Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-23
Navy PROGRAM
6OO,OOO,OOO For New
Vessels Asked
Is in Addition to Regular Program
Already Authorized-cails for 10
Superdreadnaushts, s Battle Cruis.
ers and 140 Smaller Vessels

ers and 14o Smaller Vessels
Washington, Oct. 22-Congress has
been asked by the navy depa Atment 20
authorize a second three-year nava:
building program to provide 10 addition
al superdreadnaughts, six battle cruis-
ers and 40 smaller vessels as a cost of
100000. This was disclosed tonight
by Secretary Daniels after his appear
ance before the House naval committee
to explain the appropriation.
! This authorization is asked for the
next fiscal year and is in addition To
the l56 naval vessels comprising the
first three-year building program au-
thorized in 1916. and the great number
| of deStroyers and other special types
contracted for since the United States
entered the war. Work on the first
! three-yoar program was DELAYED bv
| The war. but Congress has required
that a beginning must be made on
! all the vessels before next July l. .
Including the 5000. 000, 900 for the
| three-years program Secretary Dan
! lels said the total estimates of the
| department for ship construction in
/ GLIDING armor and armament, amount
this year to S972 900 00) Only $780,
OO0.OO0 Of the 5000, 000. 900 will be made.
available next wear for structural
work on he three-years program i'll
addition 1872 100000 is asked for COM
pleting vessels already authorized.
The new program OF 156 vessels"
said Secretary Daniels ''preescribes
specific numbers of battleships and
battle cruisers only. there being 10
battleships asked for and six battle
cruisers. AS regards small vessels,
although the total number is to be
l4o, 1t is simply asked that they be
of types already approved and in ex-
istence, or of new types which may
develop during the life of the pro-
gram. the details being left to the
discretion of the navy department.
The new three year program is
continuation of the policy adopted in
1916 of increasing the navy and CON-
templates Its steady upbuilding and
improvement. 1t is III line with the
policy adopted by this government
approval Of the American people, of
building up navy strong enough to
meet ali requirements.
This program, il authorized by
Congress as l am confident it will be.
will give up l6 capital ships that will
be the equals of any afloat at the
time they are built. The battleships
and battle cruisers authorized in the
first three-year program will not be
eXcelled by those of any other navy,
and the country may rest assured
that, in the new construction author
lied, our constructors will produce
the most powerful and effective
fighting or TT.
The imperative necessity Of turn
: ing out as rapidly as possible all the
/. destroyers and other types of craft
needed in the war against the sub
marine has led to the fear in some
quarters that in devoting SO much
necessary attention to the building
of smaller craft we might fail some
in looking out for the future in build
ing capital ships on which the
strength of the navy ultimately de-
ponds. This the naval authorities
have already had in mind. The three
year program adopted in 1916 provid-
ed for ten battleships and six battle
cruisers Now we ask for as many
more to build as those formerly au-
| thorized are completed and facilities
become available