Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-09
Nearly 200 Warships
Completed for Navy
During the Past Year

Washington, Dec. S.-Nearly 200
warships. including one superdread-
naught and Sc destroyers, were COM
pleted for the American navy during
the fiscal year ended last June 30,
and more than 100 others, including II
superdreadnaughts and six great
pattle cruisers, were building at that
time.
This is shown in the annual report
of Rear Admiral David w. Taylor.
chief of the Bureau of Construction
and Repair to Secretary Daniels.
made public today at the Navy De-
partment. For continuing work on
the ships building, Admiral Taylor
estimated that s119,00O,O0O would be
required during the fiscal year begin
ming next June so. This compares
with $5s.O0o,O0o last year and is the
largest total ever proposed by the
American Navy in peace time for
continuing construction 1t is ex-
planned by the fact that work on
many of the craft authorized in 1916
building program was halted during
the war.
ADMIRAL Taylor's report also dis
closes that the Navy Department ia
engaged in developing and construct
ing new types of aircraft, including
great rigid and semi-rigid air ships
and seaplanes similar to those which
undertook the transatlantic fight
iast year. Besides the dirigible which
is building in England for the United
states, the navy is building a dirig-
| IDLE at home.
Airplanes and seaplanes building
! include four of the NC type for SER
vice with the battle fleet, making. a.
| total Of eight of this class. In the
four new craft now building are en-
bodied the lessons learned from the
transatlantic flight.
| The navy also is building a small
number of interchangeable land air.
planes and seaplanes for the Marine
Corps and two types of torpedo carry
ing seaplanes, one to be Of metal con-
struction.
! TO provide a large seaplane for
meet use." says Admiral Taylor, "tbe
bureaus undertook the DEVELOPMENT
OF design for seaplane larger than
any in existence, a $4,000 pound Nv
ing boat. The design embodies sew.
| erai' new features, including metal
rings and unique power plant or
nine liberty engines in three groups.
each group being geared to. a single
propeller"
With the delivery Of the Aper-
dreadnaught Tennessee this year by
the New York Navy yard, the first
line battleships with the Atlantic and
Pacific fleets were increased to eight
cen. Besides the destroyers added to
the fleet last year, other new shins
completed included eighteen sub-
marines, As eagle boats and ten mine
sweepers. In addition a number of
naval tugs were delivered,
Besides the eleven battleships and
six battle cruisers building. there .ra
under construction ten scout cruisers.
oestroyers, and AZ submarines.
Some OF the destroyers have been de-
hvered since last June 80. Only two
OF the eleven battleships building are
expected to be delivered next year
the Tennessee and Maryland. The
Colorado is to be delivered in 1922 and
the others in 1923 or later.
Admiral Taylor devotes part of his
report to tests conducted with some
or the German submarines turned
over to the United States for experi-
mental purposes and says on the
basis Of these tests that ION the whole
these vessels could not be said to be
superior in design and capabilities to
corresponding vessels of the United
States Navy
This is a matter of interest" the
ADMIRAL says, ''in view of the exar-
gerated ideas of the German sub
marine prevalent during the war.
when they were still mystery"