The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-30
FORT|F|CATIONS
BILL IS PASSED
DEFENSE PLAN NOW
TAKING ON SHAPE
Naval Committee Completes
Appropriation Bill Army
Bill Not Reported.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.-The ad-
ministrations sS00O00.000 defense
budget began to take final shape in
Congress today when the House
passed the Notifications bill carrying
Ia total of more than s51 100000 for
coast defenses. and the House naval
committee completed its 1918 naval
appropriation bill with a total of more
than 1851. 100000.
The army appropriation bill, the
third element of the program. still is
which is expected to complete it next
week. Estimates for the army reach
a total of more than $500, 100000. en-
elusive Of numerous deficiency meas
ures resulting from the border mobil-
ization and the rising cost of war ma
terials.
The only other military legislation
pending is the universal military train
Ing bill before Senate subcommittee
which will conclude its hearings this
week when Major Generals Scott and
Wood are to be recalled for cross
examination by Senator Blair Lee. Of
Maryland, on their previous state
ments that liberalization Of the Ma
tional Guard has proved a failure. It
is not expected that Congress will
take any action on the universal train
ing bill at this session.
The navy bill carries a total OF $751;
4S3,245, as against S3l3,ON,Q0O last
year. 1t provides for the construction
Of three 42,000-ton battleshlps at a
total cost of $2S,17S, 592 each; one bat
tie cruiser at cost Of 2G,694,4 1896;
three scout cruisers at s6.746, 145 each;
lis destroyers at S1.74S612 each; one
destroyer tender at S2,S0S,00 one
submarine tender at 81, l99,4O0, and
eighteen S00-ton type submarines at
S1,434,09 each. The program Is that
recommended by the department and
represents one-half of the remaining
portion Of the three-year program ap-
proved last year.
Changed Type Of Subs.
The committee departed from the
departments recommendations only in
the type Of submarines provided Tor.
No small coast defense submersibles
are authorized, the committee having
decided against the small 400 to bOO-
ton type Of boat, such as those now IN
service.
Taking up the problem Of getting
under construction the four battle
cruisers authorized last year, the COM
mittee raised the limit of cost Tor the
hull and machinery to $19,000,000 from
, O,OuU,UUp. DCPdA tt1lSLAI
lieve all four vessels can be placed
with private bidders at that figure.
The committee also needed, however.
Secretary Daniels communications
that navy yards be fitted to build large
numbers of capital ships, authorizing
the expenditure of an additional Sl2.-
900 900 for that purpose in the, event
the department is unable to make sat
isfactory contracts for any vessel IN
the present bill or left over from the
preceding measure. This would make
available a total of $1S,OOO,OOO for
eouipping navy yards.
For the three scout cruisers still
awaiting satisfactory bids, the com
mittee raised the cost for hull and ma
chinery to sG.000,000. from $1,000, oCo
Another new provision Of the bill
raises the number Of appointments an
nuaIly at Annapolis to be made from
the enlisted personnel OF the navy
from 25 to 100. Appointments may
be made whenever vacancies occur.
The new battleships will be the most
nowerful war vessels ever built. They
will have speed OF % knots an hour
and carry main batteries Of twelve 16-
inch each instead Of the eight 16inGn
guns on the four authorized last wear.