Gilpin observer., 1918-04-11


Three large appropriations. includ.
Ing the $e4O. 100000 act passed without
a roll call. made total of 1901 ,OOO. 900
available for the first year. All Of this
has since been obligated.
Last April the air service had an
almost negligible force Of 65 officers
and 1.120 men, small flying fields,
less than 300 second-rate planes, prac.
tically no aviation industry. and only
the most scanty knowledge of the ka-
leidoscopic development abroad. The
first two months OF war were required
to secure information. establish staff,
and work out the program finally
adopted. The problem was twofold-
first. personnel; and. second. equip
ment
Today the personnel is over 100
times that Of a year ago, practically
every member a skilled man who has
gone through an intensive course Of
training. Schools of IL different
kinds have been instituted. courses
Of instruction laid out, and instruc-
tors secured, including foreign ex.
perts in a score of lines.
Development OF Navy.
The development Of the navy during
the first year Of war has given the
greatest satisfaction. Its growth and
achievements during this period may
be epitomized In the following para.
graphs:
; Strength Of the navy today 10
nearly 21.O00 officers and $4,000 en-
listed men; strength 4 year ago was
4.792 officers and 77.946 enlisted men.
Estimated total expenditures Of the
navy during first year of war: Dis
bursements and outstanding obliga-
tions. $1.ss1. 100000.
Total naval appropriations. real and
pending. $S.S3S. III .685.O4.
American destroyers arrived at
British port to assist in patrolling Eu-
ropean waters % days after the decla.
ration of war.
There are now four times as many
vessels in the naval service as q year
ago.
Nearly 5000 mechanics and other
civilian employees are working at
navy yards and stations.
When war was declared. 128 naval
vessels were building or authorized,
and contracts have been placed since
that time for $40 vessels.
More than 700 privately owned ves-
sells have been purchased or chartered
by the navy.
Six new authorized battlesh1ps are
designed to be Of 41,bOO tons, the larg.
est battleships In the world.
Our 35,0O0-ton cruisers, IS knots,
will be the fastest In the world, their
speed equaling the fastest destroyer.
Prompt repairs of 100 interned Ger.
man ships, partially wrecked by their
crews, added more than 100000 tons
to our available naval and merchant
tonnage.
The navy has developed an Ameri-
'can mine believed to combine all the
good points Of various types Of mines,
and Is manufacturing them in quanti-
ties.
During the year the latest type Of
naval 16-inch gun was completed for
our new battleships; 1t throws a pro-
jectile weighing 2,10O pounds.
Navy has In its possession now q
stock Of supplies sufficient for the
average requirements for at least one
year.
Several hundred submarine chasers,
built since the war. have been deliv.
cred to the navy by 81 private con.
Germs and six navy yards; many Of
these boats have crossed the Atlantic.
some in severe weather.
Naval training camps have a ca
pacity of 100000 in summer. $4,000
men in winter.
shipbulIdlng Progress.
Up to date congress has authorized
$2.034. 900 900. Of which $1,135, 900 900
has been appropriated. for the
United States Shipping board and
Emergency Fleet corporation; on
March 1, 1858, ,247, ,955.37 of this sum
had been expended.
The Emergency Fleet corporation
had requisitioned. March 1. 425 steel
vessels and contracted for 720 steel
vessels. making a total Of 1,145 steel
ships. Of an aggregate dead-weight
tonnage Of s,184.5O8 tons; 1t had let
contracts for 400 wooden vessels, ag.
gregating approximately 1,715,OO0
dead-weight tons It had repaired and
put in operation 7SS,0OO dead-weight
tonnage seized from Germany and
Austria.
On March s the building program
Of the Emergency Fleet corporation
was being carried on In 151 plants.
First Years War Cost.
Total estimated expense Of tho
United States government in the first
year Of war. without loans to the
allies, is 2,O87, ,27S, ,879.O7.
To help meet this expense, the treas
ury department foated $8,818532 300
subscriptions to Liberty bonds.
Bonds, certificates of Indebtedness.