The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-26
BUILD More NRsHIPS.
NAVY DEPARTMENT ASKS CON
GRESS FOR $500, zoo, 900.

NAVY DEPARTMENT ASKS con
GRESs FOR $500, 600 900.
To Provide Ten Super -Dreadnaughts,
SIX Battle Cruisers, 140 Smaller
vessels.
Washington Oct. 22.-Congress has.
been asked by the Navy Department.
to authorize a second year naval
building program to provide ten ad-
sditional per-dreadnaughts, six bat
tie cruisers and 40 smaller vessels
sat a cost OF $500, ,900, ,a0e. This was
disclosed tonight by Secretary Dan.
siels after his appearance before the,
house naval committee to explain the
appropriation.
This appropriation is asked for the
next fiscal year arj is in addition to
the l56 nava. vessels comprising the
first. three. years building program. au-
fhorized IN 1916 and the great num-
Der of destroyers and other spe-
sciaI types contracted for since the
United States entered the war Work
eon the irst three years program was
delayed by the war, but congress. has
reauired that a start must be made
on all the vessels before next, July l.
Including the s600.000.000 for the
fhree-year program, Secretary Dan
ieIs said the total estimates OF the de-
partment for ship construction, IN
cIu5ing armor and armament, amount
this year to 100000. Only $780,.
100000. of the s600,0oo,000 will be
made available next year for con
structive work on the three-year pro-
gram, bat inf addition s732,0s0,Ooo IS
asked for completing vessels alreaay
authorized.
.The new program Of 156 vessels
said Secretary Daniels. ''prescrlbes
battle cruisers only, there being ten
battleships asked for and six battle
cruisers. AS regards smaller vessels
although the total number is to be
40, it is simply asked that they be
of types already approved and in eN-
istenee or of new types which may
develop the life of the program the
details being left to the discretion OF
the navy department.
q .The new three-year program IS
continuation of the policy adopted IN
1916 of increasing the navy, and con-
templates its steady upbuilding ana
Improvement. It is in line with the
pe1icy adopted by this government,
and which has met with the entire
approval of the American people. OF
building up navy strong enough to
meet all requirements.
.AThis program if authorized by
congress, as I am confident it will
be. VIII give us sixteen capital ships
that will be the equal Of any afoat
at the time they are built. The bat
rleships and battle cruisers author
lied in the first three-year program
viii be unexcelled by those Of any
other navy, and the country may rest
assured that, in the new construction
authorized, our constructors will pro-
duce the most powerful and effective
of fighting craft.
THE imperative necessity Of turn
ang out as rapidly as possible all
the, destroyers and other types of
craft needed in the war against the
sulpaariue for the necessities of war
fare for the time required US to con-
.seentrate upon this class Of construc-
ton has led to the fear in some quar-
ters that in deveting SO much nee
essary attention to the building Of
smaller craft, we might fail in look
ing out for the future in building the
capital ships on which the strength Of
the navy ultimately depends. This
the naval authorities have always ,had
In mind.
The three-year program adopted in
1916 provided for ten battleships and
six battle cruisers. Now we ask for
as many more to be- built as those
formerly authorized are completed,
and facilities become available.
4The total expenditure authorized
upon the new program Us $500, ooo,-
coo, the provision for the first year
being third Of this $500, ,00G, 600.
This is exclusive Of estimates for
emergency appropriations fer new
vessels to be built under war urgency
which total $40, 900, 900, and also OF
estimates for continuing and pushing
the old program. the emergency con
struetion Of destroyers under way,
etc: 80
Including the s60o,oOo,ooo. for,
which authorization is requested IN
the new three-year program, the to-
tai estimates of the department for
ship construction, including arnor
and armament, amount this year to
s972,0oo,ooo. The total amount rec
ommend for appropriation next year
for ship construction, that is, for
completing vessels already authoriz
ed and for new vessels is s572, Geo.
o08."e
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