New Britain herald., 1917-12-10
WE ARE READY NOW. SAYS YOUNG OFFICER
Famous Reply Made by American
 Officer to British Admiral
HE WAS NOT ROASTING
Secretary of the Navy Says That tho Marines Have Lined Up to Their Best Traditions -As Will Ec Seen When War Closes.

Best Traditions As Will Ec Seen
 When War Closes.
 Washington, Dec. 1O.-To a young officer, commanding the first fotilla of American destroyers to reach the war zone when the United States entered the world war; Secretary Daniels turns m hlS annual report, to find the war slogan of tho naval service. Asked by the British admiral to whom ne re- ported when his ships would be ready TOT work against the submarines after the long voyage, the officer rcpl:el:
 we are ready now.
 That was not the language of boasting," MT. Daniels says in de- scrlbing the incident. "H was the prophecy and pledge of our service With those lighting in a common cause
 During peaceful years the Navy has been quitly but steadily perfect!ng ltsef to meet the time of war. Now the hour for which it has been pre- pairing has arrived. Our sword is drawn, and no one will dispute that the blade is keen and free from rust and it's temper true.
 While I may not speak in detail of the greater naval operations, it may be stated that the record is one of in- creasing power, of developing re- sourcefulness and of cooperative achievement which the American peo- pie may well survey with national pride. While the details of what we have done and how we have done it must wait until it is permissible 70 spread them upon public record, this summary may be given. to our people,:
 Tn the Navy we have prepared for, and have met the duties of the pres ent; we are preparing for and are con- hdent we will be able to meet any call for greater duties, for more ex- acting responsibilities. The best way. to secure enduring peace is to prepare unceasingly, night and day, for the winning of the war whether it be long or short. This we have done: this we are doing and this we will continue to do.''
 ! For the coming year, MT. Daniels proposes naval budget of $1,039,- 66O,3 which is not itemized in his report. In various ways. he says. it will be necessary to ask for adHit.un- al funds aS the session of Congress proceeds. He points out, however, that appropriations for the last fiscal year totalled $1,542, 732,S ,S59 for the Navy, and for a thirteen month period $l,- 9O5, ,41O,93O. Congress provided fiber ally, he says, and legislated for the Navy with vision and wisdom.
 "This was done, too," he adds, "in the broadest spirit of national patriot ism by members of all political par ties"
 Striking figures contained in the re- port showing the war expansion of the navy include the following:
 Since Jan. 1, 1917 the naval force has increased from 4,5OO, officers and 5000 men to 1 B. 900 officers and 254,- 900 men, the number of stations of all kinds operated by the Navy has in creased from 13O to 363; the number of civil employees from 35,000 to co., 900; the strength of the Naval Reserve from a few hundreds to 49.246 men; the average monthly expenditure from 1 $8,O00.000 to $6O,000,OO0: the number l of ships in commission from a little more than 300 to more than 1,U00; 1 the hospital corps from 1,600 to 1000; the National Naval Volunteers from zero to 16,O00 men; the Marine Corps 1 from 344 officers and 9,921 men to i 1,197 officers and 30, 900 men. In ad- 1 dition to this and to the vast orders l for material placed, the expansion of 1 the air service and to many wholly new activities developing from war conditions, training facilities have l been provided for 113,65O men exClu- sive of the Naval Academy and other regular service schools
 For the first time, the Secretary 1 does not make public the report of l the General Board of the Navy His ! synopsis of the boards work shows that it has been of a most confidential character and the report is withheld i for that reason, MT. Daniels says. This report is the usual source of the future building program of the Navy. The secretary contents himself this year however, with recommending that the remainder of the three year program already approved be author ized. including three battleships. one
 battle cruiser. three scout cruisers,
 nine fleet, submarines and a number of
 auxiliary craft.
 The secretary asks that the ger manent enlisted personnel be increased
 to 129,OO0 blue jackets, 10,e0O appren- tice seamen, 1000 men in the trade
 schools and 4,000 for the air service.
 For war purposes he asks that the fig
 ures be 18O00O blue jackets, 34.0O0 l apprentices, 14,OO0 in trade schools
 and 10000 in aviation.
 MT. Daniels again emphasizes his
 feeling that promotion should be
 made on the basis of merit through
 out the Navy and that the "fettish''
 of seniority be abandoned, from :..l-
 miral to ensign.' He recommends
 that the Selcctivc system now ife eX-
 tended to the staff as well as the liuc.
 He also expresses the conviction that
 every candidate for admission to the Naval Academy should be compelled
 to serve d year before the mast d., ;,p ] (ContinUcd On Tenth Pagel