The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-12-06

Washington, Dec. 5.--Despite the
agitation to close some of the navy
Yards along the southern coast, Sec.
rotary Of the Navy Meyer will oppose
any such step for the present. This
was made plain In his report
submitted to President TAFT today.
Secretary Meyer says that he is not
ent rely convinced that the govern.
ment can adyantageously give up
sites, In which large expenditures
have been made, until after the orlu.
Ing of the Panama canal, wher 1t
definitely can be demonstrated which
are likely to be OF the greatest value.
1T is unknown I'm the history OF
the government" says the secretary,
that nat onal reservations have been
given up and later were bought back
ot increased cost"
Agan In discussing the same sub.
ject, he says that the completion OF
the Panama canal, the development
of trade II the Gulf OF Mexico an-
tho whole Caribbean region. and the
probable Increase Of the naval estaD.
lishment to meet our national respon.
sibil ties II that area VIII proOluly
call for supply 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 desirabil.
i,y" OF developing the naval station
partly established at Guantanamo.
Cuba. with the open ng of the Pan.
ANA canal. the caribbean sea will be.
come the scene OF great commercial
activity. and our respor sibility as 1.
the police and maintenance call for
an adequate naval repair base In that
locality"
The secretary reviews In detail n,..
proposed plan for the reorganization
OF the navy, and in addition makes
many recommendation for the con.
duct OF affairs I'm his department.
Two more battleships of the all.
b!g-gun type are recommended to be
constructed. but on account OF the de
sre to keep down the expenditures.
he asks only for repair shop in ad.
d tion 20 these two proposed giants OF
the sea.
The completion OF the by dry dock
at the Brooklyn navy yard Is urged,
and furthermore the secretary says
that ut Is clear that one dock on the
Atlantic coast, for docking our larg.
est battleships, is not sufficient sine.
that one might be injured" In this
connection he po' nts out that provis-
ions for docking OF heavy vessels in
jured 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 battleship
drawing four or five feet more than
its ordinary draft.
Ship construction at the navy yards
OF the United States Is opposed rs
principe by the secretary. Only oc.
casiona'ly, as check on costs OF par
tlcular types. does he believe that the
United States should build a ship.
Ship building concerns should be en-
rouraged, in his opinion. so that the
government can profit by teir ex'
barience and resources, and also be-
cause o-dln rilv tn work ia cone
mere eco" o. icll'y by them than at
the navy yards.
Furthermore. Secretary Meyer is
opposed TO congress restr citing the
construction by owe ship building COM
pany 10 one batt'eship, or to requir'
ing one battleship to be constructed
at navy yard, or on one coast or the
other.
fStlUlHttS lot lnt toullHS iloN"
year were included In the report
They are slO,Oll, 900 less than the to-
tai amount appropriated for the pres
ent fiscal year,
The sen or officers OF the navy are
are too old, according to the secre-
tary. He announces in his report that
he soon will send 10 the president
come recommendation as to new legis-
latlon for rcmedying this defect. THE
senior officers OF our navy are too od
for the responsibilit 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 Ia.
world. Not only is tbs the case. but
nag officers arrive at the grade OF