THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1771, 3 January 1918, Page 1

THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

• The War Construction programme of the United States Navy comprises 787 vessels, including all types, from super-Dreadnoughts to submarine chasers. Some completed during the past few weeks are now in service, and the rest of the programme is being pushed to rapid completion. The total cost is estimated at £230,080,000. Mr Josephus Daniels, Secretary for the Navy, announced on October oth that arrangements have been completed for building the large additional number of destrovers as planned, af a cost of- about' £70,000,000. Mr Daniels said“ These destroyers will be built by five companies at Boston; i Comden, N.J.; Delaware River, Philadelphia; Newport News, Va.; and San Francisco. This is the biggest project we have ever undertaken. Three months ago it looked as if it could not be done. Orders then had already been given for all the dost rovers the yards could build, and almost as many as‘the new programme calls for are now under construction or coni raid. To build these additional destroyers rapidly requires a great extension of the shiiibuilding facilities and the erecltion of new plants for building engines. The companies were unwilling to invest millions :a these additions, so the Government had to build and will own plants and extensions which will he used by the builders. AVe are putting every energy and every facility behind this project. Some of the new destroyers are promised for delivery within nine, and all of them within 18, months. These vessels will be the latest and largest, of the improved type tried in our own service, and found to be unsurpassed by any destroyers in the world. The plans are all ready, and the adoption of a uniform type enables us to reduce the number of the types of engine parts, and to turn them out in much less time. The principal trouble lies in getting forgings and auxiliaries, but the manufacture of these is arranged for, and we are making every effort to prevent delay in the delivery’ of materials and machinery. Thousands of men. will be required for these destroyers. We are now busy training them. By the time the vessels are completed the crews will he ready.”