The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-06-26
ON THE ALERT.
War Ships Should All Go to the
Pacific Ocean.
SAYS NAVY BOARD.

SAgS WAvY BUAKUs
Land and Sea War Game to Test the
Efficiency Of Our Defences.-Rush
Work in All the Navy Yards
Orders Sent to Manila and Homo
lula Urging Great Activity in For
tifying the Harbors.
The Washington correspondent Of
the New York American saws COM
prehensive plans for putting the
Navy in a state of preparedness for
any emergency were sent to Secretary
of the Navy Metcalf for immediate
dispatch 70 the president, on Wednes-
day of last week.
By special direction of the Presi-'
dent the General Board of the Navy,
Of which Admiral Dewey is the presi-;:
dent, has been in session for several
days discussing the needs Of steps to-
insure the presence Of the war feet,
in fighting condition, at the point
where it could render the most ef-
fective service in case Of an emer-
gency; and the board has now for.
mulated and handed to Secretary
Metcalf a series of recommendations.
which include the following:
That the entire battleship squad
ron of the Navy be concentrated on
the Pacific Coast.
That prompt measures be taken to-
improve to the highest point Of eff.
cheney the shipbuilding plants and!
dry docks on the Pacific Coast, even
Ito the extent of taking these plants
and docks under Government con-
troll if that be found necessary.
Other recommendation Of similar
tenor are included in the plans sub
mitted to Secretary Metcalf.
%While these plans have been pre-
pared by the Navy Board at the dl-
rect request of the President, 1t is
not certain that they will be approx
ed by him. But the fact that he has;
thought it necessary to seek,>counsel
from the navy experts at this time is
regarded here with the utmost sig
nifcance and has stirred navy circles
to an unusual degree Of activity and
interest.
Nor is this likely to be lessened by
the announcement made that the Sec
retary of the Navy will leave for Cal
[ifornia where he will make a special
study of naval conditions on the Wes-
tern coast, and that joint naval
and army game is shortly to be IN
augurated on the Pacific slope for the
purpose of ascertaining what success
foreign foe would have in passing
fortifications and entering certain
specified ports with landing exped1-
tionS.
Information is to the effect that at
Honolulu and Manila orders have al
so been issued to put more energy
into the work of fortifying the two
harbors that has heretofore been
shown.
Immediate interest, however, at
taches to the recommendation OF the
Navy Board, and therefore of Admir-
al Dewey as well, that our. complete
force of battleships be concentrated IN
Pacific waters. The board has many
times expressed the opinion that the
greatest usefulness Of the battleshlp
is attained when such vessels are
maintained in squadrons in the
places where they are most likely 10
be needed.
It is significant, that, in pursuance
of +bis oninion. the battleships which
have heretofore all been gathered TO
gether in the North Atlantic, with the
exception of the Oregon and Wlscon-
sin. at present out Of commission,
should be recommended LOT coaceu-
tration on the Pacific. here IS tne
full complement of ships Wnlch tne
Naval Board desires to nave sent
around the Horn, travelling In re.
) verse direction over the course oa
the historic Oregon:
Connecticut, Captain Hugh osler-
haus, 5000 tons.
Mains, Captain Nathan r. Miles,
Missouri, Captain E. G. Pendleton,
Louisiana, Captain A. R. couden'
5000 tons. a
Virginia, Captain seaton schroe-
5 0't Georgia, Captain R. c. Davenport,
I l4,948 tons. NY u;o-
New Jersey, Captain W. W. KIM
; ball, 14,94S tons. paw
Rhode Island, Captain G. U. BOW
man, 14,94S tons. ,- -
Alabama, Captain 5. r. COMFY -
:. : % Illinois, i Captain G. Blocklinger,
: AISe Kersarge, Captain Herber WinsloW
:, 1880 tons. o p.rrv
e Kentucky, Captain E. b. Barry
n Ohio, Captain L. c. Hellner' ~
d d '0Y indiana, Captain D. H. Mahan' 10
h h 1'H iowa, wa Captain Henry Mccrea' H.
: . n Minnesota, a Captain John Hubbard
J. J. i0;vyy vermont, ont Captain William G. Por-
ter, $1,000 tons. o.s;oned n
d Four flag officers are asslsaea o;ro ~
d these battleships. Rear Aamir aamirs1 81
- Robley D. Evans, Rear A9mn ira1 o.
a Charles NJ. Thomas, Rear AomI 'aasa1s 4.
William H. Emory me vesbei, ~,
: could be made ready to staIt on ns-n snsti
E ;ournev to the Pacific in Sky Gays
IS J;r1a Jout t ~ less. should the President op.
y, .ane s,,n The recommendation, ana as e
c. tLe poo tbere in naval circles there !:
IS on~ronr ens.r a belief that the order To-
IS eaa enaro o to prepare for the trip Will o'