purposes in time of war, and he said that he would give it consideration.

Secretary MEYER. When they went down to Panama a month or two ago the Panama Commission recommended it and it will come up this session.

Mr. ROBERTS. Have you gotten away from the building program? Secretary MEYER. Yes, sir.

Mr. ROBERTS. I want to ask whether the department has sent up this year the table we usually have, showing the number of vessels of each class that we have and that the foreign nations have?

Secretary MEYER. Yes, sir; it has been submitted to the committee. Mr. HOBSON. Does that include the exclusive tables showing dreadnaughts and dreadnaught cruisers on probable programs down to 1920?

Secretary MEYER. I do not recall.

Mr. HOBSON. I would suggest that that be included.

Secretary MEYER. It is pretty hard for us to give the programs of other countries. As to the Japanese, when I went to England a year ago I found that they were really building four battle cruisers, one at Vickers and two in Japan.

Mr. HOBSON. And one at Armstrong's?

Secretary MEYER. Yes, sir; and two in Japan.

Mr. GREGG. In making comparisons formerly they used to give it in tonnage. Now, you have adopted a building system and you only take the battleships?

Secretary MEYER. My recollection is that it goes into both.

Mr. GREGG. The comparison used to be made by tonnage, and is now made by the battleships?

Secretary MEYER. That is the basis of strength, because the others are merely auxiliaries. The auxiliaries without the battle cruisers would merely be destroyed or captured. If based on predreadnaughts, we state just what we have.

Mr. ROBERTS. Have you a table or can you prepare one showing the present deficiency in auxiliaries based on the present battle strength?

Secretary MEYER. As outlined by the general board?

Mr. ROBERTS. Yes, sir.

Secretary MEYER. We have it by comparison.

Mr. ROBERTS. Please prepare such a table and send it to the committee.

Secretary MEYER. Yes, sir.

In constructing the following table, the proportions used are those in the General Board's memorandum of September 25, 1912, on the subject of the building program 1913-1917, which accompanied General Board letter to the department of the same date recommending the building program for the year ending June 30, 1914.

The column "available" includes vessels authorized or building and all built, except vessels of the fleet proper of more than 20 years of age. In accordance with the practice of the General Board "scouts" include the present armored cruisers; cruisers, first class; and three vessels designed as scouts.

1 Lebanon omitted as being merely a makeshift.

(1)

2

21

13

1

2

32

43

48832162

2 Includes only those fuel ships built as such for fleet use, and not merchant colliers previously purchased. Of these latter, there are available 13, whose capacity equals about 4 in fleet fuel ships.

Includes only tenders building as such, and not the Castine, Severn, Tonopah, and others now in use as makeshift tenders.

The Supply not included; while classed as a supply ship in the Navy Register, she is employed on necessary special duty as station ship at Guam, rendering her unavailable to act as supply ship with the fleet.

5 Only Buffalo and Prairie considered as available; other vessels classed as transports not sufficiently serviceable.

Mr. HOBSON. And the number that the board allots to each capital ship.

Mr. ROBERTS. And how many short?

The appropriation act of June 22, 1906, or out of that appropriation, a contract was awarded for a submarine boat, but an agreement was made between the department and the builder of submarines to furnish a boat to come up to certain requirements, and $450,000 of that appropriation was set aside to pay for that boat, if ever furnished. That was six years ago. Has that boat ever been furnished? Secretary MEYER. Which boat?

Mr. ROBERTS. The first Lake boat.

Secretary MEYER. Yes; on October 17, 1912.

Mr. ROBERTS. The same company got a contract out of the appropriation of 1908?

Secretary MEYER. Yes, sir.

Mr. ROBERTS. Has that boat been delivered?

Secretary MEYER. No, sir.

Mr. ROBERTS. Please furnish the committee with a list of the submarine boats that have been contracted for, beginning with the appropriation of 1906, giving us the number of boats assigned to each tender, the contract price, time when the contract was made, time when the boat was delivered, the tonnage of the boat, and the contract requirements for speed, etc.

Secretary MEYER. I shall be glad to do so.

ACT OF JUNE 29, 1906, AND MARCH 2, 1907.

C-2. No. 13, Stingray. Electric Boat Co. Contract dated November 19, 1907. Time for completion, 20 months. Contract price, $285,000. Speed, 10 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, Mass., October 16, 1909. Tonnage, 273 tons (submerged).

C-3. No. 14. Tarpon. Electric Boat Co. Contract dated November 19, 1907. Time for completion, 20 months. Contract price, $285,000. Speed, 10 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, October 14, 1909. Tonnage, 273 tons (submerged). C-4. No. 15, Bonita. Electric Boat Co. Contract dated November 19, 1907. Time for completion, 22 months. Contract price, $285,000. Speed, 10 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, October 20, 1909. Tonnage, 273 tons (submerged). C-5. No. 16. Snapper. Electric Boat Co. Contract dated November 19, 1907. Time for completion, 22 months. Contract price, $285,000. Speed, 10 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, December 22, 1909. Tonnage, 273 tons (submerged).

