The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-02
Fleet Cruise to the Pacific.

| lighter and smaller vessels than IN the
Fleet Cruise to the Pacific.
During the first stay of the Atlantic
Fleet at Jamestown plan long under
consideration was made PUBLIC to sene
a. substitute for the comparatively
short cruising and the harbor work
which the fleet has engaged in for mel
white season Of the past six or more sas
made 1t necessary some time ago tc
discontinue all training-ship cruises
SO that recruits now pass to general
service, with only few months train
this system the recruits may not sc
soon become familiar with their sea
duties their development will be
sounder and better. their sea expert
in regular service. as in the coming
voyage to the Pacific Mobility and
expert gunnery are the essential qual-
tiles of an efficient naval force. Meth
detciency, in one be tolerated more
than In the other; nor can one be de-
veloped at the expense of the other
without impairing the efficiency of the
has somewhat disturbed the balance,
but the Pacific cruise will restore this,
aTording ample opportunity for train
ms In naval seananship, besides tao
tics, and experience for all concerned
In the many features of the movement
OF large naval force to distance.
Foreign shipbuilding Programs.
In foreign shipbuilding programs of
the current year the characteristic fea-
ture of all is the presence of battle.
ships of heavy displa cement. destroyers
ara submarines. and. with the Ger
man excepted, the omission of arInored
cruisers; The speed and displacement
Of battle-ships are increasing in all
countries. and there is marked ten
dency toward reduction in the mum.
oer or caiibers or guns composing the
armament. The armament of the latest
type OF attle-shipS IS composed of
!eavy turrct guns and of smaller guns
inIenced for defense Or against torpedo
craft. Tho latter, moreover, are In.
creas1ng in caliber to such a degree
that in some ships of recent design
they are of the same calibers that were
used but few years ago for the in
termedfate battery.
Ihe absence of arnlored cruisers from
the new programs is worthy of note
and may be absorbed to the tendency
toward the merging of the battle ship
ana arn1ored cruiser types. With the
. ar,rars, IN SIZE and power of the
tWeer that type and the battle-ship
has become less and less cIearl,, mark.
ed, until in the English Invincible class
~ mas almost Disappeared. Having
iihiil cruiser con-
struction in the 1nvincible class. Eng
land Is s.s-,&t to return TO a ~maller
type OF cruisers for commerce protec.
ton and police duties. and 1t has been
announced IN Parliament that .the
lurther construction of large arnlured
Admifaity. Immediately required.
Attention Will however. be directed
i, MN me immediate future to the develop
evolution of new type OF cruiser to
take the place OF the obsolescent Ed
gar class Ut should be noted. how
ever. mat England already Possesses
cd cruisers. The development of the
scout, is also a subject that is engage
i, :, tns attention OF other foreign adj
zoo zoo tons nrea no Longer find PLACE in rs.
building torpedo boats OF 200 to 800
tons. and nearly all arc building de-
vary from 400 to 500 or 800 tons, and
show a steady tendency to Increase.
submarines, also, are increasing in
s s.Ie as az well ,4 as IN numbers the larg-
france. Germany and Austria have
recently been added to the list OF ma
lions engaged In building submarines.
The Marine Corps.
~. = ,;.,s Of marines is now, sery-
m inG with a., the army Of pacifcation In
zone, and n brigade In the Philippines,
while the. usual detachments are on
duty on board vessels at sea. This
leaves but SO per cent. of the officers
ana enlisted men Of the corps on duty
In this country. and renders 1t difficult
properly to relieve those whose for.
eign or sea service has expired. The
commandment, while speaking with
pride Of the encomiums bestowed upon
the CORPS in connection with it's rep
resentation In beyond-sea service by
the Secretary of War and by the Pres
ident, urges thnt the present made.
Quacy in strength OF the personnel.