The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-04
PANAMA CANAL MAY
DEMONSTRATE NECESSITY
Reservations May Later Have
10 BE Bought Back al
An Increased Cost


Washington. d. G, Dec. ~ Despite
the agitation to close some OF the
navy yards along The Southern coast.
Secretary ot the Navy Meyer will op-
pose any such step for the present.
This much was plain In his annual re
port submitted 10 President Taft to.
day
Secretary Meyer says that he is
not entirely convinced thar the GOV.
eminent can auyantageously give up
sites in which large expenditures
have been made. until after the open.
Ing Of the Panama canal, when IL
definitely can be demonstrated which
are likely to be of the greatest value.
III is not unknown in the history
OF tae Government" says the seere-
lary. that national reservations have
been given up and later were bought
back at increased cost Again in
discussing the same subject, be says
that the completion OF the Panama
canal. the Development OF trade IN
the Gull OF Mexico and the whole
Caribbean region. and the probable
Increase of the naval establishment
10 meet our national responsibilities
in Chat area will probably 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 desirabill.
ty' OF developing the naval station
partly established at Guantanamo.
Cuba. with the opening OF the pan
anna canal The Caribbean sea viii be-
come the scene of the great CONNER
cial 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 recommendation for the con
duct OF affairs Ia his department
Two more battleships of tpe all.
biggun type are recommended 10 be
constructed, bui, on account OF the de
sire to keep down the expenditures,
he asks only for a repair ship III al.
dilion 10 these Two proposed giants
o. the sea.
The completion OF the big drydock
at The Brooklyn navy yard is urged,
and Furthermore the secretary says
that IL is clear that one dock on the
Atlantic coast, for docking our larg
est battleships, is not sufficient since
that one might be injured" In this
connection he points ont that proyl.
slons for docking OF heavy vessels IN
iured or damaged IN action or by
siranding are almost entirely lack
ing and that but few navy yards ex.
lst on either coast which have suffi-
cient water to dock an injured battle
ship drawing -four or five feet more
than its ordinary draft
Ship construction at the navy yards
Of the United States is opposed as q
principle by the secretary. Only oc.
ieasl0nally as a check In costs Of par.
ticular types, does he believe that
the United states should build ship
shipbulding concerns should be en-.
coufaged. In bis opinion. so that the
Government can profit by their ex'
perlence and resources. and also be.
cause ordinarily the work Is done
more economically by them than n
navy Yards
Furthermore. Secretary Meyer Is
opposed 10 congles restricting the
construction BY one ahiphullding COM
pany 70 one battleship, or 70 reanir-
ing one battleahip TO be constructed
al navy yard. OF on one coast OF
the other
Estimates for the coming fiscal
year were included IN the report
They are $iO,0ll 600 less than the
total amount appropriated for ths
present year
The senior officers OF the navy are
too old. according 10 the secretary
/. He announces Ia his report that hs
coon win send 70 the President sons
recommendation as 70 new legIsla
ilon for rendering this defect The
senior officers OF niir navy are los
Old fo- the responsibilities and ardu
nus duty required IN the modern bat
Rtieship." SAYS the secretary The,
are much older than similar Officers
T In the other principal naviea of th'
world. Not only Is this the case
bnt flag officers arrive at the grade
Of rear-adinIral so late that even thoa'
t1ret rr-4ftir eer~fee - Not pa
adequate training as subordinate flal
officers before assuming the chic
command
Recommendation for The legal es