The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-10-30
DOES AMERICA
NEED TWO BIG FLEETS?
WASHINGTON AUTHORITIES DISCUSSING PROPOSITION OF HAVING
ONE BATTLEsHP FLEET OF THE CONTINENT
ROOSEVELT THOUGHT REGARD AMERICAN

NAVY AS QUITE LARGE ENoU CHI.

come apparent at the coming session
of congress when for various reasons.
some patriotic and some selfish, de-
mand is heard for the creation of
two-hsted navy, one i'm the Atlantic
ocean and one in the Pacific. OF
course, the sending of the Atlantic
squadron of battleships to the Pacific
will be the main excuse for broaching
such a subject, but it's reception by
congress and among the heads of the
government will be of the greatest in
terest not only to the United States
but to the world. remark recently
made by Secretary of the Navy Met
calf is being repeated here in Wash
ington as significant of the intention
of the Navy Department and an at
tempt is being made to make it appear
as authoritative as regards the admin
istration. In reply to the prognostica-
ton of casual caller that congress
might be winIng to authorize the con-
struction of three battleships at the
coming session of congress, Secretary
Metcalf was quoted as saying: "Four
would be better" II President Roose-
welt entertains this idea himself he
has, in recent days, changed his mind.
POLICY REACHED BY PRESIDENT.
So long ago as the summer of the
peace at Portsmouth President Roose-
welt had reached the conclusion that
our navy was large enough, and that it
only needed to be maintained at the
same strength. This he thought could
be done by authorizing one new battle
ship each year and enough vessels of
subordinate types to replace those that
were retired because they had become
for one reason or another unservice-
able for war purposes or active duty.
In his messages to congress in 1905
and last year, the president laid EN-
phasis on the adequacy of the present
size of the fleet and reiterated his be-
lief that it did not need increasing.
If one may judge from his present
speeches the president has not become
a convert of that element in the navy
which is urgently advocating a two
ocean standard. What they mean by
this is two great fleets or navies, one
in the Atlantic ocean and one In the
Pacific ocean. In his present tour Mr..
Roosevelt has said in all of his speech
es in which he referred to the navy
that he believed in one fleet, and in
keeping that one fleet altogether.
ADD ONE BATTLE SHIP A YEAR.
1t became known as the Settled
policy of the administration to add but
one battle ship each year to the fleet
and for the past three years the navaI
committees of the two branches of con-
gress have acquiesced in this policy
Congress has not needed the recon-
mendations of the general board OF
the navy nor of the secretary when
they have called for more than one
battle ship annually. President Roose.
welt has not indicated in any of his
public speeches that he will recon-
mend to congress that two or more
battle ships be authorized at the COM
ing session.
The arrival of the fleet on the Paci-
tic coast will be the signal for an ur-
gent demand for increased expendi-
lures for naval yards and docks on
that coast. 1t has been suspected that
one OF the objects in sending the fleet
around the Horn was to draw wildly
to the attention of congress the need
of increased facilities for taking care
of the ships on the western coast.
Congress will find a number of de-
mands on the treasury this winter
which may combine to act as a check
on naval expenditures. The middle
west Is aroused on the subject of in
land water ways, and it is expected
that the delegation from the states
bordering on the Mississippi and it's
great tributaries will act in concert
for money to make good their dream
of fourteen feet through the valley"
This is the year, too, for a public
Dulldlngs Dill and no single member, IL
he can help it, is going to be content
to be deprived of a new postoffice or
custom house that the money may be
added to the naval budget
COST OF MAINTENANCE.
The total cost of all vessels of the
new navy, built and building, on June
80, 1906 was $277, 326,S59. The cost OF
maintenance of such a formidable me-
chanism as is the modern warship is
high Here is a statement showing the
cost of maintenance of a vessel OF each
type during the fiscal year 1906:
Type of vessel. Name. Cost.
1st-class battleship Maine. 80. 1924 1886
2nd-class battleship. Texas. ..... 341, 282
Armored cruiser w. Virginia. Al, 1893