The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
THE TIMES: DECEMBER 10, 1918

- boats (eagles) including 12 for the Italian government; 92 submarine chasers, including 50 for France, 51 mine sweepers, and numerous tugs and harbor craft were contracted for during the year Up to Oct. on9 gunboat, 93 destroyers, 29 submar- ines, 26 mine sweepers and four Eagles had been launched. The i additions to the navy during the year included two battleships, 36 destroy CTS, 2S submarines, 355 submarine chasers and 1S mine sweepers. The actual number of 110 foot chasers now in commission, including those delivered to France, is 406.
 Discussing the navy's accounting system, Secretary Daniels says $11,- 100000 was saved during the year by examination of costs in f1xed-price contracts and control over the cost plus agreements. He commends l highly the work of Rear Admiral McGowan, paymaster-general and l head of the Supplies and Accounts i Bureau, and expresses the opinion that "the Navy has received and Is 1 receiving full value for every dollar i expended"
 The report also pays tribute to the patriotic cooperation the department has received from shipbuilders, muni- tion manufacturers and the heads ot all the allied industries
 T wish these captains of indus. try" MT. Daniels says, "to under stand the appreciation of the Navy Department of their wonderful ac- compl1shment. And the country should know how they lacked in notr- ing Of thought and effort in nav Ii preparation and naval efficiency. Nol few of them undertook any
 desired with willingness to leave the question of profits to the government, putting their plants and resources au tne governments disposal D
 Labor has shown itself loyal, the report continues, and workmen at the yards have many times refused to leave vital employment there for bet ter pay elsewhere. In addition, when relations between capital and labor appeared to have reached critical stages at times during the rush of
 
 yards addressed resolutions to the department "so clearly defining their
 belief that the duty of all loyal Amer lcan Workmen lay in securing maxi mum production, without regard to
 selfish consideratios of personal bet terment as to have no slight effect in bringing both sides in controvers- les going on outside the yards to q
 realization of the need of forgettine
 their disputes"
 The Secretary holds much of this , satisfactory condition to have been due to the loyal cooperation of the heads of the American Federation ot Labor"
 MT. Daniels expresses appreciation l Of the work done by George Creel f chairman of the Committee on Publft
 Information. and has this to say o1
 the American press:
 |, The most intimate relationshir between MT. Creel and the Depart 5 ment has been productive of genuine z cooperation in a service that wa
 new in our country and not easy tc
 carry out successfully The spiri q of the press, which periodically re f n censorship, can not be too hiEhl,
 commended. There was full freedom
 of the press with full recognition b, f the press of the governments desir V to withhold no information that dit a not disclose military secrets Tn V press had an appreciation of thi necessity and, though having knowl . edge of movements of ships an troops and other military operations <. never violated confidence. On tn
 other hand the press gave helpful suggestions which were invaluable t
 MT. Greet and the Department" The report shows clearly that Nil 5 Daniels has no intention of proposin an adoption of the naval general sta
 suggestions that have been made. H 'o finds that the navy organization ha " stood the strain, of war without fall
 ering and says:
 - For years there was a persister 70 and insistent demand on the part ( a small element of the Navy an I some well-meaning citizens interes
 ing themselves in naval matters for 9 naval organization labeled Gener;
 Staff of the made in German pa -' tern. This pattern has not wor
 well, and it Is observed that th ~ made in America pattern of tt is United States Navy seems to be al -o preciated now not only in Americ o7 but in some of the nations associate 1-. with us.
 de ceet,r -i-. "ol t .- tt.a s-o,- IL VI m the smallest motor boat; from u
 fn &ho rt 5 u cruit The men in Washington WI GU have been responsible for the dire tion of the Navy's preparations ar