The San Francisco call., 1908-12-10
METCkLF PLANS TO
RESUME LAW WORK
Former Secretary of Navy Viii
Again Practice Profession
After Recovering Health
Optimistic Regarding Future of
Naval Stations on Pacific
Coast and in Hawaii

OAKLAND. Dec. 9.-Former Secre-
tary of the Navy Victor H. Metcalf and
Mrs Metcalf arrived today from Wash
ington. D. c. having stopped for a few
days in Los Angeles to visit their son.
Victor n Mstcalf, who is i'll at Mon
rovia. The former secretary has under
consideration an offer from the First
national bank of Oakland to become its
president, but he viii make no decision
in the matter until he has returned
from vacation, possibly FIVE months
from now
I am home for good" said Metcalf
AS soon as Mrs. Metcalf is settled in
our former dwelling I viii go to the
mountains for a prolonged rest. That
is the most important personal busi-
ness before me at present It may
mean a vacation Of five months or less,
but until / have recuperated l intend
10 think Of nothing. When that end is
accomplished 1 shall resume the prac-
tice Of law"
1t has been announced that the
presidencies of the First national bank
and of the First trust and savings
bank of Oakland have been offered to
you" was remarked
L viii not consider those offers until
1 have recovered my health. 1t was
solely because Of my i'll health that
was compelled 70 relinquish the secre-
taryship.'
SIETCALF RETICENT
Metcalf was reticent concerning ma
tional affairs and those Of the naval
department especially
What [ have 10 say as a final word
in naval affairs" he explained, is en-
bodied in my report, which viii be re-
leased for publication Friday. I must
decline TO anticipate that"
Concerning the Newport conference,
in which battleship construction was
discussed by naval men. Metcalf was
equally reticent. Being interrogated
as 10 the truth of a report that he had
opposed publicity of the plans devised
or approved and of the discussion at
the conference, he replied:
Those proceedings were made pub
lie at my recommendation. Since then
The president has issued instructions
forbidding naval officers to give any
information relating 10 the conference.
] prefer TO abide by that admonition
and say nothing regarding the New
port conference"
Further inquiry as to his opinions on
criticisms Of the naval defense Of the
United States, and OF the eNpediency
of the shifting of the battleship fleet.
ELECTED this:
DEFENSE OF NATION
The navy is designed for the de-
fense Of the nation. not any particular
part or any specified coast. 1t is alb
surd from a tactical viewpoint TO argue
that there should be few ships here
and q few there. The efficiency Of the
navy depends on action, practice,
cruises. One thing I can say, so far as
/ q uniformed the battleship fleet will
not be divided. Of course. I can not
tell what future policies may be, but I
believe that statement will be borne out
by events"
What DO you think of the naval de-
fense provided for the Pacific coast?" he
was asked
In the last two years there have
been u ships added TO the Pacific coast
1eets. There are now in these waters
the Milwaukee, St. Louis and Charles
ton, three protected cruisers; the Ten
nessee and Washington, two armored
cruisers, were added, as were the South
Dakota and the California the last
built IN the Union iron works. The last
named comprise a squadron OF four I3.-
500 ton cruisers. In addition to these
ships are the Maryland. Colorado, Penn
sylvania and West Virginia On the
Pacific coast are eight of the most
powerful ships in the navy. Then there
are six torpedo destroyers. making Il
ships on the western coast
SUBMARINES FOR COAST
Before I left Washington 1 had ac-
cepted the recommendation of the gen
eral board to have delivered on the Pa
cihc coast six OF the submarines con
tracted for. Possibly some of them
viii be built here. To care for them. all
are two navy yards. Bremerton and
Mare island"
The charges that the approaches at
Mare island are so shoal that battle
ships can not dock at the island drew
this reply:
Besides armored cruisers which have
been sent to Mare island for repairs
one battleship already has docked there.
The federal government long has rec
ognized that for efficiency and value in
repairs. Mare island is the second navy
yard Of the department
IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED
some time ago the general board ap-
pointed an investigating committee of
which Colonel Bidwen was chairman
10 make Investigations and SURVEYS and
recommend Improvements TO the chan
mel One report was adopted. and
recommended to congress that an ap-
propriation be made TO provide for its
execution.
The government is providing a su-
perb dock at Hawaii. which will take
the largest ships afloat. and if congress
VIII provide for docks and maintenance
at Mare island we shall have ADEQUATE
facllites for this coast For one dock
az Bremerton the contract has been let.
The dry dock at Mare island will he
completed IN three months. and any
ship that sails the seas will then be
able TO dock al Mare island
- A