D-1. No. 17. Narwhal. Electric Boat Co. Contract dated November 23, 1907. Time for completion, 24 months. Price, $360,000. Speed, 13 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, October 7, 1909. Tonnage, 337 tons.

D-2. No. 18, Grayling. Electric Boat Co. Contract dated November 23, 1907. Time for completion, 24 months. Price, $360,000. Speed, 13 knots. Delivered navy yard, October 11, 1909. Tonnage, 337 tons.

G-1. Seal. Lake Torpedo Boat Co. Agreement to purchase dated February 3, 1908. Time, 24 months. Price, $450,000. Speed, 14 knots. Delivered at the navy yard. New York, October 18, 1912. Tonnage, 500 tons (submerged). D-3. No. 19. Salmon. Electric Boat Co. Contract dated November 23, 1907. Time for completion, 25 months. Price, $360,000. Speed, 13 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, September 1, 1910. Tonnage, 337 tons (submerged).

ACT MAY 13, 1908.

F-1. No. 20. Carp. Electric Boat Co. Contract, March 5, 1909. Time for completion, 27 months. Price. $454,740. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard. Mare Island, Cal. Tonnage, 400 tons (submerged). F-2. No. 21. Barracuda. Electric Boat Co. Contract, March 5, 1909. Time for completion, 27 months. Price, $454,740. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Mare Island, Cal. Tonnage, 400 tons (submerged). F-3. No. 22. Pickerel. Electric Boat Co. Contract, March 5, 1909. Time for completion, 29 months. Price, $454.740. yard, Puget Sound, Wash., August 5, 1912. F-4. No. 23. Skate. Electric Boat Co. completion, 29 months. Price, $454.740. navy yard, Puget Sound, Wash. Tonnage, 400 tons (submerged).

Speed, 14 knots. Delivered navy Tonnage, 400 tons (submerged). Contract, March 5, 1909. Time for Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered

E-1. No. 24. Skipjack. Electric Boat Co. Contract, June 3, 1909. Time, 26 months. Price, $375,000. Speed, 134 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, February 14. 1912. Tonnage, 340 tons (submerged).

E-2. No. 25. Sturgeon. Electric Boat Co. Contract, June 3, 1909. Time, 23 months. Price. $375,000. Speed, 13 knots. Delivered navy yard, Boston, February 14. 1912. Tonnage, 340 tons (submerged).

G-4. No. 26. Thrasher. American Laurenti Co. Contract, April 24, 1909. Time, 30 months. Price. $437,500. Speed. 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Philadelphia. Tonnage, 457 tons (submerged).

G-2. No. 27. Tuna. The Lake Torpedo Boat Co. Contract, April 21, 1909. Time, 28 months. Price, $410,000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Portsmouth, Va. Tonnage, 475 tons (submerged).

ACT MARCH 3, 1909.

H-1. No. 28. Seawolf. Electric Boat Co. Contract, August 10, 1910. Time, 29 months. Price, $491,000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Mare Island. Cal. Tonnage, 467 tons (submerged).

II-2. No. 29. Nautilus. Electric Boat Co. Contract. August 10, 1910. Time, 29 months. Price. $491 000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Mare Island. Cal. Tonnage, 467 tons (submerged).

H-3. No. 30. Garfish. Electric Boat Co. Contract, August 10, 1910. Time, 30 months. Price. $491.000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Puget Sound, Wash. Tonnage, 467 tons (submerged).

G-3. No. 31. Turbot. Lake Torpedo Boat Co. Contract, January 19, 1911. Time, 20 months. Price, $455,000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, New York. Tonnage, 460 tons (submerged).

ACT JUNE 24, 1910.

K-1. No. 32. Haddock. Electric Boat Co. Contract, May 31, 1911. Time. 25 months. Price, $469.000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Boston. Tonnage, 521 tons (submerged). Contract, May 31, 1911. Time, 25 To be delivered navy yard, Boston.

K-2. No. 33. Cachalot. Electric Boat Co. months. Price, $469,000. Speed, 14 knots. Tonnage, 521 tons (submerged).

K-3. No. 34. Orca. Electric Boat Co. Contract, May 31, 1911. Time, 26 months. Price, $501,000. Speed, 14 knots. . To be delivered navy yard. Puget Sound, Wash. Tonnage, 521 tons (submerged).

K-4. No. 35. Walrus. Electric Boat Co. Contract, May 31. 1911. Time, 27 months. Price, $501,000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Puget Sound, Wash. Tonnage, 521 tons (submerged).

ACT MARCH 4, 1911.

K-5. No. 36. Electric Boat Co. Contract, October 27, 1911. Time, 24 months. Price, $478,000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Boston. Tonnage, 519 tons (submerged).

K-6. No. 37. Electric Boat Co. Contract, October 27, 1911. Time, 25 months. Price, $478,000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Boston. Tonnage, 519 tons (submerged).

