The Sentinel=record., 1917-03-20


 With the presidents approval the secretary also ordered the gradua- ton of the first and second-classes al the naval academy The first class will go out March 29. releasing l72 junior officers 10 fill existing yacan. cies and the second in September, furnishing 2o2 more a full year he. fore they otherwise would be avail. able.
 While the energies Of the navy will be concentrated for the present on efforts 10 get into command craft de- signed particularly to destroy sub. marines and guard the coast, warships building generally will be speeded up under the recent agreement with prl- vate builders and with the funds now made aayilable.
 The announcements from tha -da- partment followed an hours confer ence between Secretary Daniels and the president, who walked over from the White House to the state. war and navy building for the purpose.
 Engines for the "chasers" to be turned out by the New York plant will be bought from private manufac- turers in time to have them installed promptly upon completion of the hulls. Bids for two hundred or more addi- tional craft of the same type "coest patrol boats as they are 10 be desie mated Will De opened next Wednes day. Mr. Daniels has called upon he entire small boat industry to submit figures as to the number that could be turned out al high speed He plans to monopolize the market with gov. ernment orders
 A large number ot nrIYa1a.A .olynea motor craIJ avapabie fof nayV ne may be drawn upon at any time Re tired navel officers have been at work along the entire Atlantic coast su-- yeying boats for month. Contracts have been made for their purchase ana a telegraprlc oraer Will make them government property overnight.
 Volunteer crews for the boats have been enrolled among yachtsmen and others along Che coasts Commanders of naval districts are all ready to cail them out and begin patrol work with no delay.
 Navy officials estimate that within .our mohtns a ileet ot two thousand patrol and chasers will be ready for lction 1t is planned to assemble the volunteers within few days to begin actual operations as q matter Of train ng, pending orders by the president for complete mobilization of the navy
 In this connection officials say it s planned to establish a submarine proof patrol off the American coast nsurng safe pas sage to and from American ports for all ships. Since he visit of the German submarine -53 to Newport last summer made it lear that the underwater craft could operate across the Atlantic. it is be ieved necessary to provide protec- lon for American harhors in the went Of war.
 Informal negotiations will be start I'd for a working agreement with Brit sh and Franch patrol spuadrons now andeavoring to protect ships passing through the German submarine zone. is planned to make American waters safe against submarines for all ships with the understanding that ships will receive full pro. teton in the zones from patrols of the allie3
 The plan would necessitate the iu- erchange Of information as to rout- ing Of merchant craft to and from across the Atlantic.
 The new patrol boats will be of suf- ficient size to permit their use far off shore if necessary.
 Recent navy contracts were let with the understanding that the eight horr law would be suspended be- cause of the shortage of skilled labors Builders have agreed to construct the five battle cruisers and six scouts cruisers recently assigned to them at the grsatest possible speed. em- ploying al lea-t seventy percent of ell their men on thIs work.
 The department will meet extra payroll and other expenses due 10 the speeding mp and pay time and q noE for all work in excess of the eight hours.
 Under this agreement t is hoped to complete the battle cruisers in three years and scont cruisers in less than two
 Secretary Daniels said there was no present need of exercising the author fly 10 commandeer ship building pr other plants to hasten navy building.