The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-12-15
Secretary Daniels In His Report
Says Time For Disarma-
ment Is Not Yet
URGES ORGANIZATION OF "a
NEW AIR SERVICE FOR FLEETS
Points Out Need For Placing
Largest Possible Guns On 4.
Il Our Warcraft e. 81 D
(BY The Asnoeia,sd Prss.l

WASHINGTON, December Until
all nations agree to, reduce their arma-
ment, the United States must continue
TO increase its naval power, Secretary
Daniels declares in his annual report,
| made public tonight, and which urges
that funds be appropriated ut once TO
begin building forty.two additional
ships.
Il feel it my duty to warn as SOL
EMMY NJ l may" the secretary says,
after rcciting the huge expenditures
for the Navy authorized at the last SEES.
sion Of congress, against the danger
that lies in a possible feeling on the
part of our people that the Navy has
now been attended to; has been placed
where il belongs among the great
navies Of the world, and there is moth.
ing further to be done. COMPLIMENT
retrospection is the father of dry rot.
We have made n magnificent beginning,
hut that it must not be forgotten by the
public that the same intelligent appre.
citation Of our needs, the same willing
ness TO provide for these needs, must be
shown this year, and every succeeding
year, If we are to finish what we have
commenced
Must Increase Strength
~ earnestly hope the, time is not far
'iStant when this act of congress will
result in such an agreement, he con.
tinues, land that the nations Of the
"arth will have the statesmanship to de.
wise effective means Of preserving the
world s peace without constantly build.
ing everincreasing dreadnaughts. = at
ever-increasing cost. Until that hour
arrives the United States cannot safely
adopt any policy other than that of con.
tinuing the policy of steadily increas.
ing its naval strength
Picturing the result of construction
now contemplated, Secretary Daniels
says the main fighting elements Of the
fleet, completed and in commission in
1871 !, will be twenty seven dreadnaughts
Of the first line, supported by six battle
cruisers, twenty-five second-line battle.
ships, thirteen scout cruisers, one hun.
dred and eight destroYers, twelve feet
submarines 5nd ODE hundred and thirty
coast defense submersibles. - While
there is no possibility of predicting
what rank among the naval powers the
country will then take, he adds, the
authorization of such q program has
been accepted as assurance that the
United States has definitely embarked
on the policy of building an adequate
navy.
Many Difficulties Paced
Secretary Daniels indicates clearly
the difficulties faced by the department,
however, in the following language:
'The last naval bill does not give to
the department any additional or ex-
traordinary powers in connection with
placing the contracts for these vessels
| or in obtaining materials for their con.
structiOn. 1t is hoped that the neces
sity will not arise Of having to ask
for such powers, as a number of ship
builders and manufacturers have shown
an attitude of Willingness to assist the
department in meeting the unusual sit.
iatiOn created by the desire of the
country to commence and to expedite
an entirely unprecedented naval pro.
gram at time when the industrial re-
sources Of the country are already tax
ed to their Utmost capacity in meet.
ing the demands of tremendous trade
| activity, both domestic and foreign, in
every branch of business. 1t may be
| necessary, however, for congress TO en-
act Legislation Of this character to in
sure the early completion of the pro-
gram of construction. -
The report touches briefly on many
activities of the navy department and
commends highly the new organization
and coordination that is being effected
| by Admiral Benson, chief of operations.
In addition to the report of the gsae.
raj board, full statement by Admiral
Benson is appended, showing the rapid
| progress being made in eNerv lima NJ
development. The most disappointing
feature of the year, according to the
general board and Admiral Benson, has
been the slow progress with develop.
ment of naval aircraft.
Undoubtedly much preliminary
work has been done experimentally
which does not show" the board SAYS,
'but the application of this very i'm
portant branch of the service TO tho
practical uses of the feet has not yet
been fully developed. Satisfactory air
craft do not appear as yet to be avail
able for use with the fleet"
The board recommends a new organ.
/ lZahOn of the flying service under u
directing officer in the office of the
chief Of operations. While admitting
| the slOwness of aeTonautical devotion.
mcnt, Admiral Benson expresses the
hope that big machine, designed and
| built by the Navy and now under test.
may solve the problems encountered.
The report shows that the NAVY now
has seventeen aerOplanes in active sery.
ice and that sixty more have been or.
dered. In addition, several French and
| "rItish'mnde machines have been or.
| dPTPd