Show i naval board will ask congress to increase nations fleets washington nov as three first class battleships of at least tons displacement and IS koots sped three scout cruisers of tons displacement one gunboat oe the helena class and four other gunboats gun boats of light draught two tor use in the pines and two for service on the rivers ol 01 china with additional torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers ara the principal 0 the general board of the navy in ua program 0 new construction to be authorized by the next congles con gres which is now under consideration by the board of construction at its meeting tomorrow the latter board of which the chiefs of the bureaus ot ordnance steam engineering gi equipment and construction and repair are the members will complete its reports upon the practicability ot the proposed types of snips contained in the general boards program and the two reports will be forwarded to the secretary for guidance in the preparation ot that portion of his annual report dealing with new construction although appreciating fully the necessity of scout cruisers in time of war the needs ot an adequate force of destroyers and torpedo teats and tho immediate desirability of small gun boats for service on the asiatic station several members of the board of con st ruction are in favor of concentrating the fight tor additional ships upon the first recommendation ot the general board that tor three new battleships whether tho board of construction will approve the practicability of the proposed new battleship ot the general boards design la not certain abs tbs |