The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-23
new THREE YEAR
PROGRAM FOR THE
OUTLINED
TO COMMITTEE
Secretary Daniels Asks for
Appropriation of
5000, 100000
CONTINUATION OF
THE 1916 POLICY
Will Include Sixteen New
Capital Ships and Many
Destroyers

Washington, Oct. 23.-Congres.
has been asked by the navy departs
ment to authorize a second three
year naval building program to pro-
vide ten additional superdread-
naughts, six battle cruisers, and 40
| smaller vessels at a cost of 10000, =
| 600. This was disclosed last night
by Secretary Daniels after his APP
| rearance before the house naval
committee to explain the appropria-
| ton.
This authorization is asked for the
next fiscal year. and is in edition
to the 156 naval vessels comprising
the first three year building pre-
gram authorized in 1916 ard the
great number of new destroyers aud
other special types contracted fer
since The United States entered the
war. Work on the first three year
but congress has REQUIRED that a
start must be made on all the YES
sells before next July l..
Including the $60G,000.000 for the
three year program Secretary Dam
iels said the total estimates of the
department for ship construction
including armor and armament
amount this year to $4,000 900.
Only 5000, 100000 of the $500, $50, 0oj
will be available next year for con-
struction work on tbs three year
program, in addition to $373O90, 900
asked for completing vessels already
authorized
The New Program
1.-THE new program Of 156 vessels,
said Secretary Daniels. "prescribes
specific numbers of battleships and
battle cruisers only, there being ten
.battIeships asked for, and six battle
cruisers. AS regards smaller yes
sells, although the total number is
to be, 40, it is simply asked that
they he types already approved and
in existence. or of new types which
may develop during the life of the
program, the details being left 20
the discretion of the navy depart
ment.
"The new three year program is q
continuation of the policy adopted
in 1916 of increasing the navy. and
comtemplates it's steady upbuilding
and Improvement. 1t is in line with
the policy adopted by this govera-
ment, and has met with. the entire
approval of the American people of
building up a navy strong enough to-
meet all requirements.
"This program, if authorized by
congress. as am confident it will
be, will give us sixteen capital ships
that will be the equpal Of any afioat
at the time they are built. The bat
tie ships and battlecruisers author
lied in the first three year program
will be unexcelled by those of any
other navy and the country may
rest assured that in the new con-
struction. authorized. our construct
ors will produce the most powerful
and effective of fighting craft
Need of DestFoyers
1.-THE imperative necessity of turn
ing out as rapidly as possible all the
destroyers and other types Of craft
needed in the war against the sub
marine for the necessities of war
fare for the time required us to con-
centrate upon this class of construc-
tion-has led to the fear in some
necessary attention to the building
of smaller crafts we might fail
some in looking out for the future in
building the capital ships on which
the strength of navy ultimately
depends, This the naval authorities
have always had in mind. The
three year program adopted in 1915
provided for ten battle ships and
six battle cruisers. Now we ask for
as many more. to be built as those
formerly authorized are completed,
"The total expenditure authorized
upon this new program is S600,000.
900 the provision for the first year
being a third of this. $200,O00000.
This is exclusive of estimates for
emergency appropriations for new
vessels to be built under war ur
gency, which total $140,O0O,00O, and
also of estimates for continuing
and pushing the old program, the
emergency construction of destroy
ers under way, etc.
'Tncluding the $500, 100000 for
which authorization is requested in
the new three year program, the to-
tai estimates of the department for
ship construction. including armor
and armament. amount this year to
1912, O90, 900. The total amount
recommend for appropriation next
wear for ship construction, that is,
for completing vessels already au-
thorized and for new vessels, is
$572, 100000"