Evening journal., 1908-12-11
NAVY SECRETARY
WANTS MORE Ships
MetCaIf Thinks That Congress
Should Provide For -Four
Big Fighters
ASKS THAT RANK OF
VICE-ADMIRAL BE CREATED

WASHINGTON, Dec. l1.-In his an
nual report submitted to Congress to-
day. Secretary Metcalr Of the Navy
Department, discusses as the most not
able naval event OF the past year. the
voyage OF the battleship fleet, which
has proven an epoch making cruise"
Late in the spring of 1907 it was
decided to send the Atlantic Fleet on
la practice cruise 20 the Pacific When
the purpose OF giving this assemblage
Of l6 battleships such a practice cruise.
kunder severe conditions. was announc-
ed, he states. criticism from high tech
nical quarters was heard. The under
taking, IL was said, was too monumen-
tai; dangers more than multiplied
with numbers in such a case; battle
ships should not be sent around the
globe on any ordinary occasion; the
ckeletons of some of them would doubt
less be left in the Straits OF Magellan;
and, II the ships should round South
America. they would, one by one, ar
rive with machineries loose and un-
serViceable, and with crews rejecting
the condition of the material.
This cruise. as yet hardly half over
he declares has given the country an
] acquainted
with the Republics 20 the south OF ms.
with our own island possessions. with
the new and vigorous branch Of the
British Empire in Australia. and par
ticulariy with Japan; and has given
TO those countries a better opportunity,
TO get acquainted with-Ds.
Between the United States and every
country visited there is feeling of
deeper interest and friendship than
existed before the fleet sailed.
Passing 10 certain recent criticisms
OF the new and larger battle shins now
building. the Secretary says that al
the conference, convened and opened
by the President at Newport the gen
J eral matter of design of these ships
was approved. after forty-three DAYS
consideration. by this assemblago of
the best authorities available in the
. Navy, consisting of about sixty officers
) all but seven cf whom were line Of
, hcers OF the seagoining branch OF tho
; service.
b Marksmanship he says has improved
/ on the practice cruise. With respect
60 the assertion that our 12-inch gun.
are inferior to those of other powers
/ the facts are found TO be that III,
] actual muzzle energy Of these 12-incl
guns, which form the main armament
Of our eight latest battleships in com
: mission is somewhat greater than tina
, Of any gun afoat in any other navy
AS the officer I'm command of tn
! American feet now I'm the Far Eas
{ holds the rank OF admiral only
y he is I'm a position OF subordinatiol
o 10 foreign naval officers. This is tru
I. because foreign powers have, on i'm
/, portant naval stations. Representatives
OF the rank OF vice-admiral.
The secretary urges that the nav,
+ should. without delay. be provide,
with two vice-admirals.
Secretary Metcalf recommends tha
the navy-yards at New York. Phila.
= delphia. Norfolk. Puget Sound. an,
= Mare Island be developed 10 their ful
capacity for the repair and malntan.
? ance Of ships. but says. It is not fur.
7 ther desirable 10 develop other navy
e yards. at least until that at Guantana.
mo shall have been equipped, the last