Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-25

! report explaining the S2Il. OoC, 600 nuv:i
: appropriation hill was submitted to III
House to-day ny the Naval Committee
Al the same time, the Republican mem
hers OF the committee joined In
minority report. TO be presented to
morrow. attacking the measure as in
adequate and demanding that Congres
provide for navy ranking sccon,
among the worlds lighting forces O,
the sea
The bill which authorizes Il building
program for next year, including nv.
great battle cruisers, is to be taken III
IN the House next Monday or Tuesda,
under Il special rule limiting debate ant
providing for u final vote before the enc
OF the week
All opposition TO the measure is ex.
pected to come from the Republican
side, as the bill is one on which mos,
of the Democrats have agreed. l,
would empower the President. at the
close of the present war. 10 invite al
world powers to Il conference for III.
purpose Of inausuratinE an interna.
;ional power for the settlement of all
disputes, and would provide that if be-
fore the Bills appropriations are con-
tracted for competitive ornaments
should be rendered unnecessary. expcn
ditures inconsistent with any engage
ments entered into might he suspended
by presidential order. An item of
100000 is included for expenses Incl
dent TO the proposed conference
PROVIDES FOR EXPENSES
Of PROPOSED CONFERENCE;
OF this provision the committee re-
port says:
The committee, while DESTROYS that
the country shall be properly prepared
against attack by a foreign foe, hnd
fully realizing that the navy Is the
first line of defense. yet. with sin
ce-e hope that upon conclusion of the
European war some steps might be
taken looking to a settlement OF inter
national disputes by arbitration and
discontinuance of the construction of
competitive ornaments, recommends
the adoption Of these paragraphs and
orpropr!atcs 100000.
The hill carries AN appropriation OF
nearly Sl4.o0o,o00 for active and reserve
for the five proposed battle
cruisers and provides $3.i9o.o00 for new
engines and other re-equipment OF the
active fleet
No existing governmen, dry docks
can accommodate the proposed battle
cruisers. which will be 500 feet long.
says the committee report, and the bill
provides appropriations OF S3i0o. 100
each for the Norfolk and Philadelphia
NavyfardS. This will he spent III con
structinG larger dry docks. AMI $500, 900
Will become available for each yard
on the passage of the measure. The
hill also provides $i75.Goo for dredging
the Cooper River in the approach TO
The Charleston Navy-Yard. 10 make It
possible for capital ships 10 cali a,
the Charleston Navy-Yard for repairs
ana supplies"
SHORTAGE IN rERsONNEI
WILL RI NET IN FEW YEARS
The comm!;te" estimates tha,, under
stoned personnel Of the navy will lie
met III a few years, and that the 1852
additional men provided for are all that
will be needed during the next hscai
year.
Tie TOTAL cost of The new ships
recommended is placed e, :iGO."s7.S57.
90 which s5s,.i..3.d is appropriated in
1917. together with S2S,36S,lc7 for con
,inCtne present building.
: commission Of five naval officers is
created 70 investigate the uay!-yard
situation and report u the mcNt session
O.: Congress az TO the necessity for
additional yards ON the Pacific Coast.
the Atlantic coast south pf Hat,cras.
or on the Gulf, and advis.hly AS n
abolish any existing yards.
Referring to its failure to recon-
mend additional Drea'inoughts in the
!9i7 program reported. the committee
says II does not wish 10 lie under
stood as holding ina. battieshIps have
been displaced as the main naval de-
pendtnce. ON the contrary" The re-
port says, all naval exports told the
committee rreadnnugh,s formed the
real fighting line OF any feet"
Cur feet ot Dr"adnoughta and pre-
i; explains, has reached
such proportions that the construction
Of h2ttle cruisers must nov he author
lied and begun AT once IN order that
our feet u" properly balanced for
EEht!ng efficiency"
Tne report adds that The fac: ,har
"ihef navies hnv" been equipped with
battle cruisers makes u absolutely es-
s"ntial that American fleets should
l'a"" similar units
RANK or Full. ADMIRAL