New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-12
Force on Border Sixty
Per Cent Raw, Says
Secretary
DANIELS TO STIR
lip SHIPBUILDERS
Asks Legislation to End
Delay - Urges Work
by United States

Washington, Dec 1.-THE attention
# Congress vss directed sharply TO-
-, 70 matters relating 70 both the
INV and navy which are expected to
- productive Of agitation for even
~, drastic measures Of national de-
t,,,, than have yet been seriously con-
sidsred.
s,c,.tsrv Baker wrote Speaker Clark,
=. ,,s,onse 10 8 House resolution, that
-,sSa out Of the grand total Of l6S,sOO
y.,;onal Guardsmen taken into the
r,d.rsl service Up 70 August 81 were
without previous military training. Re-
;,,,ions Of enrolled Gusrdsmen for
,,rious causes operated later TO in
,,...s the number Of raw recruits to
,,,roximately so per cent Of the force.
In this connection, also, army officers
.h,rred with the duty Of studying
events Of the European war, both po-
r,iesl and military. made preparations
"a contend before the Congressional
Military Committee that the funda-
mental reason for the Cabinet crisis
in England was the volunteer military
policy there prior 10 the passage Of the
,ors,ription act. The experience Of
Great Britain is viewed by these officers
=, the strongest Of arguments for the
establishment Of universal military
training in the United States, as urged
il the report Of Major General Hugh
l. Scott, Chief Of staff, and to which
ihs entire American General Staff is
committed.
Deficiency May Be s5o.OOO,OOO
Another aspect Of the National Guard
situation came from Qusrtermaster
General Sharpe, who told Of s25, ,0OO,-
900 deficiency incurred BY the War De-
psrimsnt 10 equip and pay state troops
now in the Federal service. If an aver
sge Of $4,000 men are retained on the
border until June so, he said, the de-
icency will be s5OO00,O00. The uni
ysrssl training advocates are expected
70 use their figures in contending that
prohibitive cost would be the result Of
The present system If the nation needed
great army.
Secretary Daniels. before the House
Naval Committee, advocated legislation
which would compel steel companies
and other private concerns to give pref
erenee 70 government orders for mill
tary supplies. lie will submit new
section for the pending naval appro-
pristions bin for this purpose in order
% hasten battleship construction, which
he declared was being delayed By com
mereial work both in the yards OF pri-
'aie builders and in the steel plants.
Secretary Daniels explained 10 the
Naval Committee a statement in his
''nusl report as 20 the delays encoun-
'srsd In getting the building pro
g7n-s authorized BY the last session
tade; construction. He pointed out
ttt no satisfactory bids have been
received for the four battle-cruisers
d u. 1917 battle programme. nor any
sd' at all for three Of the four scout
''uis.rs. They we're new type, but
NAlly necessary In the opinion Of the
r'n.rsl board. the Secretary said, and
as sdded:
Every time We make q change and
--'aneement in design the shipbuiiders
'sh' 10 stick 70 the old plans"
Plans Government Yards
Tie Secretary will ask s6.O0O.OO0 =
year Tor the equipment Of govorument
.aics 10 build ships. He inserted a
'Atment IN the committee records
,oHng his approval of the general
yards recommendation for Finch
..h, S5-kuot, 42,000-ton battlcShlps in
tsl6 programme, at probable cost
y, ~ hull and machinery alone Of Sl5.-
Two each. The ships will carry 10
ssl bo-ealibre guns, the most power
- weapons ever designed for naval
Mounted three 20 4 turret.
lee Secretary recommended abolish
'nt o. the naval prison at Portsmouth.
~ d, and the establishment there OF
nanne barracks for ! 1000 men. He
"a Nat many detachments from the
vsel Academy, the Boston and New
"a navy yards and elsewhere would
@seentratedlst the new post, while
i@ prisoners would be sent TO the
Aes ship SOuthery. at Portsmouth.
30 Daniels praised the services OF
s'sswsin Hill, commanding the south
~ and approved a suggestion by
"'P'tsentstiye Roberts that he be made
commander in the navy by act Of
tiisnsion Of facilities for enlisted
- 70 enter the Naval Academy was
,No by the Secretary, but he dissp-
,,see the suggestion for early gradu-
.h OF midshipmen TO I'll vacancies
ne service. lie intimated that he
s,fm ask later that the pay Of all
sled men on first enlistment be
|seo 70 encourage recruiting, but he
not 20 into details.
s