The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-04
Senate Committeeman for
Increase i'm Building
Programme.
NEED MORE AIRCRAFT.
DANIELS DECLARES
Tilllnan FavOrs Construct.
ing Battle Cruiscrs-TO
Act Promptly.


by the low hanging mists. threw their
preponderating strength into the North
Sea cruiser battle before the British
fleet was able to reach the scene Of
action. This appears to be the explana.
ton OF the German naval victory"
The above statement. made by one OF
the ranking officers OF the Navy. Depart
ment. reflects the general opinion OF
naval experts who have given close at
tention to every scrap of reliable in
formation that has come In concerning
the battle. The inability of battle
cruisers to cope with battleships. as
pointed out to-day by Admiral Dewey;
the great assistance which the German
naval forces derived from aircraft and
the advantage OF getting battleships to
the scene first are the lessons which
officers believe should be particularly
noted. II Is practically certain now that
the building programme in the present
pending naval bill will be reshaped as
a result of these lessons.
Aircraft Of Great Atd.
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels COM
mented to day on the great assistance
which German aircraft were able to
render TO the German fleet. Rear Ad-
miral Benson. Chief Of Operations. said
that the work of the Leppelins and Ger
man aircraft appears to have been most
effective In locating the position OF the
Iy,i, i.h ft
commander in chief. Vice Admiral Scheer.
to dispose his craft in favorable
manner.
II was OF the highest Importance for
vice-Admiral Scheer to know whether or
not the British cruiser squadron was
backed by the main feet. The German
| aircraft were able to supply the valuable
/ Information that the fleet was not there,
! II is explained. This enabled the Ger
man admiral to continue to press his
| advantage while relying on his aircraft
10 report as soon as the British fleet
came within striking distance.
: Secretary Daniels said to-day he would
/ recommend the inclusion in the naval
bill now pending before the senate a
provision for additional aircraft and di-
rigiblcs for the American navy
Important changes in the building pro-
gramme OF the pending naval bill. based
on the accomplishments OF the various
: types OF vessels that participated in the
North Sea battle. were practically as
sured to-day by the senate Naval Com
mittee. to which the bin was committed
after its passage by the House.
Senator Tillman. chairman OF the COM
mittee, announced after comforting with
the officials of the Navy Department that
ne would favor the authorization OF six
battle cruisers and two battleships. Re.
publican members OF the committee in
dicated they would 20 as far and ever
further in restoring the navy to SECOND
place.
The battle between the German and
British fleets had the effect of stiYeninH
perceptibly the demands of the prepared.
ness advocates who wish to have the
navy put back In second place as soor
as possible 1t also drew attention tc
the possibility that an entire revision oi
the building programme and the ap
preparations for aeronautics TO elimi
nate weaknesses in naval material ant
establish a proper balance between tn,
component parts of fighting feet ir
accordance with the lessons Of the Norti
Sea battle may he necessary.
senate tO support Plan.
There is little doubt that the Senat
Naval Committee will enlarge the pro
visions OF the House bill. II IL ais
reasonably certain that the Senate will
stand by the committee. The burden o
defeating the Senate plans for naval pre-
naredness therefore will rest on tn
House conferees. In view OF the clos
vote on the motion to recommit the nava
hill Yesterday there Is good chanc
that the House, II the question Is put VI
to II again. will swing to the large
naval building programme.
~ am In favor OF six battle cruiser
and two dreadnoughts. and we ought 4
have dirigibles." said Senator T!llmal
to-day. 81 have not been led to thi
conclusion because OF the battle OF tn
German and British fleets. The troubi
/. that the information We have Is to
fragmentary to base any opinion as I
the relative merits OF different types o
ships upon It, ! believe, however tina
we ought to have battleships.
Senator Lodge, In point OF service on
ot the oldest Republicans. on the com
mittee. predicted to-day there would b
little opposition on the committee II
favor OF enlarging the building pro
yramme. "The question" he said. "wil
he IN 10 the House" The Senator SAT-
the responsibility for rejecting large
preparedness programme should b
n,aced on the House conferees on tn
naval bill and that all offers OF com
,,romise should he rejected
Representative Butler, ranking mem
her Of the House Naval Committee, ha'
Indicated that the Republicans viii
glad to renew the fight for battlcships
the question in put w to them Tn
news of the great battle came too late 4
have an effect on the voting yesterday
Representative Padgett. chairman OF tn
House committee. takes the view that
bill Of s27O 900 900 is large enough 70
one session Of Congress.
The naval bill will not be taken up b!
the Senate committee until after the con
,entions. by that time II II expected
that enough detailed information con
ccrning the North Sea fight will be oh
tained to serve as the basis for the re
shaping Of the building programme.
PAINS FIREWORKS