The daily banner., 1917-11-21
NAVY IS FIT FOR FIGHT
High State of Neutrality-suspicious.
able Progress Made Since United
States Entered World War-Con-
gress Gave Liberal support to De-
partInent in Emergency.
(By Senator Claude y. Swanson. OF
Firginia.}

! (By Senator Claude i. Swanson. OF
Virginia.}
| Congress 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 $2,200,O00 for naval pur-
poses, which exceeds the total ap-
preparations for naval purposes from
| the beginning of tho new navy in
1883 mp to the Wilson administra-
! ton by more than $25O,00O, ,OO0. By
| the warm and earnest cooperation oil
| Congress and the Administration the
/ United States when its present pro-
! gram is completed viii have easily
! The second largest navy in the world.
! 1'or the fiscal year ending June 80,
| 1918, Congress has appropriated 5 l.
| o04 200, 900 and authorized contracts
| for $271, 900, 900. During the last
| two years the appropriations by the
| United States for naval purposes
! have far exceeded those OF any other
| nation for the same length oil time,
! either in peace or war.
The legislation for the Increase of
! the Navy in material and personnel
and changing ana reforming its man
| agement has practically created an
entirely new navy. It's increase in
efficiency has been as marked as its
increase in size. Workmanship and
the records of officers and men have
daily improved and their efficiency
in every respect become greater. l
I'm satisfied that if an opportunity
presents itself the American Navy
will give a splendid account of itself
Of which the country will be proud.
Congress has been most generous in
responding to the demands of the
Navy for appropriations and in
creases, and the Secretary of the Ma
" has wisely. efficiently and prom
Dtly used the resources placed at his
disposal. l have kept in close
touch with the Navy ,es-
pecially since the declaration of war,
and Secretary Daniels has proven
linn self a most capable administra-
tor and efficient Secretary of the Ma
w. It. is gratifying to know the
amount that has been accomplished
IN so short time.
The Navy and Marine Corps have
been increased until they now con-
stitute a force of more than a quar-
ter of million men. Since the dec
iaration of war the Navy by volun-
teer enlistmentS has been increased
from Ga, 900 to more than $4,000.
In addition to these there are in the
Naval Reserve $4,000 men, in the
National Navak Volunteers 14,50O
men, in the Hospital Corps $500
men, and about 5000 men in the
Coast Guards. There are now abou,
$4,000 commissioned and warrant
officers in the Navy and Reserve.
The Marine Corps has grown since
The declaration of war from 1900
20 more than 81, 600 by volunteer en-
EtSCmentS. To raise, train and O1ff-7
Ger this largely increased force was
indeed a great undertaking, and the
Department is deserving OF commen-
dation for the promptness and eff
cheney with which it has been done.
There are three times as many
vessels in the Naval service now as
there were when the United States
entered the war. Every battleship
and cruiser that was in reserve has
been fully manned and commissioned.
hduS luhot VI SCSSSlS dAu ldSl
motor craft have been surveyed, TAX
en- over and converted into patrol
boats. Many vessels have been COM
pleted SINCE the war began by hur-
Iied construction and have been
promptly put in service. More than
ESQ merchant vessels have been arm
ed with naval guns and supplied with
naval crews and officers.
ho A
vided with supplies and ammunition
and made ready for action for any
demand that might be made upon it.
In addition 10 getting ready the
fleet existing, the Navy Department
is also carrying out the largest ship
construction program in the history
of any nation. 1t has now in pro-
cess of construction 7S7 vessels,
extending from uperdreadnought
to submarine chasers. The total
cost of those under construction
at present is estimated at more than
81, $50, 900.
Arrangements were recently made
for completing a very large number
of destroyers in addition to the many
already under construction, ana
these when finished will give us the
largest number of destroyers of any
navy in the world. These destroyers
are indispensable for warfare against
submarines and for protecting Our
commerce and destroying the com
merce of our enemies. Formerly it
took twenty months to construct de-
stroyers. Arrangements are now
made for these to be constructed
within ten 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, wharves, warehouses, piers,
barracks, etc, all of which are being
rapidly provided. An aircraft fac
tory is being built and the Navy De-
partment is supplying itself fully
with the aircraft so much needed.
The Navy has been in continual
training since war was declared, and
the records made by officers and men
have been exceedingly fine and most
gratifying. A large fleet of destroy
ers has been sent to aid our allies in
Europe, and the largely decreased
loss in shipping from submarines at
tests to their efficient and successful
work. 1 have read the reports from
our Navy in foreign waters, and
these show accomplishments of
which we should indeed be proud.
The Navy has the responsibility of
safely transporting our troops to
France and this has been successful
ly done.
The health, spirit and enthusiasm
of the Navy, both in men and officers.
are fine. When it is remembered
that when this war started the Navy
was short about 1000 officers from
It's then authorized 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 acquainted with
| their new work, it seems to me the
accomplishments of the Navy have
been most remarkable. What has
been done could only have been