The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-23
Many Ships UnsatisfactO- ry, He Claims In An
 nual Report FUNDS ARE NEEDED FOR AUGMENTATION Urges Plan Of Pacific
 Base For Battle
 Fleet NATION MUST BUILD HUGE SUBMARINES Lacks Cargo Carrying Under sea Vessels, The Secretary Ayers
fRv Leased Wire to Age.Herald)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.- The condition of the American battle fleet is unsatisfactory, Secretary of the Navy Wilbur declares in his annual report and urges that further funds be granted so that necessary repairs can be made.
 In his report, made public today tne secretary also advised that base iaei!l- ties on the Pacific coast be extende9 III order to continue satisfactory the: policy of keeping the fleet in the Pacflc, ana maintain it. in constant readiness.
 sThe policy of passing the battle fleet m tbe Pacific coast is approved and should be adhered to-" Wilbur said. "!n order that this fleet may be kept Tn constant readiness, it will be necessary to extend the facilities for the upkeep l of the fleet on the west coast and recon. mendations in that regard, as contalned herein, will be made from time to time as necessity arises.
 Big Subs Needed -
 In addition to repairs on first line ahips. Wilbur said long radius cruising submarine with mine-laying devices were urgently required to make the fleet fully effective.
 sdThe state of the material condition of the feet is now not satisfactory, he continued. "AIthough the available funds for the present fiscal year remain about the same as for last year., re- trogression is apparent because the ships are older and the maintenance costs are increasing accordingly. Eff ficient operation is becoming impaired and casualties to machinery are ire 0uent, Every effort has been directed toward devoting expenditure solely to fhe upkeep of ships in commission. Even then, urgent repairs cannot be accom- plished and ships remain at navy yards an undue length of time and leave with out completion of needful repairs.
 Funds Inadequate
 "Because of this inadequacy of funds, an order was issued in August of this wear reducing to minimum all lm- movements to the units of the fleet, no matter how important"
 Wilbur said the six older battleships must be modernized eff the reliance on them as ships of the first line of battle is to continue and our ratio of naval strength is to be maintained.
 The condition of the boilers of the Wyoming, Arkansas, Florida and Utah, he declared, is such that it was not con sidered safe for them to continue with the fleet. Temporary repairs have been made on all except the Florida, on which the cost would have been consld- trably greater.
 Morale Excellent
 MT. Wilbur said the morale of the personnel is excellent.
 ''The navy is a great asset to the na- tion in peace as well as war, he said in conclusion, land I cannot but be- ieve that the American navy is q great asset to all the nations of the world as a guarantee of peace and order. This is not accomplished by fighting, or by threats, or hostility, but by mere exis- tence of this great navy under the con- trol of a nation dedicated to the main- tenance of peace on the western hemis- phere and committed to the main ten ance of world peace"