The evening world., 1908-12-11
NEW WAR FLEET
NEEDED, METCALF'S
PARTING ADVICE
Navy Secretary Just Resigned
Suggests rwenty-nine YES
sells Of Various Types.

WARRINGTON, Dec. lin the re-
psrt Of Secretary of the Navy Metcalf,
completed Just before his resignation
recently ana made public to-day, II liz
recommended that Congress authorize
the construction of four battle ships.
four scout cruisers, ten destroyers,
four submarines, three GOLFERS, one re-
pair shin, one ammunition ship and
two mine-iayinp ships-these two ships
to be converted from cruisers now on
the navy list.
Mr.. Metcalt discusses. as the most
notable naval event OF the past year, the
voyage OF the battlcship fleet, which
has proven an epoch making cruise
This cruise, ~ yet hardly half over he
declares has given Va an opportunity
to set better acquainted with tho rH-
publics to tho south Of us. with our
own island possessions, with the new
and vigorous branch OF tho British En-
ptre in Australia. and particularly with
Japan, and hae given to those countries
q better opportunity 20 got acquainted
with us, IT has been everywhere UNDER
stood and aGcepted. as It was Intended
as the reaching out Of a strong hand IN
friendly greeting on the part OF America,
and the cordial Inequalities extended 10
our fleet will he long remembered and
have powerfully influenced ceiling in TINS
country. Between the United States and
every country visited there is a feeling
ss deeper interest and friendship than
existed before the fleet sailed.
Passing 10 certain recent criticisms of
the new and larger battleships now
h,,tl nc
conference. convened and opened oy
President Roosevelt at Newport, he
general matter Of design of these ships
was approved after forty-three days
consideration, by this assemblage of the
BEST authorities available IN the navy,
consisting OF about sixty officers. all but
seven OF whom were line officers of the
seagong branch OF the service:
Workmanship, he says. has improved
on practice cruises. With respect TO
the Insertion that our Finch guns are
inferior to those OF other powers, the
facts are found to be that the actual
muzzle energy Of these Pinch guns,
which form the main armament OF our
eight latest battle-ships in commission,
is somewhat greater than that or any
gun atioat in any other navy.
AS the officer in command OF the
American feet now IN the Far East
holds the rank of ear-Admiral only,
he is in a position OF subordination 70
cause foreign powers have, on lmpor-
tant naval stations, representatives OF
the rank OF vice-admiral
The Secretary urges that the navy
should without delay be provided with
.wo vice. admirals.
Secretary Metcalf recommends that
the navy yards at New York. Phliadel'
phia, Norfolk. Puget Sound and Mare
island be developed to their fun ca
pacity for the repair and maintenance
Of ships, but says it is not further de-
sirable to develop other navy yards. az
least until that at Guantanamo shall
have been equipped. the last named sta
ton being regarded AS OF the tirst mill
tary Importance and IS natural strate'
Retic base.
The Navy Department being large
business organization, MIR. Metcalf suS-
costs that arrangements of the duties
of any bureau are exceedingly difncui
and complex, and necessarily rests witt
Congress; but those who speak OF the
millions unnecessarily spent annually by
the lack Of economical administration dc
not realize that n comparatively SINAI
percentage of the annual budget goes
Tor repair and maintenance OF the ma
teriel OF the fleet.
The greater part Is expended FOR the
nay and provisioning OF the Navy anc