. Most OF
these questions will undoubtedly be pu,
10 Secretary Daniels when no appears
before the committee later In the week.
Tine 10 Ripe for Action.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the time VAS ripe
for Undertaking y large naval pro-
grsmme. The country IL prosperous"
he explained. "and tho people are In
terested. They are beginning 10 under
stand the real situation"
The building Of y navy. however,
would cost much more In the United
States than In other countries. Mr..
Roosevelt added. because OF higher
wages and salaries for officers and men.
After charXcterizing the 1912 mobili-
zation Of the Atlantic feet ~ "a Joke
Mr.. Roosevelt declared hat naval con.
struc,ion work WAS being speeded up as
fart AZ possible by the present Adm,r-
is,ration. Delays In laying down bat.
tleships Nos. ~ and ~. no SAID. were
due 4 changes TO insure torredo pro-
lection In hull designs. Construction
on other vessels has been held up be-
CAUSE OF lack OF ways ut h navy
yards.
Mr.. Roosevelt not only approved
recommendations Of the General Board
witt reference to q general pro-
Sramme but Also the repor, OF the
board recommending increases In en-
listed personnel OF the navy and marine
corps. lie also defended the present
Organization of the Navy Department.