The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-08
NECESSARY FOR
U. s. To ADD To
POWER ON SEAS.
Secretary Daniels Says 1t Will
Be Until All the World
DiSarmS.


the United States must continue to in
crease its naval power, Secretary
Daniels declared in his annual report,
and which urges that funds be appro-
priated at once to begin building AZ
additional ships.
feelSit my duty to warn as sol
EMMY as may. Secretary says
after reciting the high expenditures
for the navy authorized at the last
session of Congress, against the dan
ger that lies in a possible feeling on
the part of our people that the navy
has now been attended to, has been
placed where it belongs, among the
great navies of the world, and there
is nothing further to be done. Com
plaeent retrospection is the father of
dry rot. We have made a magnifi-
cent beginning, but that it must not
be forgotten by the public that the
same intelligent appreciation of our
needs, the same willingness to provide
for these needs, must be shown this
year and every succeeding year if
we are to finish what we have COM
menced.'' VI
Secretary Daniels recalls that the
1914 appropriation bill carries pro-
vision fer a possible Limitation Of
armament agreement.
II earnestly hope the time is not far
distant when this act Of Congress will
result in such an agreement he con-
tinues, land that the nations Of the
earth will have the craftsmanship to
devise effective means of preserving
the. worlds peace without constantly
building ever increasing dread
naughts at ever increasing cost. Until
that hour arrives the United States
! cannot safely adopt any policy other
than that Of continuing the policy Of
steadily increasing it's naval strength"
Picturing the result of construction
now contemplated, Secretary Daniels
says the main fighting elements of the
fleet, completed and In commission in
1921 will be 27 dreadnaughts Of the
first line, supported by six battle
cruisers, Is second line battleships,l / 8
scout cruisers, los destroyers, IL fleet
submarines and 100 coast defense sub
mersibles. (, While there is no posi-
bility Of predicting what rank among
the naval powers the country will then
take, he adds, the authorization of
such a program has been accepted as
assurance that the United States has
definitely embarked on the policy Of
building an adequate navy.
The Secretary devotes much atten-
ton to discussion Of the problems en-
countered by the department in get
ting the new ships laid down. Building
facilities and skilled labor are lacking,
he says, ana the program he has rec
onlrnendeA for 1SISafeatired bY-three
batt1esf1fps and one battle cruiser. will
tax private And public plants to their
utmost even with the increased build
ing equipment authorized for navy
yards. It was for that reason the
Secretary adds, that he did not follow
the general boards-recommendation
and urge that the four OF the six re-
naming battleships OF the three year
pr agram and both Of the battle cruis-
err be laid down at once,
srne board states in its report ac-
companying that Of the Secretary. that
its information as to building facilities
.s-.&.ates the 1918 program outlined
could be built. It also recommends
the addition Of twelve mine sweepers.
one supply ship and two seagoins tugs
to the total OF the 15e-shfD three-year
program. -.
Secretary Daniels indicates clearly
the ~ culties faced bv the depart
ment, however. in the following Lam
guage. M
THE last naval bill does not give
to the department any additfonal or
extra ordinary powers In. connection
with placing the contracts for these
vessels or in obtaining materials for
their construction. It is hoped that
fine, necessity will not arise Of having
10 ask for s+,eh powers. as = n,,fa,,1ber
Of shin b,i1ders and noap5,fa e++5rers
have shown an attitude Of wit1in4aass
r., ass4st t1,e denartment in naeatinr
+be s,,n,1sual situation created 4z, tho
desire. Of the country 10 can,=nanea
snd to exnedita an ex4i~.al.s .,z,,raea-
danted ,aya1 nroerana az q ti.se wban
tho industrsal raso4,xeas ~ tba ea.,,-
try are already texe5 70 their z,tsaae+
canacitv * meeting tsa Demands Of
tremendous trade activity. both do
,,,esstie and fareian. In eyer,, byaaeh Of
l,,,,.a.i,eas r. raav te neeessarv
howaUer fnr f.anaress - eaaee Jasis-
4a+io, ~ tha cbaraotar "a ips,xa t,a
r1v co-orla4ion o4 the pro1ransg oe
co,s+ ruc+ior ,,
The renor+ +aa<..,Ae s,.-ie,ss, on many
activities OF the navy desc ,tYnes,t as,d
commends hig4,4v tta 5aw ergaaioa-
ton and ce-ordinatioa thst is being