The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-20

One of the claims made by the So
called critics of the navy department.
of whom the Artist Reuterdahl seems
TO be the mOuthpiece, is that an i'm
mense amount of money is wasted on
useless navy yards. In this category
are included the Kittery establish
ment that at Philadelphia, the new
Charleston navy-yard, the Pensacola
ravy-yard, and the naval stations at
Key West and New Orleans. 1t will
be observed that all these places
with two exceptions are located in
the south, and were all these stations
eliminated, abandoned or closed up,
there wonid not be single naval
station along the South Atlantic or
Gulf Coasts.
rs long as the critics only adyocat-
eG these retrenchments there was no
particular need to pay much attention
to the matter, but it has been recent
| ly announced from Washington and
il is in fact Indicated In the report of
the secretary of the navy. that the
practical closing up OF all these sta
lions is actually contemplated as a
matter OF economy on tne one hand
and in the interest of the building up
of naval station at Guantanamo,
/ Cuba, that is outside OF the territorial
limits of the United States.
Even the recommendations of the
navy department are not always ac-
| cepted by congress, but ii is reason
able to fear that the naval affairs
! committees of both house and senate
will naturally be disposed TO with
| hold appropriations which the navy
! department does not desire, particular
| ly should the congressman interested
| in the localities that are likely TO
suffer lack the backing: among their
colleagues to compel the including OF
appropriations for their pet projects
in the general appropriation bill
When naval stations and yards were
| located at various points along the
coast il was not merely with view
TO their employment in time of peace,
but their availability as bases of ope-
Iations in time of war. Should the
exigencies of war compel operations
in the Gulf of Mexico. in which aur
ships are apt to suffer injury, the
great navy yards at New York and
Norfolk would certainly not be avail
able either for repairs or as Ravens
! OF refuge. Such a naval station AS
/ that at New Orleans would be inval-
liable in time of war because 1t is
! located in a large city, with prompt
communication with all parts of the
country. with good labor market.
and easily protected from airy possible
| hostile approach by sea If the south
ern navy yards have done little work
since they were established il is sim
ply because no work has been sent
/ 10 them worth mentioning.
| The desire to cut OFF all the smaller
/ yards in order 10 build up a great sta
/ ton at Guantanamo. which is simply
| leased territory. that will cost mil
| lions 10 improve and other millions to
defend, is not merely an injustice TO
| the south, which contributes its full
share towards maintaining the navy,
| but il is weak concession TO the
critics" of the navy department. and
an utter waste OF money besides.
Guantanamo is not half as suitable a
place for a great naval station as
either Pensacola or New Orleans II
is moreover alien territory, indefensi
BILE in time of war. and far removed
from both supplies needed in build
ing and repair work. as well as from
proper labor market.
The Southern ports that are likely
TO suffer from the proposed elimina
ton or closing of taeir naval stations
would do well to have the situation az
Guantanamo looked into 50 that con
gress may have full information be
fore it agrees to waste millions of dol
! lars on Iropicad jungle, WHICH uili
mately will prove as worthless as the
now abandoned Port Royal Naval sta
ton The southern naval Citations are
all well located and could De used 10
advantage il there was any disposition
| to use them. They are worth main
tanning and therefore worm fighting
for by the localities especially inter
ested in them. II would De We'll for
the senators and representatives OF
| the sections of the country whose