New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-03-13
GREAT DESTROYER
FLEET BY END offs
Chairman Oliver Reports on Eli
cheney Of U. S. Navy

Washington, March 13-Predictin2
that by the close of 1918 the United
States will have the greatest destroy
er fleet in the world to combat the
submarine menace, Chairman Will
liam B. Oliver Of the House sub
committee appointed to investigate
the navy filed his report on the naval
situation yesterday.
The entire report highly praises
the work of the navy. stating that IT
has been put to the acid test and in
no way found wanting.''
The greatest need of the navy now
is more scout and battle cruisers, the
report says, a temporary slowing up
of this program being necessary be-
cause of the urgent demand for a
great number of merchant ships and
destroyers. Striking features of the
report were:
The total navy expenditures are
now $3o,000,0O0 a day, as compared
with 100000 a year Sin the COM
paratively recent past
Since last March the number of
men in the navy has been multiplied
nearly six times. Then there were
about $1,000 enrolled; now about
100000
Destroyers are being built in half
the time needed before the war
More than LOO vessels have been
furnished and equipped with crews,
guns and ammunition.
The navy is furnishing "appreci-
able quantities Of guns from the larg
est to the smallest calibre in England,
France and Italy,
Comparatively small numbers Of
!, H..
full.
The Navy Medical Service will
transport and care for the army
wounded in bringing them back from
France.
Three hospitals for navy men in
European waters have been opened in
France and England.
Mr.. Oliver in submitting the re-
port said that witnesses before the
committee included Secretary Daniels,
Admiral w. S. Benson, chief of naval
operations; chiefs of the bureaus the
commandant Of the marine corps,
chief of naval aviation, the director
of target practice and other minor
officials.
reached and concurred in by the full
committee:
'First-All appropriations have
been expended or obligated with judg-
ment. caution and economy, consider
ing that haste was necessary to bring
results and abnormal conditions pre-
vailed
"Second-The navy, with limited
personnel and material, was suddenly
called to face many difficult and un-
tried problems and has met the stu
alton with rare skill ingenuity and
despatch and a high degree of sue
cess.
'Third-The efficiency of the navy's
pre-war organization, the readiness
and fitness of it's men and ships, we're
early put to the acid test and thus
far in no way have they been found
wanting. We feel that the last twelve
months presents for the navy a re-
markable record Of achievement, Of
steadily increasing power in both per-
sonnet and material, Of rapidly ex-
banding resources and of we'll
matured plans for the future, whether
the war be long or short.
Some mistakes have been made,
Of course, vet the navy has shown
its strength by the manner of its cor
/ eCtion.
1T is a matter of regret that the
great demand upon the ship con-
&truction capacity of the country,
coupled with the urgent demand Tor
{, large increase in the destroyer
force, has made necessary tempo
rary abandonment in part of the
navy shipbuilding program. me navy
greatly needs both scout and battle !
without which our dread |
nough fleet loses a large part of its |
fighting potentiality. We cannot too |
strongly emphasize the importance of !
both scout and battle cruis- |
iers.
THAT the expansion of the navy |
as resulted in gain rather than loss |
CT efficiency is primarily due to the
one factor-preparedness' This We