New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-19
House Measure Votes
5 Battle Cruisers,
No DreadnoughtS.
DEMOCRATS BOLT
5-YEAR SCHEME
Little Navy" Men Force
Compromise - Bill
PleaSeS KitChin.
lFrom N. Tribune Bure,u.l

Washington, May 1s.-The fve-day
deadlock in the House Naval Com
mittee was finally broken to-day with a
defeat for the Administration forces
On a strictly party vote the naval ap-
propriation bill was authorized, but
without the provision for fve-year
building programme advocated by Pres
ident Wilson and Secretary Daniels.
As finally agreed TO, the bill author
ICES the construction in 1917 Of FIVE
battle-cruisers, as against two dread
noughts and two battlc-cruisers recon
mended by Secretary Daniels; four
scout cruisers, an increase of one scout
over the departments programme; ten
destroyers, as against fifteen recon-
mended; twenty submarines, three TO
be s0O-ton boats, compared with hye
fleet and twenty-five coast defence sub
marines recommended; one hospital
ship, one oil fuel ship and one ammu-
milton ship. The gunboat recommended
vas stricken out and the fuel and am
munition ships were added from Secre-
tary Daniels's programme for the sec
ond year.
Appropriation Greatest Ever Asked.
The total cost Of the building pro-
gramme is sl6O,2ll,3l7.
Included in the bill are s2,0OO,OOO
for aeronautics; Sl,5OO,OOO each for
two dry docks. ono at Norfolk and the
other at Philadelphia; Sl3,1OO,OOO for
ammunition for ships already built or
s4,5OOOOO for reserve am
munition; about s9,OOO,OOO for ammu-
milton for ships authorized in the bill.
The bill increases the personnel to
a total Of $4,000 men, including marines
but not officers. which means a net gain
OF approximately l6,5O0.
Secretary Daniels said tonight he
never lost hope OF getting what he
asked for until Congress adjourned. 1t
was clearly indicated that the Senate,
which has not yet taken up considera-
tion Of the naval bill, even in commit
tee. was relied upon to restore the
The Senate has never
tailed TO increase the programme for
the navy mapped out by the House, and
navy officials arc confident that the
final bill will provide for at least two
bsttleships and four bsttle-cruisers.
"It is very pleasing" Secretary Dam
icls declared, "to see what Congress IS
willing 10 do this year don't think
anybody will appreciate what 1t means
until he realizes that congressman
who last year would vote for only ono
battlcship, are now ready TO vote five
battle-cruisers. each OF which costs
more than a drcsdnought.
"The Senate will probably add TO the
Houses figures; it always has. ] hope
we shall get ono or two dreadnoughts
this year. although battle-cruisers are
really the crying need Of the navy.
II Congress does not authorize any
dreadnoughts. we can still keep the
battle feet moving forward by recon-
missioning some of the old battlcships
now in reserve. The extra men 20 be
-oted this year will make that pos
sible.'
The deadlock in the House Committee
followed a caucus OF the eight Repub-
lican members Of the committee, at
which It was decided TO oppose the
five-year programme and TO seek to IN
crease the 1917 appropriations over the
figure suggested by the department.
Five OF the thirteen Democrats not
only opposed the continuing pro
gramme, but also were determined TO
cut down the 1917 estimates and not to
vote for any battleship Appropriation.
They were willing to support four
battle-cruiser programme, however, ana
the final compromise was effected by
Continued on page Z. column