The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-02

tha Navy Tor the fiscal year 1907 was
made public tonight II says in part:
Ages OF Dattle-Ship Captains.
In pursuance of one of the most i'm
portant recommendations repeatedly
urged during the past four years for
younger men in important commands
OF squadrons and ships, the department
has adopted a policy that will utilize
TO the best advantage the services of
the Youngest officers in command
grades that existing laws provide. In
brief, the plan is 10 give battle-saips
only TO those captains who will have
after their term in command OF d
| ship, two years or more to serve In
early in the year with the assignment
of commanding officers to battle-ships
nearing completion or about to be COM
niissoned. and subsequent details to
Completion of Organization Of the At.
lasuc Fleet.
The plan of organization of tho At
l2ntic fleet, stated In last years re-
port. became realized fact in April
last, when two complete squadrons of
Roads. These sixteen ships formed.
in weight and numbers combined. the
most powerful fleet of battleships un-
der one command in any navy, and
since 5, rse, the Jamestown NEST review, Its
substitution of the latest completed
ships. the Vermont and the Kansas, for
me earlier type, the Indiana and Iowa
Further, in the composition OF its divi-
sions, the fleet Is homogeneous
The latest addition has made posi-
squadron consists of buttleships as
closely similar as modern conditions
OF building permit. OF tho other
vessels ankle, or near enough alike,
for tactical purposes. We may saw.
therefore, that the long desired homo
genuity is at last secured and for the
development OF powerful mobile force
the Atlantic fleet Is In q most favor
nble condition We may confidently.
look to 1t for constant. practice and
test OF important tactical problems for
which the, long cruise about to be un-
dertaken will afford many opportunt-
ties.
Organization of the Pacific Fleet.
Carrying out the plan outlined last
year, all naval forces in tho Pacific
and As!atic waters We're early this
Year united In one command, forming
the Pacific fleet.
This is an important step for
strategic reasons. since all operations
in the Pacific. as well as in the At
lantlc should have one general direc-
ton and control, No proper develop
ment OF naval efficiency could proceed
without II, and it is important also as
serving directly to bring about a gen
eral appreciation Of the fact that geo
S"aphical limits. such as our squadrons
Hitherto have had We're opposed to
the idea of perfect mobility, by which
a fleet, squadron. or division should
be Tree OF any local tie or dependence
ever. and must be looked out for
which the adopted plan OF organiza-
covers by the periodical or frequent
interchange OF squadrons or divisions
among waters which were formerly
parts OF separate stations under In
dependent command Such a move
ment was the recent one of the ar.
nored cruiser squadron from Asiafic
waters to san Francisco. BY adherinp
TO this plan OF interchange. with fire.
Guent resort to large concentrations
of all, or nearly all. OF one general
command, in both Pacific and Atlantic
We may hope for the same gratlfving
results in tactics that Wholesome com.
petition has won for guunery. In pass.