The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-25
MINORITY REPORT
SCORES NAVY BILL
Seven Objections Urged Against
Annual Appropriation Mea.
sure Reported to House.

Declaring that the bill reportci by
Chairman Padgett. of the House Naval
Committee, yesterday Is inadequate for
the defense OF the country, minority
members of the Naval Committee to-
day submitted q report providing
building program that would. II author
lied By the present Congress, place the
United States navy second on tho high
seas among world powers.
Seven objections are urged TO the
oommittee report. They are.
ftrst-The bill disregards every plan
suggested by naval authorities for the
Second-The increase Is a mere arhi.
trary allotment OF ships made without
regard to the position OF our navy az
compared with that OF any other naval
power.
Fails To Meet Need.
Third-Provisions relative to the en-
listed personnel do not meet require
ments Of the navy for additional men.
Fourth-Provides for "a wholly in
adequate number of SUMMARIES
Fifth-Makes Inadequate provision for
aircraft development.
Sixth-Makes no provision for estab-
ishment OF council of national defense.
time for completion Of ships authorized.
The minority recommends the program
which the general board said would be
necessary to place the United States
Navy In second place. This provides
Tor two dreadnaughts, six battle cruis-
ers, nifty submarines. an approximate in
crease OF 5000 men. and $35O0,00O for
aviation. as against no dreadnaughts,
i've battle cruisers. twenty submarines,
1850 additional men, and 100000 Tor
aviation provided In. the committee bill.
A corresponding increase in auxiliary
vessels Is recommended by the minority.
For Defense Council.
THE minority is of the opinion that
q council of defense would greatly in
crease the efficiency of both the army
ana navy the report says, authorizing
the creation Of such a body to consist
or the President. the Secretaries OF
State. War and Navy. chairmen of
House and Senate Committees on For
eign Relations. Military Affairs. Naval
Atialrs. ana Appropriations; the chief
OF staff of the army, a navy officer TO
De named by the Secretary OF the Navy,
and the presidents of the Army and
Navy War Colleges.
Inc majority report states that the
increase of 1880 men for the navy and
S.079 men for the marine corps, pro-
vided In the bill in effect carries out
the recommendations of the general
t poard regarding the increase of the en-
listed personnel OF the navy and ma
rine CORPS. the minority report states.
This statement Is wholly misleading,
and not In accord with facts. The gen.
eral board recommended an increase of
not less than 1900 men for the navy
alone. and further recommended that
the authorized strength OF the marine
corps be increased to and maintained at
20 per cent of the authorized enlisted
strength Of the navy.
Expert Opinion Set Aside.
The building program ignores the
recommendations Of the Secretary of
the Navy and sets aside expert opinion.
as expressed by the general board of
the navy, the chief operators. admirals
In command OF the fleets, and every
other officer appearing before the COM
mittee.
"Our geographical situation sug-
gests at once naval defense as our
most effective means of protection
Our long coast line, our great sea-
board cities. our insular possessions,
our sea borne commerce. the Panama
canal. our general International obli-
cations all demand the speedy restor-
alton of our naval policy inaugurated
in1903. This Is especially true at
this time when there is SO much un-
certainty in world relations and when
so many national antagonisms are
aroused"
Lack of men, the report asserts. is
responsible for the present condition
ships have been stripped of men and
put into the reserve because of this
condition. Since October 1, 1914, the
report states, the Louisiana, North
Carolina, Virginia. Georgia, Nebraska,
New Jersey. Rhode Island and Con-
necticut, all ships less than ten years
old, have been placed In reserve.
Cite Admiral Fletcher.
Citing the testimony of Admiral
Fletcher that in the event of war lie
could only man eighteen battleships and
would have to go into action with aux
iliares inadequately manned. the report
recommends enlistment I'm the navy up
to S2762 men. The present active en-
listed strength is d,OO0. A time limit Of
thirty months Is recommended for COM
pletion of vessels aI,norized.
While the minority made no estimate
as to the additional cost of its program.
naval experts placed an estimate of .tp-
proximately $i00, 900 900 additional cost
on the building program alone, above
that recommended by the majority Of
the committee.