The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-12-12

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everywhere understood and accepted,
as il was intended. as the reaching
out of strong hand in friendly
greeting on the part of America. and
the cordial hospitalities extended TO
our fleet will he long remembered.
and have powerfully influenced feel
ing in this country. Between the
United States and every country visit
ed there is feeling of deeper interest
and friendship than existed before
the fleet sailed.
Passing to certain recent criticisms
of the new and large battle ship now
building, the secretary SAYS that at
the conference, convened and opened
by the president at Newport. the gen
eral 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 of
fieers of the seagoing branch of the
service.
Workmanship he says has improv-
speet 10 the assertion that our Il
inch guns are inferior TO those of
other powers, the facts are found 10
be that the actual muzzle energy of
these y inch guns, which form the
main armament of our eight latest
battle ships in commission. is some
what greater than that of any gun
atloat in any other navy.
As the officer in command of the
American fleet now in the Far East
holds The rank of rear-admiral only.
he is in position of subordination 10
foreign naval officers. This is true
because foreign powers have, on
important naval stations, representa-
tives of the rank of vice-admiral.
The secretary urges that the navy
should, without delay. be provided
with Two vice admirals.
II is desirable. the secretary states
TO lengthen the dry dock authorized
by congress 10 be constructed AT
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. from $50 To
Ito feet. To render II capable of
accommodating Two or more vessels
at once.
Secretary Metcalf recommends that
the navy yards AT New York.
Philadelphia, Norfork. Puget Sound.
and Mare Island be developed TO their
full capacity for the repair and main
tence of ships. but says il Is not fur
Their desirable To develop other navy
Yards. at least until that at
Guantanamo shall have been
equipped the last named station be-
ing regarded as of the first military
importance and as a natural
strategic base.
Ii Is deemed highly desirable to
acquire by purchase or To construct a
dock in San Francisco Harbor. With
the acquisition of such dock, and
the bringing mp to high efficiency OF
the yard at Bremerton and Mare
Island. another navy yard on the
Pacific coast will not be necessary for
some time to come.
The navy department being large
business organization. Mr.. Metealf
suggests Encouragement of the
duties of any bureau are exceedingly
difficult and complex. and neces-
sarily rests with congress: but those
who speak of the millions unnessari-
~ spent annually by the lack of
economical administration do not
realize that a comparatively small
percentage of the annual budget goes
for repairs and maintenance OF the
material of the fleet The greater
part is expended for the pay and pro-
yisioning of the navy and marine
corps. ammunition. fuel and expendi-
lures on account of increase of the
navy So far as concerns the last
named item, the department has long
been an exceedingly economical pur-
chaser. the contract price of our
latest battle ship being hardly more
than the actual cost of labor and
material and Incidental expenses. and
very considerably below the limit fix
ed by congress. The secretary says
also that ii would be difficult To find
in any large manufacturing establish
ment, or other industrial organiza-
ton. greater coordination than exists
among the heads of the great bureau
and Offices of the navy department.
The secretary recommends that
congress authorize at its approach
ing session the construction of 4
battle ships. scout cruisers, 10 des-
troyers, submarines. 3 golfers.
repair ship. ! ammunition ship. 2
mine laying ships-these two ships TO
be converted from cruisers now on
the navy list.
Uncle Jed was sitting on the rail
fence smoking his corncob pipe.