The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-01
FIVE YEAR PLAN Is
BEST, SAYS DANIELS
L. 8. Navy Would BE In Sec.
Ond Place Now, II 1908
Proposal Had Won.
BATTLE CRUISERS URGED

ton OF a continuing programme *
proposed by the Administration were
advocated by Secretary Daniels to-day
before the House Committee on Naval
Affairs.
II such a course had been followed
Board recommended a programme which
was designated to keep the navy In
second place. he said, the navy
would NOT have dropped 10 third place.
The Departments construction pro-
granme AS outlined TO the committee
calls for the expenditure OF $s3. 900, 900
in 1917. sio9, 900. 900 In 1918. $4,000
600 in 1919. ssa.ooo.ooo in 1920 and
slO3. 600. 900 IN 1921. Secretary Daniels
also advocated the expenditure Of $?5.-
900. 900 within the Ave years for "A
reserve supply Of ammunition. $1,000
900 being authorized In The pending
bill.
The cupidity Of the manufacturers
Of munitions, who demand from the
Government extortionate prices. was put
forward by Secretary Daniels as the
greatest Obstacle 20 preparedness.
Obstacle 20 Preparedness.
IL think the greatest trouble we have
had" he said. in getting a proper and
well balanced system OF Preparedness
has been that many good people OF the
country who are really In favor Of II
are opposed to preparedness at n II:
per cent. profit. In other words, they
" no, want TO pay IN %exorbitant profit
~ munition rHkerv."
1'hs committee did not question the
t,,rctary rs TO the sufficiency OF the Ave
year programme or what he hopes TO
achieve by u. Some Of the members
have Indicated. however, that they do not
regard II Hs adequate, and naval officers
have testified that H. will not change
the relative position Of the United states
among the naval Powers of the world.
81 think the time has come said Mr..
Daniels. when We should adopt "a com
tinuing programme for IA period OF years.
| advocate "A tive year programme. |
do not think II would he we'll To make II
longer. because wonderful changes are
taking place In naval warfare and con-
struction and some great battle might
com. along and change all our plans"
The vessels To lie constructed under
the five year programme are ten dread
thoughts, six battle cruisers. eighty-fi>e
coast submarines. fifteen feet suhms-
rinss. ten scouts. ffty destroyers. our
g%unboa,s. one hospital ship. two ammu-
milton ships, two fuel ships and one
repair ship.
Regarding the ACCESSIBILITY Of con.
structing battle cruisers In place OF
d~readnoughts Secretary Daniels empha-
| sized the value Of the latter. but said
tina the majority of naval officers. In
GLIDING members OF the Genera Board
and War College, believed In the battle
cruiser.
Value Of battle Cruisers.
Until recently" he said. our experts
have not laid much stress on tine hattie
cruiser. and some thought II unwise To-
spend $4,000. 900 on a vessel which had
LITTLE armor protection and which Was
costly TO operate. We nave concluded
there can be no we'll balanced navy with
out them"
Mr. Daniels also advocated an appro-
p~riation OF s25O.000 for IA site for a
submarine base at san Diego. Cal.
which may he used also as an aviation
field for the army and navy and a ma
rinc base. The present system Of using
tenders for submarines was inadequate.
he explained. and bases are necessary
along the coasts where the suhrna rins
fiotillas may oI.rate. The Secretary
held to the ideI of coastal types of
thes. vessels. saving that not more than
three of the larger 500 ton type should
he authorized until they haNe been thor
uughly tried out.
Discussing the policy of previous ad-
. lnlflslTttlbnN W lHt NV " Nl'l'lN
toward armor plate manufacturers Mr..
Iuniels made the Nat charge that st
was to let the manufacturers get ox"i
bitant prices
secretary Daniels shove no DISPOSE
ton to modify his demand for a Gov
nm. artuor plate plant. although the
private manufacturers have offered I"
furnish the government with AL inc
armor plate II needs at a price tn he h>"'i
" " l, 1'-.l2 % FsnASNI,, tl
some other Government agency.
Representative Kelley OF Michigan
suggested there might b" some ,ucon-
sisteucy In encouraging tho manufacture
II munitions under the proposed ndus-
trial mobilization scheme and discourage
ing tho maintenance Of private plants
for the manufacture Of armor.
For No Compromise.
eft might appear So replied tho Sec
r,,,rv "hI, believe the Government
when II cannot obtain munitions at ON
p~etitiye prices and a monopoly prevails
should take up manufacturing itself
"Wha, would you do in case OF wal"
asked Mr.. Kelley.
'In case of war" said the secretary
with "A sweep Of his hand. u would dc
an,thing to get what ! wanted
Secretary Daniels took issue with tht
tgtltTll bit1l VI wv W
recommendations II had made in ITS re-
port. He commended that an increase al
1000 men would be sufficient and OBJ
iccted to the larger number proposed 10y
the board on the ground that the mei
would not he needed and that the eA'
pense would he a formidable item,
eft larger number would he too MANY
at Z. : time he said, FOR the ships
that are now building, When We come
to numbers tho General Board make
various recommendations. Next year We
can provide more IL we need them"
Til. secretary said that he had dtsrc'
garied tho recommendations of the Gen
eral Board that AL aviators should com,
from the Naval Academy. He said h'
thought some Of the aviators should IL
ci,iiiaus, who according to reports from
abroad had proved to he more skilfu
than the military aviatorS.
Other recommendations of tn" Score
tar, were the appointment of a board IL
consider the establishment Of "A large
navy ward on the Pacific coast, the le
g~alizing of the naval advisory board AN,
the conferriug Of the rank of admiral OF
the chief of operations by reason of hi
office,