Norwich bulletin., 1918-10-23
.S600 JO,OOO More
 Naval Vessels
Congress Has Been Asked to Authorize a Second Three Year Naval Building Pro- gram.


 Washington, Oct 22.-Congress has been asked by the navy department to authorize a second three year naval building programme to provide ten additional superdreadnaughts, six bat tie cruisers and 40 smaller vessels at 8 cost of s600,000.000, This was dis closed tonight by Secretary Daniels after his appearance before the house naval committee to explain the appro rriation.
 This authorization is asked for the next fiscal year and is n addition to the 156 naval vessels comprising the ! first three year building programme authorized in 1916 and the great mum 1 bcr of new destroyers and other spe- ] cial types contracted for since the United States entered the war. Work on the first three year programme was delayed by the war, but congress has required that a start must be made on all the vessels before next July. i Including the $600, ,000 ,000 fer the 1 three year programme Secretary Dan- ieIs said. the total estimates of the department for ship construction, in l ciuding arnor and armament amount 1 this year to $972 2,090,000. Only&S20e 1 090.000 of the $600.000,000 will be made available next year for structural work y dition S372, ,090,000 is asked for com lleting vessels already authorized.
 "The new programme of 156 yes aels," said Secretary Daniels, "pre- scribes specific numbers of battteships and battle cruisers only, there beins ten battleships asked for and four bat Tie cruisers As regards small ves- sels, although the total number is tt De 40. it is simply asked that they bi Of types already approved and in ex' istence, or of new types which ma! develop during the life of the program the details being left to lhe discretion of the navy department.
 The new three year programme i a continuation of the policy adoptet
 ill 1916 of increasing the navy. ant
 contemplates its steady upbuildin! and improvemenl. It is in line wit
 the policy adopted by this government and which has met with the entire ;ip proval of the American people. 0 ; building up q navy strong enough |
 meet all requirements.
 , This programme, if authorized b congress, as I am confident it will b. : will give us Is capital ships that wi be the equal of any afloat at the tim
 they are built. The battleships an , battle cruisers authorized in the frs 7 three year programme will be unex : celled by those of any other navy, an the country may rest assured that. i
 the new construction authorized. oU
 constructors will produce the mos powerful and effective of fighting craf
 "lhe imperative necessity of turn
 ing out as rapidly as possible all th :. i destroyers and other types of era needed in the war against the subnla ? rine-for the necessities of Warfai
 
 , upon this class of construction-h hs i led to the fear in some quarters that 1 deYoting. so much necessary attenti0
 to the building of smaller craft V . might fail some in looking out Tor Il
 future in building the capital shiI = on which the strength Of a navy ut , l I!Iately depends. This the naval at ,, tnoritjes have always had in min The three year programme adopted
 1918 provided for ten battleships ar
 six battle cruisers. Now we ask f
 as many more. to be built as tho!
 formerly authorized are completed, aT
 f0ciiities become available.
 The total expenditure authorize
 1pon this new programme, is $500 . 0)0G00. the provision for the first ye
 being third of this, s200. 900, ,000 I'll l. is independent Of expenditures fro
 the emergency appropriations for ne
 vessels to be built under war urge,
 cy, which total $140O00.oo0 and al
 of estimates for continuing and pus
 ing the old programme. the emerge n cv construction of destroyers und e i way, etc.
 S' including the $500 100000 for whi
 authoriza tion is requested in the ne --+ three year period programme, the | n tai estima tes of the department  ? armament, amount this year to SS1 l. 090,000. The total amount l recor mend for appropriation next year i /. ship construction, that is. for col g. rieting vessels already authorized a
 for new vessels is S572.09 0ol,,