Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-06-21
ASK CONGRESS TO
PUT NAVY ON WAR BASIS
Wilson and Daniels Urge Provision
for $4,000 Increase.
WANT $1,000 MEN.
Want Two Battleships Added to
Program.

In view if the threatening Mexican
situation the Navy Department hal
asked Congress to increase the enlisted
strength of the navy from $4,000 to IA.
700 and TO authorize the President q
raise this number to $1,000.
The action was taken following
conference at the White House be
tween President Wilson, Secretar.
Daniels, Chairman Tillman, of tn
Senate Naval Committee, and Senate
Swanson. Secretary Daniels late
sent the following letter to Senate
Tillman:
Owing TO the immediate and
unexpected need for enlisted men
to keep in commission and to place
in commission ships which are or
ordinarily kept in reserve, with re-
duced crews, and TO fully man all
such thips, / recommend that
ther be incorporated in the pend
ing naval appropriation bill pro-
vision establishing the enlisted
strength of the navy to 74,700 and
authorizing the President to in
crease the number to $1,000 when
in his judgment it may become
necessary to place the country in
a complete state of preparedness.
THE increase of 74.700 from the
$4,000 now enlisted is the number
recommends by the General Board
as being required to fully man all
ships ready for service in 1917
with a minimum number at the
shore stations. 1t has been the
policy for many years to keep a
large number of ships in ordinary,
or in reserve with reduced crews.
Formerly the number of men
assigned TO ships in reserve was 25
TO SO 1-3 per cent. Last year l in
creased then umber to 40 per cent
it's last annual report the General
Board recommended that it be in
creased to so per cent. If their
recommendation is acted upon, as
soon as the number authorized is
enlisted it will be possible to keep
these ships fully commissioned.
Later, when there are no pressing
exigencies, the older ships could
be reduced to- so per cent. crews
if advisable and the new ones COM
ing in could be fully commission
ed The large number of enlisted
men would come into the service
would, when their term of enlist
ment expires, constitute an ideal
addition to our reserve-a need
long felt. but never yet provided.
"In my report of last December
| stated in addition to the number
of enlisted men asked for at the
time it would be necessary to fur
ther increase the enlistment at
the next session of Congress. In
view of the present necessity for
keeping all ships in active duty,
not then foreseen, am asking that
the increase contemplated for next
year be authorized in the pending
bill and therefore recommend the
addition set forth in this letter.
"In addition, upon the outbreak
of war, the navy would be greatly
expanded and more men would be
required for aviation, naval coast
defense. patrol craft and other
auxiliary duties of various kinds
as we'll as to provide for men un-
der training to replace casualties"
Secretary Daniels also intends t
recommend provision to speedily pro
vide more officers of high rank in tn
naval force. This will be done by
system of promotion which benz
worked out and will be made publi
probably by tomorrow.
The President and Mr.. Daniels, il
their conference with Senators Till
man and Swanson, also urged the add
ton of one if not two superdread
naughts to the building program of tn,
navy. Secretary Daniels said late
that he had not made any specific
recommendation but had urged thu
incorporation of battleships in the pro
gram and counted on the Senate to d.
the rest. Senators Tillman, Swanson
and Lodge have been chosen as sub
committee to consider the naval bill
and to report back to the full Nava
Committee. They probably will ament
the bill as requested.
1t was explained that in case of wa
with Mexico the navy would be called
upon to control both coasts of Mexico
and that 1t was of paramount necessit,
to have the proposed increase in en-
listed strength which would keep al
ships in commission. The pending
naval bill provides for an increase O
about 5000 marines. Secretary Dan
iels deems this sufficient for the pres
ent. He denies report that the Navy
Department contemplated calling ou
the Naval Militia in connection will
possible duty in Mexican waters.
No report had reached the Navy De
partment up to late hour from Rear
Admiral Winslow concerning the clasl
at Mazatlan, wher' launch from the
gunboat Annapolis exchanged shots
with Carranzistas. A request from
the Mexican authorities that no Amer
Jean bluejackets go ashore in Mexican
ports has been communicated to the
Navy Department from Secretary o.
State Lansing.
Fear for the safety of Americans a
Vera Cruz and the desire of man,
Americans to leave have caused thu
Navy Department to issue orders fol
the transport Hancock to proceed a:
..1o.shlo Frov,, Cont0 10