The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-08-23
WILL BUILD !
GREAT[STELEET
Of D[sTROY[Rs
Daniels and Ship Building Men
Confer Over Details of New
Naval Program and
II Plan Speed.
SUBS FEAR THEM MOST
End to Sub Chaser Campaign.
Comes Suddenly on Sims Adj
vice That Fast Scout
Boats Are Best.
lBx United Press.l

Washington, Aug. 21.-President Will
son n his naval chief have decided
against an early major naval offensive.
against Germany, it was learned Off
cially today, though naval authorities
who favor such a move, say that 1t
does not preclude the possibility Of r.
big drive later. These authorities pre-
dict that next spring the %sitaution will
be such that Great Britain and America
will throw their combined navies into.a
great smash.
Washington, d. c., Aug. 21-Im-
mediate expanding OF building facilities
of the United States to double or treble
the output of destroyers in the next IS
months, was the object Of a conference
between Secretary Daniels and repre-
~sentatives of Is o. more ship and en-
CINE builders.
III we get what we want the secre-
tary said, the United States will nave
more destroyers than any other power.
They are the thing that a subma-
rine fears"
All That Can Be Built.
The secretary indicated tha all de-
stroyers the builders could produce
would be ordered. Every effort Of the
department will be laid upon speeding
up the many contracts now pending.
Every aspect of ship building that
bears upon the destroyer production
was taken up at the conference. There
IS no shortage Of material or plant
facilities, but a difficulty in obtaining
high power engines.
Ends Sub Chaser plan.
Secretary Daniels said no additional
submarine chasers would be ordered at
present. The chasers + valuable as
harbor and shore patrols, but Destroy
ers are superior eve for these duties
and have in addition seagoing uuali-
ties which make them of far greater
value in all other ways.
Every suggestion that the ship and
engine builders had to make today as
to additional motive power for Destroy
ers was given close attention. Equip
ping some of the new vessels with Oil
engines was among the suggestions.
AS to the plants at which the new
destroyers will be laid down, Secretary
Daniels said he favored expansion Of
the plants already building destroyers
as the most efficient means of speed
ing up. Experience gained in previous
building will enable such plants to turn
out ships more quickly, it is felt, than
would be possible for a plant new to
the work.
Secretary Daniels decision shows
that the officers who have been con-
tending that the best answer to the
U-boat was to turn out an enormous
number of d~estroyers have carried
their point They were backed by re-
ports from Vice Admiral Sims, founded
on his experience in European waters.
Will Convoy Troop Ships.
Another important point is the prob
lem Of furnishing conveys to troops
and supply ships which will grow q
more Americans go to France. Many
officers believe that destroyer conyoys
guarantee a large degree Of security
from submarine attack.
No figures have ever been made pub
lie as to DESTROYER ,,ndar
construction. Secretary Daniels said to-
day, however, that they represent the
maximum present capacity OF the coun.