K-7. No. 38. Electric Boat Co. Contract, October 27, 1911. Time, 26 months. Price, $512,000. Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard. Mare Island, Cal. Tonnage. 519 tons (submerged). K-8. No. 39. Electric months. Price, $512,000. Island, Cal. Tonnage, 519

Boat Co. Contract, October 27. 1911. Time. 27 Speed, 14 knots. To be delivered navy yard, Mare tons (submerged).

ACT AUGUST 22. 1912.

Eight boats authorized. January 6, 1913, award made to Electric Boat Co. of contracts for five boats. One boat, of about 730 tons, to be delivered within 24 months, price, $615,000; and 4 boats of about 600 tons to be delivered within 22 months, 23 months, 24 months, and 25 months, respectively, from date of contract, at $534,000 each. Same date award made to Lake Torpedo Boat Co. for 3 boats, 1 of 565 tons to be constructed at Bridgeport, Conn., and delivered within 24 months, for $525,000; and 2 boats of 565 tons, to be constructed at Long Beach. Cal., one to be delivered within 24 months, and 1 within 25 months, respectively, from date of contract, for $560,009 each.

The speed of the Lake company's boats is to be 14 knots.

The speed of the Electric Boat Co.'s boats is to be 134 knots, with the exception of the largest one, which is a special type and is to have a speed of 14 knots.

The above speeds are those on the surface. The speed of these boats submerged is to be 10 knots.

VESSELS AT PRESENT USED AS SUBMARINE TENDERS WITH THEIR BOATS. Severn and Castine (Atlantic Fleet) (Severn has no motive power; is towed by Castine); C-5, C-2, C-3, and C-4, 4 submarines.

Tonopah (Atlantic Fleet): E-1, D-1, D-2, D-3, and E-2, 5 submarines.

Alert (Pacific Fleet): F-1, F-2, and F-3, 3 submarines.

Mohican (Asiatic Fleet): A-7, A-2, A-4, A-6, 4 submarines.

There is one tender, the Niagara, under construction.

PRESENT DISPOSITION OF OTHER SUBMARINES.

In reserve: A 1, B-1, A 3, A 5, C-1, 5 submarines.

Fitting out: G-1, 1 submarine.

Out of commission (not yet delivered); F-4, G-2, G-3, G 1, H-1, H-2, K-1, K-4, K-5, K-6, K-7, K 8, K 3, K 2, 15 submarines.

Contracted for in December, 1912: L 1, L-2, 1-3, L 4, L. 5, L. 6. L-7. and M-1, 8 submarines.

A. G. WINTERHALTFR.

I want to call the attention of the committee to the bill reported last session giving the rank of vice admiral.

The CHAIRMAN. We reported it last year, but it went out on a point of order, and I have reintroduced the bill.

Secretary MEYER. I would like to ask the committee to read what I say on the question of rank of admirals on page 49. On that page it shows that 19 of the navies of the world include at least vice admirals, 9 of them admirals, and Japan, Germany, and England admirals of the fleet in addition. It is felt that this matter should be corrected in our service by appropriate legislation. The table, without my taking your time to read it, shows what flag officers in the way of admirals, vice admirals, etc., other countries have. We are at a great disadvantage with our large fleet. It is humiliating for our officer to sit at the table in council, because he has to go after the admiral of the fleet of Chile, or even Cuba if she has a ship. Peru, Chile, Argentina, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, all of those countries have vice admirals, and Argentina, Japan, Russia, Spain, Italy, Germany, and England have admirals.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Secretary, appreciating fully those questions of our own embarrassment, I will say that I think in addition that the grades of admiral and vice admiral are needed for the efficient management of our own fleet.

Secretary MEYER. That is absolutely so. They feel a respect for the man himself, but not for the rank. I notice the fact that Dewey is an Admiral; there is a great feeling of respect, not only on account of what he accomplished, but on account of his rank. Now, if the committee can not see its way clear to establishing a regular rank in the Navy, establish it at least while they are in command.

The CHAIRMAN. I think the idea we had last year meets with the most favor-then he will not become a land admiral.

Secretary MEYER. I accepted that-and that is appropriate-but I would like to see the rank established. We go down to South America and Central America in case of a disturbance, or we go to China, where different nations send fleets, and we have to give the precedence of command to some foreigner, when we may have more vessels there than any other nation, on account of his rank.

Mr. GREGG. Most Members of Congress think that is a matter of personal pride.

Secretary MEYER. I have been a representative abroad and I have seen our officers take position out of keeping with their service on account of our not giving them the proper rank.

Mr. ROBERTS. Is it not a fact that last year, in the troubles in China, we were at a disadvantage from a naval standpoint?

Secretary MEYER. We had more ships there than any other nation, and yet Admiral Murdock held an inferior position in the council of the nations because he had not sufficient rank to take a commanding position.

Mr. GREGG. Did he not have the same voice in the council as the other officers?

Secretary MEYER. I think you will all recognize that the chairman of a committee has more influence there may be other men on the committee who have equal capacity-but the fact that he is chairman gives him more influence in the committee; and when a bill is