The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-14
To Embark a Division.

To embark a division would require
ten 6.5oo-ton ships and nine 5,0Oo-ton
ships. With the present strength OF the
regular army two such divisions could
he made ready to embark in fifteen days
hence twenty of the large and eighteen
of the smaller ships available in fifteen
days would be sufficient for such an ex-
pedition. AS such an expedition may be
necessary from either the Atlantic or
Pacific coast. the report urges that
there should be on each side a number
OF suitable ships aloat but IL engaged
in foreign trade 1t is not probable that
one-third of those in either ocean could
be obtained and made ready in fifteen
days.
Assuming this ratio says the re-
port OF the general staff, sit follows that
to provide suitable ships for rapid
movement OF two divisions from either
coast there should be not less than sixty
OF the larger and ffty-four OF the
smaller size atloat In Atlantic and the
same in Pacific waters, or one hundred
and twenty Of the larger and one hun
dred and eight of the smaller size in
all. an aggregation OF two hundred and
twenty-eight vessels"
The report declares that no such fleet
as would be needed for an overseas ex-
petition could be furnished out OF the
present resources OF the American mer-
chant marine.
The Official List.
1.-The official list it points out, "of
merchant vessels for 1904 shows fifty
seven sea-gong ships of 1900 gross tons
and upwards, with an aggregate tonnage
of 10000 This includes the Very fast At
lantic liners which would doubtless be
required for the navy for scouts. and also
-, Il 49,
be generally serviceable. or these ships
eight are substantially Of the smaller
and nine of the larger size described. The
others vary in size and proportion TO
such an extent as to make 1t UNSAFE TO
adopt factors smaller than four gross
tons per man and ten per animal In
sauging their capacity. With two factors
the division, would require 116,GO0 gross
ions of Transports. and two divisions
the force previously discussed as a first
expedition to be dispatched NJ once, Will
require 232,0CD gross tons selected from
this list of ships.
..ln short to strike the quick blow OF
/, force corresponding to our permanent
military establishment, would require
practically all the American shipping OF
suitable character, in Atlantic waters and
more than the entire tonnage in the
Pacific waters. There needs no argu-
ment TO show that this transport SER
vice could not be procured In fifteen
days. 1t is doubtful whether it can be
procured at all, except by impressment
ana in a period OF sixtmonths or more
The Santiago Expedition.
The report frankly criticises the San
tiago expedition. in 1885, Every Ameri-
can vessel that could be obtained In the
Atlantic ports. during the twenty days
following tho declaration OF war was
,@chartered-a fleet of thirty-six vessels,
averaging 300 tons, only two of them
over 40oo tons.
THE official records afford ample proof
that the safe arrival was due to the
good fortune Of continued fine weather. 2
It SAYS "a severe gale encountered
would have scattered the fleet, probab-
ly with great loss OF life. and would
6 N IN