New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-08
Need a Greater Navy, Sec
retary's Warning, in
Annual Report
SAFETY OF u. S.
AT STAKE, HE SAYS
Lack of Building Facilities
Reason for Not Follow
ing General Board Plan

Washington, Dec. Until all ma
lions agree to reduce their armament
the United States must continue TO in
crease its naval power, Secretary Dan
iels declares in his annual report, made
public tonight, and which urges that
funds be appropriated at once TO be-
gin building forty-two additional ships.
81 feel 1t my duty to warn as sol
EMMY "a ! may" the Secretary says,
after reciting the high expenditures
for the navy authorized at the last ses-
sion of Congress, against the danger
that lies in possible feeling on the
part of our people that the navy has
now been attended to. has been placed
where IT belongs, among the great nav
les Of the world, and there is nothing
further 70 be done.
81 earnestly hope the time is not
FAR distant when this act OF Congress
will result in such an agreement he
continues, "and that the nations of
the earth will have the craftsmanship
10 devise effective means of preserving
the worlds peace without constantly
building ever increasing dreadnoughts
at ever increasing cost. Until that
hour arrives the United States cannot
safely adopt any policy other than that
Of continuing the policy Of steadily IN
creasing its naval strength
Policy Is for Adequate Navy
Picturing the result of construction
now contemplated, Secretary Daniels
says that the main fighting elements
of the feet, completed and in commits
sion in 1921. will be 81 dreadnoughts
of the first line, supported by six bat
tle-cruisers, % second line battleships,
IS scout cruisers, 10S destroyers. II
feet submarines and 1870 coast defence
submersibles.
The Secretary devotes much atten-
ton to discussion of the problems en-
countered by the department in getting
the new ships laid down. Building ia
cilites and skilled labor are lacking,
he says, and the programme he has
recommended for 1918, featured by
three battleships and one battle-cruis-
err. will tax private and public plants
TO their utmost even with the increased
building equipment authorized for navy
yards. II was for that reason. the Sec
rotary adds, that he did not follow
the General Boards recommendation
and urge that the four of the six re-
manning battleships of the three-year
programme and both of the battle
cruisers ne ldlu uoNh az bi4NN'
Disappointment in Aircraft
A full statement by Admiral Benson
is appended, showing that rapid prog
ress is being made in every line of de-
velopment. The most disappointing
feature Of the year, according to the
General Board and Admiral Benson,
has been the slow progress with de-
velopment of naval sircraft.
In its brief review of the European
war the General Board finds nothing
TO warrant modification of its previous
belief that the battleship is "the back
bone of the sea power of a nation" For
this reason, the report adds, the board
has determined that the number, power
and size Of the guns to be placed
aboard new battleships should be in
creased without sacrificing armor
speed or cruising radius. Larger ships
must be built TO contain all these char
acteristics, the report continues.