Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-09
Secretary Daniels Urges
Continued Expansion OF
The United States Navy
Continued from page 81

with bluejackets especially trained
for land service, the largest and most
high-powered mobile land artillery
in the world. So successful have
these guns been that additional or
ders for many more were requested
before the armistice."
The depth bomb has proven the
most effective mean of combating
the submarines. the report states, and
it shows hat American enterprise
was responsible for very largely in
creasing that effectiveness. The
early SO pound charge bombs were
crude and of low destructive force
compared to the 800 pound and 500
pound charges now being produced.
Many Allied ships have heen equipped
with these American improvements.
is noted is the perfection of 16-inch
rifles for all new tattleships. They
will make these vessels. it is said, the
heaviest armed craft in the world
with a broadside projectile weight OF
25.200 pounds against 17,50S pounds
for the Pennsylvania, the biggest and
most powerful craft now in commits
sion.
The report emphasizes also in the
record of small arms training during
the year. 40, 900. 600 rounds having
been fired without an accident due
to carelessness. Since last July the
navy has qualified 54,147 marksmen,
23,222 sh~arpshooters and 11,s67 eS-
pert riflemen.
Today" the report says, "prac-
tically every combatant ship is able
to organize a landing force of as
many as it can send ashore, with ev-
cry man a trained rifleman and Esany
of them trained machine
To Captain E. P. Jessop, engineer
ing officer at the New York navy
yard, the report gives credit for hav-
ing recommended the revolutionary
practice of electric welding when re-
pair OF the damaged German shipping
was undertaken. Careful estimates
have shown that this N innovation
saved twelve months in time and
$50, 1000, 900 in money. while the ships
thus made quickly available carried
half a million soldiers in France.
Electric Driven Ships.
Another engineering achievement
Of h year is the completion and
testing Of the first electric drive bat
tleship, the New Mexico. Despite
adverse criticism which met the de-
ism on battle craft. the report says.
the New Mexico has not only met
every requirement but has passed
many additional tests with the result
that 'in this unique vessel, the Uni
ted States navy has a battleship
which has no peer in the worlds ma
vies, not only for economic propul-
rangement, but her military SUI
periority in greater maneuvering
power and increased underwater pro-
lection Credit is given Rear Ad-
miral Griffin, engineer in chief Of the
navy, for this accomplishment.
The report shows that four battle
ships, one battle cruiser, two fuel
ships, one transport, one gunboat, one
submarines, 112 fabricated patrol
boats (eagles), including IL for the
Italian government, go submarine
chasers, including so for France, 81
mine sweepers. and tugs
and harbor craft were contracted for
during the war. Up to October 1 one
gunboat, SO destroyers, 20 subnla-
rines, 26 mine sweepers and four
ditions to the navy during the year
included two battleships. SO destroy
ers, 20 submarines, 355 submarine
chasers and 13 mine sweepers. The
actual number Of 110N foot chasers
now in commission. including those
delivered to France, is 406.
Discussing the navy's accounting
| Sy6Lcul, 0CCt cIo1y DdIllClS says 11J,-
000, 900 vas saved during the yea b.
examination of costs in fixed-price
contracts and control over the cost
plus aggregates. He commends high
ly the work of Rear Admiral Meow
an, paymaster general and head of
the supplies and accounts bureau.
and expresses the opinion that "the
navy has received and is receiving
full value for every dollar expended"
III The rannrf alan naVQ tribute fn n
patriotic cooperation the department
has received from shipbuilders. NUM-
ton manufacturers and the heads Of
all the Allied industries.
81 wish these captains Of industry
Mr.. Daniels says. ito understand the
appreciation of the navy department
of their wonderful accomplishment.
they lacked in nothing of thought and
effort in naval preparation and naval
efficiency. Not a few Of them under
took any work desired with a will
ingness to leave the question of prof
its to the government. putting their
plants and resources at the govern
ment's disposal"
Labor has shown itself loyal, the
report continues, and workmen at
the yards have any times refused
to leave vital employment there for
better gay elsewhere. In addition,
when relations between capital and
labor appeared to have reached
stages at times during the rush OF
war work, the trades at the nav
lyards.addressed resolutions TO- the de-
Epartment 80 clearly defining their
belief that the duty of all loyal Amer
lean workmen lay in securing maxi
mum production, without regard to
selfish considerations Of personal bet.
,lterment as to have no slight effect in
bringing both sides In controversies