The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-11-20

The Navy bill Of this year. appro-
priating s315. 100000 as against, for eX-
ample. more than S25Q.QQq.0QQ in Great
Britain's last budget before the war
will make the American Navy the sec
ond largest In he world. For the first
time it puts into effect the recom(ien-
datiUn Of the General Board or Inc
Navy. made as far back rs 1908 Tor Il
|, continuing program OF snip DulIulnS'
The new construction which il uIhOr'
ICES includes 1871 new ships 10 be
cot on the building stocks within a
period of three years. This program III
avoids what Senator Lodge called d
"haphaZard" plan. aud conforms 70
President Wilson's of expressed de-
sire for q better system aimed al CIV
ing ihe Navy proper poise and balance.
The, cost OF the 157 new ships au'
rhorzed under this three year contlnu.
ing program will be $4iS.000. 900. and
will give in all 10 dreadnaughts. bat
tie cruisers. 10 scout cruisers, 40 tor
pedo boat desiroyers. 9 fleet subna,
rinrs, IS coast submarines. fuel
ships. repair ship. l transport, | nos
uital shin. destroyer tenders. | lIeei
Submarine tender. > ammunition ships
aud eunbOats. not including the he"
hydrU.aeroplaneS.
In four wears the Neutrality-suspicious..
veil administration authorized $l"l..
Gl6. $40 fur new construction; Tue
Roosevelt administration So, W. We:
the Taft administration SIT. al {. l."
Tnt cost OF the present program auueu
To thai Of Other ships authorized I'M
der the present administration amounts
10 $3.50 ."S9.SQ6.
When the present administrator
came in ii found the Navy 1,0QV Sh0r'
OF its enlisted quota OF 3l.aoV. ne
NAVY seemed To be losing lis altrac'
lion for The youth OF the country. by
adding 10 the Nays splendid techM'
cal schools. academic instruction
aboard ship and al shore stations; hy
combining examinations TO fill ray
Corps vacancies 10 bluclackets ana OE
securing The passage OF law allow
ing % Culisled men 10 sand lnf NM
apolis every year. nrw Splrl, WAS
created. The doSi"ability OF SerNi'E
in the Navy was 50 increased mat IN
three wears t:::%l hlueJackets nave
been enlisted and at times there has
been a waliiy list. ncsertiOnS have
decreased from ZIG 10 ~ 4 monlh. ke-
enlstmenls have increased So percent
AS against - percent during the pre-
viouS administration. The new Navy
bill authorizes an increase OF the pres
emf complement by 100 in peace. ana
in emergency the President may raise
the enlistment QuO;a to s. 900.
Until Mr.. Wilson became PrrSlupnt
there was no organized naval militia.
no provision Tor Il reserve and no civil
ian training. When Mir. Wilson came
into office each CONGRESSMAN was 1u'
thori2eu 10 appoint only one midshlp-
man TO Annapolis. The result was
shortage in officers. As carly as May.
1913. Congress extended the law whicn
The Republicans mad allowed TO expire
giving TWO appointments 10 each Con-
gresham. This year Congress has
authorized three appointments 10 AMI
apols for each Senator and Repre-
sentative. providing for possible IN
crease Of midshipnr. at the Naval
Academy OF ST..
Due to the mistaken policy adopted
in 1909 OF abandoning short range and
individual target practice. d serious
slump had taken place in The scores
made by our ships by 1919. The pres
ent naval adminisl ration studied this
serious problem from every angle.
Long range and individual practice
was re,eslabli$hed and Captain Punk
EFT. one Of the greatest experts in any