New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
secretary's Annual Report
Asks $50 New Ships in
5000. 100000 Schedule
Sims To Be an Admiral
Transporting of Troops to
Europe Called Greatest
achievement of Its Kind

WASHINGTON. Dec. s BY The Asso-
,isted PresS.) With story of brill
ant achievements Of the American navy
~ the war Secretary Daniels couples,
in his annual report made public to-
dsv an urgent recommendation for
continued naval expansion to meet the
demands Of peace for national and in
,ernationa work of the sea.
Through nearly all Of 144 printed
na-es the Secretary tells in brief
phrases Of the navy's part in the war,
Of the doing of the seemingly impossible
through teamwork. He speaks of the
mighty accomplishment of transporting
Two million men to France without the
loss Of an eaStbound troop ship through
enemy action, and he devotes graphic
chapter to the marine brigade, which,
as all the world knows. blocked the
last Prussian advance on Paris and
started the German retreat that ende d
with the war.
This reference to the future con-
cludes the report:
"The day is not far distant when the
world will witness an end of competi-
tive building between nations of mighty
weapons of war. In the peace treaty
there will undoubtedly be incorporated
President Wilson'S proposal for re-
duction of armament TO the lowest
point consistent with domestic safety
"Navies will still be needed as an
International police force to compel
compliance with the decree of an inter
national tribunal which will be set up
Naval vessels Will have large peace
tasks Of survey and discovery and pro-
lection in addition to police duty Of an
International as we'll as of national
character.
Navy to Preserve Peace
'Irasmuch as the United States is
the richest of the great nations and
has suffered less in war than any of
the Allied powers, it will devolve upon
this country to make a contribution
TO the navy to preserve the peace of
the world commensurate with its
wealth. its commerce. its growing and
expanding merchant marine and its
leadership in the councils of free peo-
pies II is therefore our duty now
NOA, ll-QttA, ~ tAllC4 OPOii liCW anu
ambitious naval programme, but to go
forward steadily upon the lines of
naval increase to which the country
committed itself in the adoption three
years ago of the first farreaching con-
strNctive naval programme in the his
tory of the Republic.
Il have recommended to this Con-
rress the adoption of another three
year programme substantially like the
one authorized in 1915. But the vic
tory Of the Allies and the United States
should. and will / sincerely trust, with
IN a few years make it no longer nee
essary for any nation under whip and
spur to burden its taxpayers to under
take to built. in competitive construc-
ton. bigger fighting ships and more
cf them than any other nation can
construct"
Mr.. Daniels shows that the new
S6Oo.O00,0 600, three-year building pro-
gramme he has proposed will provide
1856 additional naval ships, ten Of them
dreadnoughts and six attle-cruisers,
and the others to be in such distribu-
ton OF approved types as the depart
ment may deem best.
Ready From Stem to Stern"
Taking UP his story of the navy and
The war. the Secretary declares the
service was ready from stem to stern"
then the United States entered the
conflict. From the day when the first
ihree-year programme was adopted in
1916, he adds. Congress has given ev-
erythng that could be desired to in
sure the effectiveness of the naval
arm"
Teamwork had been the navy's slo-
gan for five years, and it continued 70
be the war motto both at home and
abroad. The striking success of the
nav is ascribed to this fact by Mr..
psnels who continues:
apparently, there have been times
"hen a Secretary of the Navy seemed
20 llnd friction and lack of cooperation
"mong the officers around him. If that
plrlt ever existed in the United States
Nsyy can state with confidence and
nride that there is now no vestige of
IT, and firmly believe, from my ex-
pefence, not only during the last year
put during the five years preceding, it
VIZ never return"
Sims To Be Admiral
ne report shows that Vice-Admiral
91'mS' who was on his way to Lon
'on as head of the American naval
Slabllshment in the war zones even
'e19re war was declared, is soon to
- -------- n@-ne1 Iull admiral by the Presi-