Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-12

ne uttNdItS nus SlNtn us an onpnr~
tunity to get better acquainted with
the republics TO the south Of us, with
our own island possessions. with the
new and vigorous branch of the Brit
ish empire in Australia, and particu-
larly with Japan; and has given to
those countries better opportunity to
get acquainted with us II has been
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 cor
dial hospitalities extended "a our fleet
will be long remembered. ard have
powerfully influenced feeling In this
country. Between the United states
and every country visited there is a
feeling OF deeper interest and friend
ship than existed before the fleet
sailed
Passing to certain recent criticisms
of the new and larger battleships now
building. the secretary says that at the
conference. convened and opened by
the president at Newport. the general
matter OF design of these ships was
approved after forty-three days con-
stderation, by this assemblage OF the
best authorities available in the navy.
consisting of about sixty Officers, All
but seven of whom were line Officers
OF the seagoing branch Of the service.
Workmanship, he says, has improv-
ed on the practice cruise with re-
spect to the assertion that our twelve
inch guns are inferior to those OF
other powers the facts are found 10
be that the actual muzzle energy OF
these twelve-inch guns. which form
the main armumeut of our eight lat
est battleships in commission. is
somewhat 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 a position cf suhordination e
foreign naval officers. This is true
because foreign powers have, on inn
portant naval stations. Representatives
of the rank of vice admiral
The secretary urges that the navy
should, without delay. be provided
with two vice admirals.
It ~ desirable, the secretary states
to lengthen the dry dock authorized
by congress to be constructed at Pear
Harbor, Hawaii. from $50 to l,14C
feet. to render it capable of aecommo.
dating two or more vessels at once.
Secretary Metcalf recommends that
the navy yards at New York, phila-
delphia. Norfolk, Puget Sound and
Mare Island be developed to their full
capacity for the repair and mainte-
nance of ships, but says It Is not fur
ther desirable to develop other navy
yards, at least until that at Guantan-
amo shall have been equipped, the
last named station being regarded as
of the first military importance and as
a natural strategic base
1t Is deemed highly desirable to ae-
quire by purchase or to construct o
dock in san Francisco harbor With
the ACQUISITION of such a dock, nn(
the bringing up to high efficiency o
the yards at Bremetton and Mare Is
land another navy yard on the Pacific
coast Will not be necessary for some
time to come.
The navy department being larg,
business organization, Mr. Metcali
suggests rearrangements of the duties
of any bureau are exceedingly diff
cult and complex, an1 necessarily rests
with congress; but those who speak OF
the millions unnecessarily spent an
nually by the lack OF economical ad-
minstration do not realize that com
paratiVely small perce ntage OF the an
nual bulge goes for repair and main
tenance of the material of the fleet,
The greater part Is expended for the
pay and provisioning of the navy and
marine corps, ammunition, fuel, and
expenditures on account of increase of
the navy SO far as concerns the
last named item, the contract price Of
our latest battleships being hardly
more than the actual cost OF labor and
material and incidental expenses, and
very considerably below the limit
fixed by congress. The secretary says
also that II would be difficult to find
in any large manufacturing establish
ment, or other Industrial organization,
greater coordination than exists
among the heads OF the great bureaus
and offices of the navy department
The secretary recommends that con
gress authorize AT It's approaching ses-
sion the construction of four battle
ships. four scout cruisers, ten destroy
ers, four submarines. three Golfers,
one ammunition ship, two mine-lay-
Ing Ships-these two ships TO be con-
verted from cruisers now ON the navy
list