Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-20
RUSHING WORK ON
U-B0AT CHASERS
President Authorizes Inden-
ture of $l15,0OO,OOO to
Protect Nation.
BUILD BOATS BY THE SCORE
Secretary of the Navy Has
Plans Which Look to a
Fleet of Many Ships.

WASHINGTON, March IO.--Prcp-
ni7'tions for aggressive action by the
navy against the German submarine
menace began today ut the direction
Of President Wilson.
The president authorized The cx.
pcnditurc of the Slt5,OOO. 900 cmcr-
scncy fund provided by congress to
speed up naval construction and nay
Tor special additional war craft and
The suspension of the eight -honr labor
law In plants engaged In navy work.
Immediately aftcrward Secretary
anicis ordered the New Yorl, navy
yard 10 begin building sixty subma-
iinc chascrs OF the no. foot tync IN
be completed in from sixty to eighty
days.
win the presidents approval the
secretary also ordered the graduation
Of the first and second classes at tho
naval academy. The frst-class will 20
ont March 20. releasing I12 junior Of
itrrs To fill existing vacancies. and
the second In september, furnishing
2O2 more full year before they other
wise would be available.
Speed Up All Work.
While the energies of the navy will
DC concentrated Cor the present on
efforts TO get into commission craft
designed particularly to destroy sub
marines and guard the coast, warship
ullding generally will be speeded up
under the recent agreement with pri-
Nate builders and with the funds now
nIGdo available.
The announcements from the de-
partment followed an hours confer
ence between Secretary Daniels and
the president, who walked over from
the White House to the state, war ard
navy ililding for the purpose.
Engines for the "chasers' to be
turned out by the New York rlant will
he bought from private manufactur-
ers In time TO have them Installed
promptly upon completion Of the
hulls. Bids for two hundred CT more
additional craft OF the same type
coast patrol boats,' as they are to
be designated. will be opened next
Wednesday. Mr.. Daniels has called
| upon tho entire small boat industry to
submit figures as to the number that
could be turned out at high speed. He
| pans to monopolize the market with
government orders.
To Gather Fleet Quickly.
A large number Of privatcly-owned
motor craft available for navy uss
may he drawn upon at any time. Re-
tired naval officers have been at work
along the entire Atlantic coast survey-
| ing boats for a month. Contracts havs
bcen made for their purchase and a
tclcsraphic order will make them
government property overnight
| volunteer crews for the boats have
peeh enrolled among yachtsmen and
others along the coasts. Command
ers or naval districts are ready to call
them out and begin patrol work with
virtually no delay.
Many officials estimate that within
four months fleet of two thousand
patrols and chasers will be ready for
action. 1t is planned to assemble the
volunteers within "A few days to be-
! gin actual operations as matter OF
| framing, Pending orders by the presl-
dent for complete mobilization of the
navy.
Patrol for Subs.
In this connection officials say Il
| Is planned to establish a submarine
proof patrol off the American coast
usuring safe passage to and from
American ports for all ships Since
! the Visit of the German submarine
| C-53 to Newport last summer made
II clear that the underwater craft
could operate across the Atlantic. il
/ is believed necessary 10 provide for
/ protection of American harbors in
the event Of war
Informal negotiations will be start
ed for a working agreement with
British and French patrol squadrons,
now cndeavoring to protect ships
passing thru the German submarine
zone. II is planned to make Ameri-
can waters safe against submarines
for all ships with the understanding
that American ships will receive full
protection In the zones from patrols
OF the allies.
The plan would necessitate the in
terchauge OF Information as to rout-
ling OF merchant craft to and fro
across the Atlantic.
The new patrol boats will be of suf-
ficient size to permit their use far Off
shore II necessary.
suspend Tine Scale.
Recent naval contracts were let with
the understanding that the eight hour
law would be suspended because OF
the shortage Of skilled labor. Build
ers have agreed to construct the five
battle cruisers and six scout cruisers
recently assigned to them at the
.
least 70 per cent of all their men on
this work, The department will meet
extra payroll and other expenses due
10 the speeding up and pay time and
half for all work In excess of eight
hours.
Under this agreement II is hoped
to complete the battle cruisers in
three years and scout cruisers in less
than two.
Secretary Daniels said there was no
present need OF exercising the author
ity TO commander shipbuilding or
other plants to hasten navy building.
The enlisted personnel OF the navy
i5 being recruited rapidly, a total OF
90, 600 men being attained today. Con-
gress has authorized q total strength
of $4,000 and given the president au-
th0rity to increase that to $1,000 IN
emei gency. That power will not 10
exercised. however until u strength OF
20. 600 has been reached.
In the event Of complete mohilizo-
tiOn, three steps would be taken: Re.
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO