Arizona republican., 1909-12-04
AS T0NEWnEW EMPHASIZES
In Pursuance of the Plan to Keep Down Expenses Only Two Are Recon mended-No Navy Yard Construction

Washington. Dec. S--Despite the agitation to close some of the navy yards along the southern coast, Secre- tary of the Navy Meyer will oppose any such step for the present This much was made plain in his annual report submitted to President Taft to- day.
 Secretary Meyer says that he is no, entirely convinced that the government can advantageously give up sites. in which large expenditures have been made. until after the opening of the Panama canal, when it definitely can be demonstrated which are likely to be of the greatest value.
 Tt 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 canal. the development of trade in the Gulf of Mexico and the whole Caribbean re- zion. and the probable increase of the naval establishment to meet our na- tional responsibilities in that area will probably call for supply stations. in part for the heavy fleet, but princi- pally for the torpedo craft and subma- rines and the smaller vessels needed there"
 He urges the "extreme desirability' of developing the naval station partly estabxeAea2--atA- A- Guantanamo, Cuba. With the opening of the Panama ca nal, the Caribbean sea will become the scene of great 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 conduct of affairs in his department.
 Two more battleships of the all-big- gun type are recommended to be con- structed. but. on account of the desire to keep down expenditures, he asks only for a repair ship in addition to these two proposed giants of the sea.
 The completion of the big drydock at the Brooklyn navy yard Is urged. and furthermore the Secretary says that ''it is clear that one dock on the Atlantic coast for docking our largest battleships is not sufficient since that one might be injured" In this connec- tion. he points out that provisions for the docking of 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 battleship drawing four or five feet more than its ordin ary draft
 Ship construction at the navy yards of the United States is opposed as a principle by the secretary. Only oc- casionally, as check on costs of par ticular types does he believe that the United States should build ship Shipbuilding concerns should be en- couraged. in his opinion. so that the government can profit by their experi- ence and resources, and also because ordinarily the work is done more eco- nomically by them than at navy yards.
 Furthermore, Secretary Meyer is op posed to congress restricting the con- struction by one shipbuilding company to one battleship, 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 in the report. They are s10.0l1 900 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 recom- mendations as to new legislation for remedying this defect. The senior officers of our navy are too old for the responsibilities and arduous duty required in the modern bottleship," says the secretary. They are much older than similar officers in other principal navies of the world. Not only is this the case. but flag officers arrive at the grade of rear admiral so late that even those of longest possi- ble service do not get adequate training as subordinate flag oggicers before as sumling the chief command"
 Recommendations for the legal es- establishment of a naval reserve of of ficers and men in regard to the de- velopment of a naval militia are also promised.