New-York tribune., 1907-10-11
NAVY POLICY OUTLINED
READY FOR EMERGENCY.
Secretary Mctcalf Says Warships
WII Be Kept Together.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

washington Oct. I0.-'The American neonIe
r,snd 500 O3o 900 a year on their navy and thev.
exnect and are entitled to have it maintained at
al Zines in a state of preparedness which Will
,rore ample for any emergency That is all
there IS 10 the policy of the Navy Department"
said the Secretary of the Navy to-day when
asked for some Of the features of the policy
now dominating the department and directing
the affairs Of the fleets
-Battleships out of commission. cruisers in
TIE navy yards and torpedo boats tied up IN
their docks viii not serve the purpose ,rba,,
would be almost useless if called on suddenly m
protect the country. Therefore il is the poljcv
OF the department TO maintain not only the
vessels themselves IN a state of the most per-
feet fitness attainable. but TO have them manned
with experienced men. and the man cannot gain
experience without actual sea service.
IT is. moreover believed 10 be good policy
70 keep our fleets in bone water. Then the
ships are at hand when needed and when re-
pairs are required it is not necessary TO send
them 10 foreign shipyards, but the work can
be done here and by American mechanics. In
cdentally, this serves TO keep the details Of our
naval construction 10 ourselves so far as pos
sible.
There is one thing take pleasure in saving
and that is that I have enjoyed the most 1ovaI
support and cooperation in this DEPARTMENT
Everything has gone on with a smoothness
which IS most gratifying. Admiral Brownson
is a remarkably capable man. and so is Admiral
Converse. who preceded him as chief Of naviga-
iion and IS chairman OF the General Board
IN fact. all OF the bureau chiefs are most excel
lent and capable men. These staff officers are
actuated by a single purpose-the promotion of
the best interests Of the navy-and we are
therefore. all of one mind as to the end TO be
md T1-hpTo
spect it is not difficult TO arrive at harmony in
method"
Mr.. Secretary. there are manifest notable
energy and snap about the department since
you became Secretary. How do you account for
that?"
4 glad you think So replied Mr.. Met
calf. But ii is only the natural result OF har-
monious work TO a given end. with large prof.
ects 10 be carried to successful conclusion and
every one working to promote them. There are
snap and energy in the department in plenty;
the plans which maturing have long
been conceived. and we had been working on
them for some time before they became known
10 the press and TO the public
81 am deeply gratifed over the spirit there is
in this department and in the service generally.
Why, not only the officers but the enlisted men
as well have been begging TO be allowed to go
on the Pacific cruise. They all realize that the
experience will prove invaluable and that the
cruise Will afford each man an opportunity 10
show what is in him and how well he can per-
form the service intrusted 10 him.
Il believe for the future the policy Of the de-
partment viii be TO keep the navy together"
Does that mean that the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets will maintain the combination they Will
effect when they reach the Pacific Coast?"
THE feet Will return from the Pacific and
viii make its home in the Atlantic, but the
strength OF the -et'antic feet permanently
organized remains 10 be seem We have re-
rnarkably fine feet the Pacific now; by grad
ual accretion 1t has been brought up 70 a point
never before attained.
"Of course the navy is not for show but for
work In time Of peace II is insurance
against In time of war il Is the great
guarantee OF the safety Of the nation from in
vasion The policy which will govern the de-
partnent and the disposal of the fleet while I
an Secretary will be that which seems most
likely TO promote the preparedness of the navy
af all times"