Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-23
BIG navy PROGRAM
BEFORE congress
Ten Superdreadnaughts on
List, With Six Battle
: Cruisers for Fleet.
Mr.. DANIELS STATEMENT

Ten additional superdreadnaughts,
six battle cruisers and 40 smaller
vessels. at a COST Of $soo,0o0.000, are
needed by the Navy. Congress was
asked yesterday by Secretary Daniels
to authorize this second three-year
naval building program. He appeared
before the House naval affairs COM
mittee to explain the estimates and
the need for the enlarged Navy.
This authorization is asked for the
next fiscal year and is in addition to
the 1856 naval vessels comprising the
first three-year building program. au-
thorized In 1916, and the great number
of new destroyers and other special
types contracted for since the United
States entered the war. Work on the
first three-year program was delayed
by the war, but Congress has requir-
ed that a start must be made on all
vessels before next July 1.
Total Estimates for Ships.
Including the $6oo,o00.o00 for the
three-year program, Secretary Dan
| iels said, the total estimates of the
department for ship construction. in
to s972, 0sO, 900. only 5000, O00. 900 of
the $500, 100000 will be made available
next year for construction work on
| the three-year program. In addition
! $372, 100000 is asked for completing
sThe new program Of is vessels"
said Secretary Daniels, "prescribes
specific numbers of battleships and
battle cruisers only. there being ten
batt1eships asked for and six battle
| cruisers. AS regards smaller vessels,
although the total number is to be 40,
| it is simply asked that they be of
types already approved and In exist
ence or of new types which may de-
velop during the life Of the program,
the details being left to the discre-
ton of the Navy Department.
Steady Upbuilding.
continuation of the policy adopted in
1916 of increasing the Navy. and con-
templates it's steady upbuilding and
Improvement. It is in line with the
policy adopted by this government
and which has met with the entire
approval of the American people-of
building up Navy strong enough to
meet all requirements.
This program, If authorized by
Congress, as am confident it will be.
will be the equal Of any afoat at the
time they are built. The battleships
and battle cruisers authorized in the
first three-year program Will be unex-
celled by those of any other navy. and
the country may rest assured that in
the. new construction authorized our
constructors will produce the most
powerful and effective of fighting
craft.
-, r3d11y q Y,nccih1o all the
destroyers and other types Of craft
needed in the war against the sub
marine for the necessities Of warfare
for the time required US to concen-
trate upon this class of construction
has led to the fear in some quarters
that in devoting so much necessary
attention to the building of smaller
craft we might fail in looking out
ships on which the strength of the
Navy ultimately depends. This the
naval authorities have always had
in mind.
Ask for as Many More.
in 1916 provided for ten battleships
and six battle cruisers. Now we ask
for as many more, to be built as
those formerly authorized are COM
pleted and facilities become avail
able.
"The total expenditure authorized
upon this new program is $500. 00o, 900,
the provision for the first year being a
third Of this. s200,000.000. This is ex-
elusive Of estimates for emergency
appropriations for new vessels to be
built under war urgency, which total
SAC. OO0. 900, and also Of estimates for
continuing and pushing the old pro-
gram, the emergency construction Of
destroyers under way. etc.
| "Including the 100000, 900 for which
authorization is requested in the new
| three-year program, the total esti-
mates Of the department for ship con-
struction, including armor and arma-
preparation next year for ship con-
struction. that is, for completing YES
sells already authorized and for new
vessels, is $572,090,000