The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
Organization of the fighting yes


sells of the United States navy into
two mammoth fleets for service in
the Atlantic and the Pacific is the
fundamental recommendation of
Rear Admiral George A. Converse,
chief of the bureau of navigation OF
the navy department, whose annual
report was today made public. Off
GERS of the navy believe that Ad-
miral Converse has in mind the
growing influence of Japan in the far
east, the possibility of an armed con-
flict with that nation, and also the
necessity for this country to have
ADEQUATE naval protection for its At
lantic coast forts.
Admiral Converse believes that
the navy should be maintained in
condition of full preparedness for
war. He devotes considerable space
in his report to the lessons of the
Russo-Jananese war.
Admiral Converse also points out
the need for a military administra-
tive authority under the secretary of
the navy. It's purpose would be to
initiate and direct the steps neces-
sary to carry out the navy depart
ment's policy and to coordinate the
work of the navy department bu-
reaus and direct their energies to-
ward the effective preparation of the
fleet for war. He says that no ade-
uuate machinery now exists for these
purposes, the function now being
filled, in a measure, by the bureau
of navigation.
Battleships in the Atlantic.
With regard to the organization
of the fighting vessels of the country
into two fleets, one for the Atlantic
and one for the Pacific, Admiral Con-
verse says that as soon after Jan
uary /, 1907, as possible the vessels
of the navy in commission will be
assigned as follows:
The Atlantic fleet to consist OF
four squadrons and eight divisions
| including the following vessels:
Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Mis-
souri,, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia
Rhode Island, Alabama, Illinois,
Kearsarge, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana,
Iowa, Tennessee, Washington, St
Louis, Columbia, Des Moines, Cleve-
land, Tacoma, Dixie, Marietta, New
port. Don Juan de Austria, Prairie,
Dubuque, Paducah and Scorpion
The seventh and eighth divisions OF
the Atlantic fleet will be held in
reserve when their services are no
longer required for police and patrol
duty, but it is intended to maintain
them in such condition that they can
be ready for actual service within
las hours. In reserve-TeXas and
Brooklyn. Second torpedo Flotilla
Hopkins, Lawrence, Marlborough,
Whipple, Truxton and Worden.
Third torpedo fotilla-Wilkes,
Blakeley, belong, Rodgers and
| Stockton.
Strong Fleet for the Orient.
The tentative organization of the
Asiatic fleet, as outlined in Admiral
Converse's report, provides for two
souadrons and four divisions, in
Guiding the following vessels: West
| Virginia, Maryland, PENNSYLVANIA,
Colorado, Baltimore, Chattanooga,
Galveston, Cincinnati, Raleigh, Con-
cord. Quiros and VillafObos. For
coast defense in the Philippines the
monitors Monterey and Monadnock.
The first torpedo flotilla there will
consist of the cambridge, Barry,
Dale, Chauncey and Decatur.
The tentative organization for the
Pacific squadron will be two divis-
ions, including the Charleston, Mil
waukee, Albany, Chicago, New Or
leans, Yorktown, Boston, princeton,
and the fourth torpedo fotilla, con-
sisting of the Preble, Paul Jones,
Perry, Farragut, GoIdsborough and
Rowan
In the opinion of Admiral Con-
verse the Asiatic feet and the Pa
cifc squadron at an early date will
be merged into one Pacific fleet I'M
der the supreme command of flag
officer of the highest rank.
Practice in Fleet Maneuvers.
The bureau of navigation is max
ing every endeavor to secure a bat
tleship strength of 16 in the Asiatic
fleet, divided into two squadrons.
Though the United States navy has
made a great record for marksman-
ship the captains and flag officers
have not yet had enough opportuni-