Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-08
DANIELS WOULD BUILD
AZ MORE NAVAL SHIPS
Urges, In His Report, That Funds
BE Appropriated by
Congress.
DISCUSSES EMS MET
Secretary Says That Until All Ma
tons Agree to Reduce Their Arnu-
ments United States Must Con-
tinue to Increase Sea Power.
10y Associated rrrs.1

by Associated Press
w ASHlNGTON. December I.-Untii
all nations agree TO reduce their ar
maments. the United States must con-
tinuc 10 increase its naval power.
Secretary Daniels declares in his an
nu&l report. made public tonight, and
which urges that funds be appropriated
at once to begin building forty-two
additional ships.
Il feel ii my duty to warn as solemn
~ as L may" the secretary says after
:ecitinS the hugh expenditures for the
recitinH the high expenditures for the
Congress. against the danger that lies
III 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 uRvtcs OF the
world and there is nothing further to
be done. COMPLIMENT rctroSpection il
the father Of dry rot. We have made
IL magnificent beginning. but il must
not he forgotten by the public that the
sam" Intelligent appreciation IL our
needs. the same Willingness 10 provide
Tor these needs, must I've shown ;his
year ana every succeeding Year IL we
are to finish what we have con,neuccd."
Secretary Daniels recalls ;hut the
1917 appropriation bill carries pro-
mament agreement
81 earnestly hope the time is no, far
distant when this &C; OF Congress will
result in such An asrcemcut.'' he con-
ttnueS. and that the nations OF the
earth Will huNe the Statesmcush!p 20
devise effective means OF preserving
the worlds peace without constantly
building cNcr-increasinE Dreadnuughts
AT sE"i-increasing cost. Until that
hour arrives the United States cannot
safely adopt amy policy other than that
OF continuing the policy Of steadily in
creasinG it's naval strength"
DREADNotG:iTS IN 1871
WILL. NUMBER TWENTN-SEVEN
Piciurins the result Of construction
now contemplated. Secretary Daniels
says the main rShting elements of III.
feet, completed and in commission in
1921. will be ,wcuty-seven Drcad-
noughis OF the first line. supported by
san battle cruisers, twenty-five second
mae hattlcships. thirteen scout cruisers
los destroyers. twelve fleet submarines
and l"u coast defense usbmersibles
me there is no possibility or pre-
H!ctinG what ranl, among the naval
powers the country will then take, he
adds, The authorization OF such a pro-
gram has been accepted as assurance
that. the United States has definitely
c;n barked on the policy of building an
. deuuate navy.
The secretary dcvotes much attcn-
ton TO discussion OF the problems en-
coIn;e"cd by the department in getting
the new ships laid down. Building ia
c!lities and skilled labor are lacking.
he says and the program he has recon-
m"nded for 1918 featured by three bat
tleshirS and one battle cruiser will
tax private and public plants to their
utmost. even with the increased build
niT equipment authorized for navy
yards. II for tina; reason III.
secretary adds, that he did not follow
the general boards Recommendation
and urge that four OF the six remain
ing battleships OF the thrce-year pro-
Sram and both OF the battle cruisers
be Ia id down at once
The board states in it's rcpor, accom-
DnnyimS that OF the secretary. that its
information as TO building facilities
indicate the ISIS program outlined
could he built. 1t also recommends the
addition of twelve mine swecpc.s, one
supply Ship and two seagoins t,;s to
The tota! OF the l56-ship three-ycar
MANY DIFFICULTIES
MET BY DEPARTMENT
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 cx-
iraordinary powers in connection with
placing the contracts for these vessels
or in obtaining materials FOR their con-
struction. 1t is hoped that the neccs-
sity will not arise of having to ask for
Such powers, as number Of ship
builders and manufacturers have shown
an attitude Of Willingness to assist the
department in meeting the unusual sit
Ii,ii"n created by the desire Of the
country 10 commence and 10 expedite
OnliralN LIN nrcrndnn ell naval urn-