Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-30
$500, 100000
 in Defense Budget
MORE THAN $5oooo, 900 FOR
 COAST DEFENSES
NAVY BILL 35,433,245
Naval Committee Has Raised the Limit for Construction of Hull of Battle Cruisers From $16,500ooo to s1e,ooo, ,ooo.

Washington. Jan. 29.-The adninis- trations $S00,00 1000 defense budget began to take final shape in congress today when the house passed the forti- fications bill carrying a total of more than s51, ,000, 900 for coast defenses, and the house naval committee completed it's 1918 naval appropriation bill with a total of more than S351, ,0OO.O
 Army Appropriation Bill.
 The army appropriation bill. the third element of the programme, still is in the house military committee, which is expected to complete it next week. Estimates for the army reach a total of more than s360.000. 900, ex- elusive of numerous deficiency meas ures resulting from the border mobili- zation and the rising cost of war ma terials.
 Universal Military Training.
 The only other military legislation pending is the universal military train ing bill before a senate subcommittee which will conclude it's hearings this week, when Major Generals Scott and Wood are to be recalled for cross ex- animation by Senator Blair Lee of Maryland, On their previous statements that liberalization of the nationa. guard has proved failure. It is not expected that congress will take any action on the universal training bill at this session.
 Navy Bill Carries $351 ,433, PAS.
 l,- 433,245, as against $313,O0O, 900 last year. It pro~ides for the construction of three 42. coo ton battleships at to- tai cost of BPS, ,17s. 592 each; one battle cruiser at cost of $26.es4. 496; three scout cruisers at S6,746,145 each; Is destroyers at $1.74S,612 each; one des- troyer tender at .$2, sos, 900; one sub marine tender at $2.199, 400, and eigh- teen 800 ton type submarines at s1.- 434,O93 each The programme is that recommended by the department and represents one half of the remainin 2 portion of the three year programme approved last year.
 Submarines Provided For
 The committee departed from the departments recommendations only in the type of submarines provided for No sma1 coast defense submersibles are authorized, the committee having decided against the small 400 to 600 ton type of boat. such as those now in service.
 Raised Limit for Battle Cruisers.
 Taking up the problem of getting under construction the four battle cruisers authorized last year, the com mittee raised the limit of cost for the hull and machinery to $19. 9.000, 900 from 16,5Oo, 900: Department officials be- I1eVe all four vessels car be placed with private bidders at that figure The committee also needed however Secretary Daniels recommendation that navy yards be fitted to build large numbers of capital ships, authorizing the expenditure of an additional SIP 100000 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 available total of $18,O00 900, for equiping navy yards.
 No Bids for Scout Cruisers.
 For the three scout cruisers still awaiting satisfactory bids, the com mittee raised the cost for hull and machinery to s6,o00,OOo from s5.oo0.O 900. One vessel was ordered from the Seat tie Construction Company some months ago at the lower figure, but no other bids were received.
 1000 Foot Drydock at Boston.
 To encourage the completion of the 1000 foot state drydock at Boston the committee proposed that the sec enter into a contract with the state guaranteeing $50.000 worth of govern ments work to the dock for each of six years.
 the Union ron Works of San Fran cisco some time ago to encourage con- struction of the Hunters Point Dry- dock on San Francisco Bay.
 Appointments to Annapolis.
 Another new provision of the bill raises the number of appointments an- nually to Annapolis to be made from the enlisted personnel of the navy from 25 to 100. Appointments may be made whenever vacancies occur. The new battIeshfps will be the most powerful war vessels ever built. They will have a speed of g knots an hour and carry main batteries of twelve 16 inch guns each instead of the eight Is inch gums on the four authorized last year. DISTRIBUTION OF AMERICAN