Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-12-06
new NAVY CREATED
BY u. s. DURING WAR
When Present Program Is Con"
pleted America Will Rank as
Second Sea Power.
BY SENATOR CLAUDE E. SWANSON

BY SENATOR CLAUDE e. SWANSON
Washington, D. C. (Special),-Con-
gress and the administration are both
deserving of great credit for the rapid
Improvement. increase and efficiency of
the navy. During the years in which
Wilson has been president, congress
has appropriated more than 50, 200, 000,-
300 for naval purposes. which exceeds
the total of appropriations for naval
purpose from the beginning OF the new
navy in 1883 up to the Wilson admins
tration by more than $3.50, 600, 900. By
the warm and earnest cooperation or
congress and the administration the
United States. when it's present pro-
gram is completed. will AVE easily the
second largest navy in the world. For
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1918,
congress has appropriated 81, 604, 100000
and authorized contracts for $271, 000,-
300. During the last two years the APP
propriations by the United States for
naval purpose have far exceeded those
of any other nation for the same
length of time. either in peace or war.
New Navy Created.
The legislation for the increase of the
navy is material and personal and
changing and reforming its manage
ment has practically created an entirely
new navy. Its Increase in efficiency
has been as marked as it's increase in
size. craftsmanship and the records of
officers and men nave daily improved
and their efficiency in every respect be-
come greater.
The navy and marine corps have
been increased until they now ccnsti-
tute a force of more than 100000 men.
Since the declaration of war the navy
by enlistments has been in
creased from 81, 1000 to more than 49,
UUU, In addition to these there re in
the naval reserve $4,000 men, in the
national naval volunteers IA, 500 men, in
the hospital corps, $500 men, and about
5000 in the coast guards. There are now
about $4,000 commissioned and warrant
officers in the navy and reserve. The
marine corps has grown since the dec
laration of war from 5000 to moro
than $4,000 by volunteer enlistments.
To raise. train and officer this largely
increased force was indeed a great I'M
dertaking, and the department is de-
serving of commentator for the
promptness and efficiency with which
1t has been done.
Size of Navy Tripled.
There are three times as many YES
sells in the naval service now as there
were when the United States entered
the war. Every battleship cruiser
that was in reserve has been fully
manned and commissioned. Many hun
dreds Of vessels and fast motor craft
have been surveyed, taken over and
converted into patrol boats. Many
vessels have been completed since the
war began by hurried construction and
have been promptly put in service.
More than $50 merchant vessels hav
been armed with naval guns and sup
piled with naval crews and officers.
The American fleet has been provided
with supplies and ammunition and
made ready for action for any demand
| that Toipht hn roo1n ,rn II
In addition to getting ready the fleet
existing, the navy department is also
carrying out the largest ship construc-
ton program in the history of any ma
ton. 1t has now in process of con-
struction 7S7 vessels, extending from
superdreadnaughts to submarine chas-
ers. The total cost of those under con-
struction at present is estimated at
more than 81, $50, 000, 900.
To lead In Destroyers.
Arrangements were recently made for
completing a very large number of de-
stroyers in addition to the many al
ready under construction, and these
when finished will give us the largest
number of destroyers of any navy in
the world. These destroyers are indis-
pensable for warfare against sub
marines and for protecting our COM
merce n destroying the commerce of
our enemies. Formerly it took 20
AiioAil1io I l. y aSSlloySlS. AZ
engagements are now made for these to
be constructed within 10 months.
The fleet, in order to be kept in repair
and ready at all times, has required
large construction at the various navy
yards, including dry docks, wharyes.
warehouses;, piers, barracks, ETC., all Of
which are being rapidly provided. An
aircraft factory is being built and the
navy department is supplying itself
fully with the aircraft so much needed.
The navy has been in continued train
ing since war was declared, and the
records made by officers and men have
been exceedingly fine and most crafty
ing. A large fleet Of destroyers has
been sent to aid our allies in Europe,
and the largely decreased loss in ship
ping from submarines attests to their
efficient and successful work. l have
read the reports from our navy in for
eign waters, and these show accom-
plishments Of which we should indeed
be proud. The navy has the RESPONSE
bility Of safely transporting our troops
to France and this has been success
fully done.
Spirit of Men the Best.
The health, spirit and enthusiasm of
the navy, both in men and officers, are
fine. When it is remembered that when
this wal started the navy was short
about 1000 officers from its then au-
thorized strength, and that the list of
officers could not be largely increased
by graduates from the Naval Academy,
and that most Of the new officers and
men had to be taken from civil life,
drilled and made efficient and a%cquaint-
ed with their new work, it seems to me
the accomplishments Of the navy a
been most remarkable. What has been
done could only LAY been achieved by
the most thorough cooperation in the
navy and continuous, long, and hard
work by the officers and men. The