Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-22
PRESIDENT and PARTY
ON Way TO NEWPORT.
Will Attend Conference Of Officers al
War College to Consider Points
Of Bathship Construction.

his cruiser yacht the Mayfiower, to at
tend the most important conference of
naval officers ever held, in this country.
More than 100 officers. men of high
rank and atainments in various
branches of the naval service will be
present, and with them the President
Will go over in detail the plans Of new
battleships now building and the ten
tativc drawings of other about to be
laid off Other types of vessels than
the heavy ships of the line may also
come in for a share in the general dis
cussion hut there has been so much
said AMI written about battleships
alone in the past six months that it is
probable the armOred ships probably
will occupy the entire time.
This is the first time the President
has ever consulted together with so
large number of naval experts and
1T is supposed he will take advantage
OF the occasion to draw from them
their most advanced thoughts and ideas
as to modern battleship construction
He will be a listner to large share
of the discussion, but may turn cross
examiner ut any stage of the confer
ence and be the central figure in all
OF the deliberations. 1t has been stat
ed that The conference is the outgrowth
of the criticism of the turret designs
on the new battleship North Dakota,
sister ship to the other 20OO-ten Dread
nought, the Delaware, but officers at
the War College deny this. 1t is stat
ed that such a conference has long
been anticipated and has to do with
all ships af all classes.
Commander Albert Key, on duty as
inspector at the Free River Shipbuild-
ing Co., who is said to have made the
criticism of the North Dakota, is here
as member of the battleship commits
sion, and he probably will have share
in the discussion.
Among the higher officers of the COM
mission are Rear Admiral c. e. Good
rich. commandant of the New York
navy yard; Rear Admiral LentZe, COM
mandanr of the Washington navy
yard; Rear Admiral Swift, command
ant of the Boston yard, Rear Admiral
MCLEAN, president of the board of in
spection and survey, Captain Badger,
superintendent of the Naval Academy
is anOthe" member, as are Lieut.. Com
mander G.. B. Bradshaw, the depart
ment inspector of target practice, who
witnessed the firing at Magadalena
bay, Commanders Sims and Key and
Naval Constructors, d. w. Taylor and
H. G. Gilmore.
Participating in the conference also
will be a large number of officers re-
Gently returned from duty with the
battlcShip fleet on it's cruise through
the Straits of Magellan to the Pacific.
Thee include Rear Admiral Royal II.
lngersoll, who was chief of staff to
Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans and
who shared largely in the success of
the cruise; Lieut.. Commander Mark
l.. Bristol. who was executive officer of
the flagship Connecticut, and who is
now inspector of ordinance in charge
of the torpedo station here; Lieut..
Commander w. r. Gherardi, who com
manded the dispatch boat Yankton:
/ Lieut.. Frank ID. Berron, a member of
the staff Of the late Rear Admiral
Thomas and Lieut.. Samuel b. Thomas,
a son Of the rear admiral who died
suddenly in California, after giving ur
| command of the fleet in succession to
| Rear Admiral Evans. The President
| will be received tomorrow with the
customary sautes from all Of the wal
vessels in the harbOr
| Beginning at II o'clock tonight and
continuing until the President shall
have taken his departure. the pictures.
que island occupied by the War College
by the training station, marine barracks
and naval hospital. will practically bt
cut off from communication with the
outside world. Only officers in uni
form and employees bearing passes vii
be admitted by the sentry. who viii
patrol the island to see that no small
boats attempt anywhere to make {
landing.