The Washington times., 1908-11-25
SUPPLY SHIPS FAIL
TOPROWSION FLEET
PaymaSter General of Navy
Lays Bare Another Weak
ness in His Department.

Another weakness Of the United States
navy was laid bare today by Rear Ad-
niral Rogers. payunaster general. in his
annual report 20 the Secretary OF the
Navy.
This weakness, which lies in the fall
are OF supply ships and she lack Of
facilities for provisioning the fleet in
time OF war, came to light as a result
Of the experience OF the sixteen battle
ships in the cruise around the world.
The Arethusa, a tank ship, was
failure. according to Admiral Rogers,
because Of her slow speed. The Pan
ther. a repair ship. is Of negligible value
and the battIeships, because Of lack Of
vessels 10 transport food and supplies.
were overcrowded when they set out on
their long journey.
PantheT's Storage.
The storage space on the Panther"
the report says. was Insufficient TO
carry even those articles TO be used
in her machine shop and furnaces, so
that as a supply ship she may be con-
sidered negligible. The Arethusa was
laden with provisions and general stores
foI the torpedo fiotilla. which did not
accompany the feet 10 the Pacific. Her
low speed made her a failure, and she
rarely arrived in port with the fiOtilla.
which practically got on without her.
THE battleships, when they sailed for
the Pacific in December. 1907, had every
available storeroom and compartment
filled TO overlooking with provisions and
stores. a condition that Guild only exist
in time of peace, and would be imprSc-
ticabie during war.
so considering both sources Of sup
pIy-the auxiliaries and the ships store
rooms. and assuming the coal supply TO
be ample-the Atlantic feet could have
kspt the sea for about 100 days without
repEenishment Of stores. In the opin-
Ion Of this bureau, that time is not be
Heved to be sufficient, and ships should
be provided TO carry al least $50 days
provisions. independent OF such as can
in time OF war-be stored in the ships
storerooms. which is not likely largely
TO exceed a thirty days supply"
To prepare for this contingency. the
bureau asks FOR two more supply ships
Of 1900 tons each. and OF sufficient
speed TO enable them 10 keep up with
the feet.
Supply of Fleet.
no preparation for war can be com
plete," Admiral Rogers adds. that ig-
nores the paramount Importance OF the
supply Of the fleet and guns armor.
ammunition, and fuel are merely vast
ed effort, If the supply OF food is not
constant. The speed at which the feet
will move in time Of war is increasing. |
The swift refrigerating ship does not
exist in merchant navles; and, if we
wait until war comes TO provide such !
vessels. we must take our chances Of
al Will
rAfrieeratiug rooms OF sufficient Capa-
city. to find that none can be obtained
OF adequate speed. The fleet ILust then
operate on such stores as it can carry
IN the ship store rooms, or reduce its
speed to that Of its slow moving auxili-
aries. with the alternative Of their cap
ture or destruction BY the eneIny's /
courts"
zone OF the most important and inter |
esting developments Of the bureaus ex- |
perience in provisioning the supply 4
ships was in the extensive use Of dried I
milk and eggs and dshydrated vegeta- /
bles which had been tried experimental /
ly I'm small quantities previous 10 the 4
cruise OF the Atlantic fleet These arJi- /
Giles, carefully prepared, packed In small 1
bulk and or excellent keeping qualities (
proved palatable and or great assist
ance IN maintaining the menu OF the /
general mess at sea- and gave 20 the
service an experience which viii be in
valuable IN time Of war OK long cruises,
or on isolated stations where the same
articles fresh are difficult or impossible
TO obtain.
''The Atlantic feet, when sailing from
San Francisco on its trans-PacifiC
cruise, carried 1900 pounds Of deny
drafted vegetables, 1900 pounds Of dried
milk, and $500 pounds of dried eggs.
These weights were issued as rations ar
sSli50o pounds OF vegetables, 1890 gallons
Of milk, and 100000 dozen eggs"