Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-12-06
new NAVY CREATED
BY u. S. DURING war
When Present Program Is Con-
pleted America Will Rank az
Second Sea Power.
By SENATOR CLAUDE E. SWANSON

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 5000, 0O0.-
600 for naval purposes. which exceeds
the total of appropriations for naval
rpose from the beginning of the new
navy i'm 1883 no to the Wilson admins
tration by more than $40, 600, 900. BY
the warm and earnest cooperation of
congress and the administration, the
United States. when it's present pro-
gram is completed. will have easily the
second largest navy in the world. Fol
the fiscal wear ending June 30. 1918,
congress has appropriated 81 GOA. 000.0 900
and authorized contracts for $271 ,000,-
900. During the last two Years the APP
preparations by the United States for
naval purposes 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 ::r"naea
ment has practically created an entirely
new navy. Its increase In efficiency
has been as marked as it's increase in
size. Workmanship and the records of
officers and men have daily improved
and their efficiency in every respect be-
come greater
The navy and marine corps have
been increased until they now consti-
tute a force of more than $40, 600 men.
Since the declaration OF war the navy
by volunteer enlistments has been In
creased from "a. 900 to more than 49,
600. In addition to these there are in
the naval reserve $4,000 men. in the
national naval volunteers $500 men, in
the hospital corps, $500 men. and about
< 0nn in N n r,rn a Nl,1,.4 o,n ,,nyr
about $4,000 commissioner and warrant
officers in the navy and reserve. The
marine corps has grown since the dec
laration of war from 1900 to more
than 1000 by volunteer enlistments.
To raise, train and officer this largely
increased force was indeed a great UNI
d%ertaking, and the department Is de-
serving of commentator for the
promptness and efficiency with which
1t has been done.
Size of Navy TripIed.
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 and cruiser
that was i'm reserve has been fully
manned and commissioned. Many hun
dreds of vessels and fast motor craft
W. been surveyed. taken over and
converted into patrol boats. Many
vessels nave been completed since the
wal VSb Wy QIIIC aIiNb
AVE been promptly put in service.
More Than $50 merchant vessels nave
been armed with naval gums and sup
piled with nava crews and officers.
The American fleet has been provided
with supplies and ammunition and
made ready for action for any demand
that might be made upon it.
In addition to getting ready the fleet
existing. the navy department is also
carrying out the largest ship constrlc-
ton program in the history of any ma
ton. 1t has now in process of con-
Struction 1877 vessels, extending from
superdreadnaughts to submarine chas-
ers. The total cost of those under con-
structiOn at present is estimated at
more than s1,15o.0o0. 00O.
To Lead In Destroyers.
Arrangements were recently made for
completing a very large humble of de-
stroyers in addition to the many all
ready under construction. and these
when finished will give us the largest
| number of d%estroyers of any navy in
the world. These destroyers are indis-
D~ensable for warfare against sub
marines and for protecting our COM
merce and destroying the of
our enemies. Formerly it tool go
months TO construct destroyers. Ar
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, wharves.
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 i'm continued rain
ing sine war was declared, and the
records made by officers and men have
been exceedingly fine and most gratify-
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. / have
read the reports from our navy in for
eign waters, M these show accom-
%plishments Of which we should indeed
be proud. The navy has the RESPONSE
to Franc 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 1t is remembere that when
his war started the navy was short
about 1000 officers from its then au-
thorized strength. n that the list OF
officers could not be largely increased
by graduates from the Nav Academy,
and that most Of the new officers n
men had to be k from civil life,
drilled and made efficient and %acquaint-
the accomplishments of the navy have
been most remarkable. What has been
done could only have been achieved by
the most thorough cooperation in the
navy and continuous, long, and hard
work by the officers and men. The