Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-05-29
Desire Program Rushed to
Completion.
WILL KEEP MEN
FOR AN EMERGENCY
Secretary Baker Asks for ApprOpria-
lions to Keep 100000 Men in
Service.

washington, way Lo.-AlCnOuSn
the navy department has placed it.
self on record as being opposed to
launching new building programs
which would give the United States
navy "second to none in the world"
! it is in favor Of rushing to compile
! ton all capital ships already authori-
Zed and of maintaining temporarily
at least, force of men capable of
handling "any emergency which
might arise"
Secretary Daniels, continuing his
testimony today before the house ma
val affairs committee, read a COM
munciation from the general board
which recommended that the 10
battleships and six battle cruisers
authorized in the 1916 program,
should be completed as soon as pos
sble, and that no radical change
should be made in construction of the
vessels.
Recommendation was made by the
secretary that provisions be made in
the 1920 appropriation bill for a
navy of 100000 men, only $4,000 less
than are now in the service. He as
serted that unless this number was
authorized, the navy would be unable
to aid materially in bringing Ameri-
can trops home from Europe and in
addition would be dangerously weak
erred"
Force Is Temporary.
Mr.. Daniels emphasized that the
navy department did not intend to
ask congress at this time for a per-
manent navy of 100000 men but only
for a temporary force large enough
to take care of the work arising in
the transition betweer war and
peace. Between now and the end of
the year, the secretary said, the de-
partment would have time to study
carefully the situation and arrive at
definite conclusion as to the coun-
try's needs
The recommendation from the gen
eral board regarding the early COM
pletion of the 1916 program disclosed
that the naval experts had decided
against the composite ship which had
been planned to take the place of the
battleship and battle cruiser. It was
assumed that study by Secretary
Daniels and Rear Admirals Griffin,
Earle and TAYLOR. of foreign battle
ship construction led to the abandon
ment of the plans of the new type.
No changes will be made in the 10
battleships already authorized ex-
cept those suggested by future de-
velopment in battleship construction,
the committee was told. Plans for
the battle cruisers will be changed
to provide for greater protection at
s]ight sacrifice of the proposed speed
of IS knots an hour
Will Keen $4,000 Men.
Rear Admiral Mexican, acting chief
of the office of operations, told the
committee that 16 first class and 10
second class battleships with a total
complement of $4,000 men,. would be
kept in commission as a peace time
force. When questioned by committee
members regarding the advisabilitv
of rednrino this number of men. Ad-
miral MceKan said it could not he
done without so decreasing the eff
c,ency OF the navy as to make it pos
sible for "anv one to come along and
bump us off,
The department has planned. he
said. to keep in commission ZIG ships,
of all types, put 1913 out of commits
sion, and place 400 in reserve.
A summary showing the needs of
the navy for 100000 men was given
to the committee bv Captain Leigh,
acting chief of the bureau of naviga-
tior The number of officers which
would be required for a navy of 25O.-
900 was placed by Captain Leigh at
| 37,714.