New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-09
Fletcher Says This Sum
Would Give u. S. Most
Powerful Fleet.
DECLARES COUNTRY
COULD AFFORD 1T
Calls Hope of Disarmament
Agreement After War Too
Vague TO Build On.

Washington, March S.-Approxi-
mately 81 ,50O,OO0,OOO for new ships and
an annual upkeep charge Of s76O,OOO.-
900 is what Admiral Fletcher, COM
handing the Atlantic feet, estimates {
would cost 70 carry out the Navy Gen.
eral Boards recommendation that the
American Navy should equal the mos.
powerful feet ahoat by not later than
1925.
The admiral's estimate was given to-
day IN testimony before the House
Naval Committee. Representative Cal
laway, who brought out the statement,
called attention 10 published reports
that Great Britain had added nearly
200, 600 tons 10 her fighting ships since
the war began. lie asked If the situa-
ton was not hopeless" Admiral
Fletcher thought not, adding that,
judging by its great wealth. the United
States could well afford 10 give its IN
terests the same protection that other
nations thought necessary.
Representative Hensley asked if q
race in building warships or in any
other military preparation between two
nations had not invariably led TO war
Admiral Fletcher said no, and ex-
pressed the opinion that failure to pre-
pare was merely making certain that
nation must surrender its rights.
Representative Galloway asked If il
was not reasonable 10 assume that The
European war would end within q yesi
or a year and a half at most Admiral
Fletcher thought it would, and addeC
that he believed the close of the wal
would see the greatest opportunity il
history for the success of an interna
tional disarmament or limitation oil
armament agreement. He insisted
however, that the United States coulC
not afford to put off its navy building
on that account.
Admiral Fletcher repeated his state
ment that the hope Of disarmament
agreement was too vague 10 build on.
Representative Oliver asked II any
thing had developed within the last two
years to shake Admiral tletcher's faith
in heavy armored ships as the main
strength Of the navy. He asked par
ticularly If high explosive shells had
made armor less trustworthy.
There has been no development in
high explosive shells worth mentioning
in that time" the admiral replied
Mr.. Galloway took the witness
through several hypothetical naval en-
gagements 20 support his contention
that battleships in the presence OF sub
marines, mines and torpedoes no longer
can fight in fleets. Admiral Fletcher
disagreed, and resorted to paper and
pencil TO map out the operations Of two
hostile fleets under the conditions set.
After Admiral Fletcher concluded his
testimony Rear Admirals Taylor, chief
of the Bureau of Construction, and
Griffin, chief of Steam Engineering, eX-
planned to the committee the situation
as 10 the two fleet submarines author
lied last year. Secretary Daniels has
submitted the decision of this problem
TO Congress, bids on the two big sub
mersibles authorized not having fallen
within the requirements of the act.
Rear Admiral Taylor said one bidder
would guarantee nineteenknot sur
face speed, but not the twenty knots
specified in the act. Both he and Rear
Admiral Griffin recommended that the
nineteen-knot proposal be accepted If
the boats could not be made TO do
better.
Both witnesses disagreed with Rear
Admiral Grant and other officers of the
submarine hotilla as to the desirability
of abandoning all other types of sub
mersibes for an s00-ton boat similar
TO those used in the German navy
Rear Admiral Taylor recommended
however, that three s00-ton boats be
ordered as an experiment. ordinary con
dtions of construction to be set aside
TO produce them in the shortest posi-
bic time. II the result Of this expert
ment was to bear out Rear Admiral
Grants statements, he said, it was de-
sirable to establish the fact as soon as
possible.