The evening world., 1908-12-11
NEW WAR FLEET
NEEDED, METCALF'S
PARTING ADVICE
Navy Secretary Just Resigned
Suggests 1>wenty-nine YES
sells of Various Types.

WARRINGTON. Dec. lin the re-
part of Secretary VT the Navy Metralr,
completed Just before his resignation
rsuenuy and made public to-day, II is
fsrominended that Congress authorize
the construction of four battle ships,
four scout cruisers. ten deetroyers.
tour submarines, three coliiere, one re-
pair ship, one ammunition ship and
two mine-layinr ships-these two ships
to be converted from cruisers now on
the navy list,
Mr.. Metcelf discusses, as the most
voyage OF the battlcship feet, which
has proven an epoch mailing cruise. "
This cruise, ~ yet hardly half over. he
declares has given us an opportunity
to get better acquainted with tho re-
publics TO tho south OF us. With our
own island possessions, with the new
and vigorous branch OF tho British En-
pire in Australia. and particularly with
Japan, and hae given to those countries
q better opportunity 20 get acquainted
with ~, II has been everywhere uuder-
stood and accepted. as Il 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 feeling in this
country. Between the United States aud
every country visited there is a feeling
81 deeper interest and friendship than
existed before the fleet sailed,
Passing TO certain recen; criticisms OF
the new and larger battleships now
building. the Secretary SAYS that at the
conference, convened and opened by
President Roosevelt a 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 We're line officers of the
seagoing branch OF the service.
Workmanship. he says, has improved
on practice cruises. With respect ~
the assertion that our Finch guns are
inferior to those OF other powers, the
facts are found to be that the actual
muzzle energy Of these Finch guns,
which form the main armament OF our
eight latest battle-ships in commission,
is somewhat greater than that OF any
gun afioat in any other navy.
As tho officer in command of the
American fleet now in the Far East
holds the rank of Rear-Admiral only,
he is in a position of subordination 10
foreign naval officers. This is true be
cause foreign powers have, on impor
tant naval stations. representatives, OF
the rank OF vice-adIniral,
The Secretary urges that the navy
should without delay be provided with
:wo vice-adnirals
Secretary Metcalf recommends that
the navy yards at New York, Phiiadel-
phia, Norfolk. Puget Sound and Mare
island be developed to their full ca
pacity for the repair and maintenance
OF ships. but says it is not further de-
sirable to develop other navy yards. at
least until that Mt Guantanamo shall
have been equipped. the last named sta
ton being regarded as of the first mill
tary Importance and a 8 Il natural strate-
getic base.
The Navy Department being large
business organization, MIR. Metcalf sug-
costs that arrangements of the duties
OF any bureau are exceedingly dfhcut
and complex, and necessarily rests with
Congress; but those who speak of the
millions unnecessarily spent annually by
the lack Of economical administration do
not realize that n comparatively small
percentage of the annual budget goes
FOR repair and maintenance of the ma
teriel OF the fleet.
The greater part Is expended Tor the
pay and provisioning OF the Navy and |