Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-08
NAVY EMERGED
FROM WORLD WAR STRONGER
THAN EVER, DANIELS SA US

Washington, Dec. S.-Incompssr-
ably stronger and more efficient than
ever before, the American Navy
emerged from the World War
second only to that of Great Britain
and far in advance of any other for
eign navy in ships, in men, and every
element of strength" Secretary
Daniels declared to-day in. his an
nual report.
! With eighteen capital ships-12
superdreadnoughts and six giant
| battle cruiserS@under construction,
all representing the last word in
naval construction, and several Su-
perior to any fighting vessels now in
commission, the Navy is pressing
/ forward to greater things" Mr.. DAN
iels said.
| Recommendations
Recommendations by the Secretary
for the betterment of the service in
| cluded:
Extension of the course at the
Naval Academy to five years so the
midshipmen may spend one year
afloat as enlisted men.
Immediate enlargement of the
naval establishment on the Pacific
Coast to take care of the new Pacific
Fleet.
Temporary increases in pay of of
ficers and enlisted men and increases
in amounts allowed for commutation
of quarters and other allowances.
Government control of wireless
communication.
Expansion of the naval air service
and continuation of the present
policy of a separate air service for
the Navy.
Construction of new buildings, in
cluding q new memorial chapel at
the Naval Academy.
Change of the names OF the
Bureaus of Navigation and Steam
Engineering to Personnel and En-
gineering Bureau, respectively.
Mr.. Daniels made no recommend
ations as to an annual building pro-
gram, explaining that the recon-
mendations of the Navy General
Board were under consideration and
that estimates would be- prepared
soon for presentation to Congress.
The actual cost of the Navy to
the Nation during the war was placed
by the Secretary at $2,9S2, 200, 900:
During the next fiscal year, he said,
the Navy's needs will be approx
mately S573,131,254, or approximate
ly $40,00O,000 less than the sum
asked for during the present fiscal
year.
159 Vessels Completed
Commenting on the construction
records during the war, the Secre-
tary said that during the IL months
ended last October /, 159 vessels of
all classes were completed for the
Navy. These included 103 Destroy
ers, l battleship, 80 submarines and
So Eagle boats. A world record for
destroyer construction was made,
the Secretary said, in the building
of the Reid at Squantum, Mass, in
As working days.
Discussing the proposed radical
departure in the training of officers
for the Navy, Mr.. Daniels declared
that mo officer can command 50
we'll as the man of ability and knowl-
edge who knows every character of
service from polishing brass to the
highest strategy and tactics" He
added that years training as an
enlisted man would prove invaluable
to every officer and that heretofore
commissioned officers had no actual
sea-going training in the duties of
enlisted men except an. incidental
knowledge acquired during short
summer cruises.
Mr.. Daniels devoted much of his
report to a review of the work of
the Navy during the war and in for
eign waters since the signing of tie
armistice. He declared that the re-
rka h1a T1orfor,,, noa of 4lo