The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-02
RECORD NAVAL PROGRAM
NOW BEING PUSHED.
America WIN Soon Hsvc Greatest de-
stroyer Fleet sa the
world.
BUILDING VERY RAPIDLY.
Turned ous by Americans I'm Half
Time Taken Before War.

] "As3tAAheA~uf Sept L. AnS navy &C
( tual construction OF deatroyers at thi
moment is SO vast II SURPRISES tn
. imagination. This statement was mad
/ today by one of the highest officials o
the service. He added:
We are actually building--have OF
the way--1nore than twice as man,
destreyers as has been suggested IL
even the most enthusiastic estimates
his In addition TO the new program
recently announced by Secretary Dan
iels. the details of which are now be
ing worked out"
But the real extent OF the navy
activities was made plain In this sen
fence: America at this moment Il
carrying out the biggest naval build
ing program ever attempted by any ma
tion. She has surpassed Great Britain
| England has constructed more ship,
thAn we have over period NJ yeurl
bat even she has never built so many
at one time"
Details of the naval. construction. pro,
! gram cannot or course be made public
as they are war Information Of tht
greatest value to the enemy. But these
things may be told:
l. The present construction Of de-
stroyers alone will give America the
greatest feet OF that type of vessels In
the world, German submarine effective
meas has decreased In exact ratio to the
/ increase Of destroyers In the subma
rine zone. The arrival in European
waters of vice-Admirai Sims fleet oil
destroyers was directly responsible fir
/ the view of naval experts for the re-
duotion by half of the amount Of ton
mage sunk
z. The concentration on destroyer
construction 10 not seriously Interior
ing with the main building program
under the four year plan. Work Is goi
ing ahead on the uperdreadnoughts
authorized by congress and they VIII
( be launched on schedule time. There
has been some slight Interference with
! the building OF battle cruisers but work
of assembling material for them is
proceeding
: Reduce Time one-HnIf.
| u Tha construction OF 6estroyers Is
now being done in half the time II
| took before the war. The fast sub
| marine hunters are now befug turnet
! out In ten TO twelve months, sherea.
1 1t took eighteen to twenty only last
| March.
| 4 The additional Increment Of de.
| stroyers. estimated at more than 1Bt
| under Secretary Daniels new program
Wilt Is believed naval circles
| practically sound the doom of the sub,
| marine They viii enable the navy II
set into force policy Of conveying ant
! patrolling which will completely De
| horn the Thoat OF Its effectiveness anc
make the seas safe
Money has already been asked o.
| congress- for these boots ana plans 70,
! the construction Of three great new
/ yards for their construction with ia,
+ ciiites at yards now existing are be-
| Ing worked out.
/ The work now being done on this pro
! gram was explained as follows:
! II has been made an Individual uro
! position for each yard TO determine tn,
I ground and machinery necessary unde
/ the new program. They will repor
/ 10 the navy department whose ex
! perts will examine the reports and In
spect the sites. Some land Will hav
| to be obtained by purchase, other b,
/ condemnation. A survey OF the faoilt
/ ties Of the nation has DIET errntnad tina
| the machinery needed can be obtaine,
! and transported Immediately so Their,
/ VIII be no delay In. this respect. or
| noials believe the entire work can b.
, done In so short time that actua
| launching of destroyers from the new
/ plants can take place within approx
: imateiy fourteen months