The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-02
Unprecedented Program of
Naval Development ArTang-
ed as Result of Fleet
Organization.
MILLIONS TO BE SPENT
Includes Aviation Stations, Subnna-
rine Bases, Training Campo,
Hospitals and Other
Things.

[By NJ D. Tracy, United Press Staff
Correspondent
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2.-The
Pacific coast may prepare for an un-
precedented program of naval devel
opment as result of the organiza.
tion of the Pacific fleet.
Secretary Daniels, on his present
trip, is gathering the data on which
he will base recommendation to
congress which will embody pro-
gram involving the immediate ex-
penditure of many millions of dollars.
By September a. the secretary
will give to congress his recommen-
dations for the first work to be.
done. 1t is apparently quite certain
this report will cover all or part of
each of the following items:
Establishment of a naval training
station at San Diego.
Construction of a new naval hos
pital at San Diego.
Probable continuance Of the San
Pedro submarine base, established
during the war.
Extensive additions to the Pearl
Harbor, T. H., naval base. including
additions to the present shop facili-
ties and hospitals.
Recommendations as to the es-
tablishment of the new naval base
and navy yard at San Francisco.
Establishment of an aviation sta
tion and submarine base on the Co
lunbia river.
Extensive improvements to naval
facilities on Puget sound, particularly
at Bremerton.
Speech by Daniels.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2.-Secre
tary of the Navy Daniels justified the
division of American forces into At
lantic and Pacific fleets in an address
here today
He pointed out that the Pacific
fleet, when all it's units have arrived,
will comprise $4,000 tons, as against
the entire American fleet of 225000
tonnage that went around the world
in 1907 at the direction of Theodore
Roosevelt.
When we remember" he said,
that we will have a minimum of
eight dreadnoughts and eight pre-
dreadnaught battleships, with 10S de-
stroyers, a large number Of subma
rines and the necessary train to sup
port their activities, in each ocean,
the weakest unit of which is very
much superior to the corresponding
unit Of '9S, the division of the fleet
can be justified in the eyes of the
strictest of naval strategists"
Daniels voiced tribute to the fore
thought of Theodore Roosevelt. Re
ferring to the fleets voyage, round
the world, he said:
ct was a wise act on the part Of
President Roosevelt, in keeping with
in his wisdom in the construction Of
the Panama canal"
Daniels explained that the building
of the canal made possible the Pa
cific fleet.
"The canal" he said, "by saving
time through its use, will permit the
concentration of the two fleets in
either ocean in time to meet the en-
emy fleet. and more important than
that, by saving the time of transfer
and concentration, and thus forewarn-
ing an enemy that it will be an united
fleet he will have to meet and not one
half of It, will go long way towards
preventing war;
One of the most important effects
Of the division Of the fleet with its
annual concentration for drill in one
ocean or the other, Daniels said, will
be "the education of the navy, con-
gress and the people, to the necessi-
ties of having complete naval bases
for the maintenance of the whole fleet
in both oceans"
BY developing naval bases, he said.
1--WE will add to the strength of the
fleet as much as if we had added an
equivalent in fighting ships"