The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-04
SECRETARY MEYER POINTS OUT
DEFECT IN ANNUAL REPORT
TO PRESIDENT.
HOLD NAVY YARD SITES
Head Of Nations Marine Fighting
Forces Promises Many Recommends
ton. in Fu.ur. Looking to Better
mont Of That Branch Of Service
Opposes Government Shipbuildins.

Washington, d. c.. Dec. 3.-De-
spite the agitation to close some of the
navy yards along the southern coast
Secretary of the Navy Meyer vii! op-
pose any such step for the present
This much was made plain in his an
nual report submitted to President
Taft today.
Secretary Meyer says that he is not
entirely convinced that the govern
ment can advantageousiy give up
sites. in which large expenditures
have been made, until after the open
ing of the Panama canal. when it def
initely can be demonstrated which are
likely to be of the greatest value.
1T is not unknown in the history
Of the government" says the secre-
tary, that national reservations have
been given up and later were bought
back at increased cost" Again in dis
cussing the same subject he says that
the completion of the Panama ca
nal, the development of trade in the
Gulf of Mexico and the whole Car
ibbean region. and the probable in
crease of the naval establishment to
meet our national responsibilities in
that area will probably call for sup
ply stations. in part for the heavy
fleet, but principally for the torpedo
craft and submarines and the smaller
vessels needed there
He urges the extreme desirability"
of developing the naval station partly
established at Guantanamo. Cuba
with the opening Of the Panama
canal the Caribbean sea will become
the scene of the greatest commercial
activity. and our responsibility as to
the police and maintenance call for
an adequate naval repair base in that
locality"
The secretary reviews In detail his
proposed plan for the reorganization
of the navy. and in addition makes
many recommendations for the con-,
duct of affairs I'm his department.
Two more battleships of the all-big-
gun type are recommended tn he con-
structed. but, on account of the de-
sire to keep down the expenditures.
he asks only for IA repair ship in
addition To these two proposed giants
Of the sea
The completion of the big dryaock
at the Brooklyn navy yard is urged
and Furthermore the secretary says
Atlantic coast for docking our largest
battleships is not sufficient. since that
one might be injured" In this con-
nection he points out that provisions
for docking heavy vessels injured or
damaged in action or by stranding
are almost entirely lacking: and that
but few navy yards exist on either
coast which have sufficient water to
dock an injured hatticship drawing
four to five feet more than its ordi-
nary draft.
ship construction ut the navy yards
of the United States is opposed az
principle by the secretary. Only oc-
casionaliy. us check on cost of par
ticular types. does he believe the
United States should build ship.
Shipbnilding concerns should be en-
couraged. in his opinion. so that the
government can profit by their ex-
perience and resources. and also be-
cause ordinarily the work is done
more economically by them than a,
navy yards.
Furthermore. Secretary Meyer is op- |
posed to congress restricting. the con-
struction by one shipbuilding eon-
pany to one battieship. or To requiring
one battleship to be constructed at a |
navy yard, or on one coast or the |
other. |
Estimates for the coming fiscal year
were included I'm the report They are |
3l0.0il.eo0 less than the total amount |
appropriated for the present fiscal |
year.
The senior officers of the navy are
too old. according To the secretary. |
He announces in his report that he |
soon will send to the president some |
recommendations as TO new legislation
for remedying this defect The SEN
ior officers of our navy are too old |
for the responsibilities and arduous
duty required in the modern battle
ship" says the secretary. They are
much older than similar officers in /
the other principal navies of the
world. Not only is this the case, but
flag officers arrive at the grade of
read admiral so late that even those
of longest possible service do not get
adequate training al subordinate flag
officers before assuming the chief /
command"
Recommendations for the legal es-
tabiishment of a naval reserve of Of
ficers and men i'm regard to the de-
selopment of naval militia are also
promised.