Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-04
NAVY YARDS TO
REMAIN OPENED
SECRETARY MEYER OPPOSED
TO CLOSING
OPTIONAL SITES TO BE HELD BY
UNCLE SAM
Government Awaits Completion OF
Panama Canal to Decide Proposed
Changes-AnnuaI Report
Submitted
ASSOCIATED Pressl

WASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-Despite the
agitation to close some of the navy
wards along the southern coast, Seere-
tarv 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 today
Secretary Meyer says that he Is not
entirely convinced that the govern
p,eut can advantageously give up sites,
i'm which large expenditures have been
made. until after the opening or the
Panama canal when ii dehnitely can
be demonstrated which are likely 10 De
of the greatest value ,-..
IT is not unknown in the history OF
the government" says the secretary,
thar national reservations have been
given up and later were bought back
at increased cost" Again in discuss
ine, the same subject, he says that the
"completion of the Panama canal, the
deyelopment of trade in the Gulf Oh
Mexico and the whole Caribbean region
and the probable increase of the naNai
establishment to meet our natlonal re
sponsiblitics in that area VIII prop
ably call for supply stations IN part
for the heavy fleet, but principally LOT
the torpedo craft and submarines ana
the Elll1lleI NtSSCAo AAN~NoA
Important Project
He urges the "extreme desirability'
of deveIoping the naval station partly
established at Guantanamo, CUBA.
oIVith the opening of the Panama
canal the Caribbean sea will become
the scene of the great commerclal ac-
tivity, and our responsibility as 10 til9
police and maintenance call tor an au
equate naval repair base in that 10
cality." ,, -.
The secretary reviews in detail his
nronosed plan for the reorganization
of the navy, and in addition makes
many recommendations for the con-
duct Of affairs in his de. lrtment.
Two more battleships of the al-blg-
gun type are recommended 10 oe con-
structed, but, on account Of the desire
IN keen down the expenditures, ne
asks only for a repair ship in addition
to these two proposed giants OIL the
sea. ,,,.
The completion of the big drydocl'
at the Brooklyn navy yard Is urged
and furthermore the secretary says
hat "it is clear that one dock on the
Atlantic coast. for docking our largest
batt1ashfns. is not sufficient, since that
one might be injured
In this connection he points out that
nrovisions for docking heavy vessels
injured or damaged in action or by
stTanding are almost entirely lacking
and that but a few navy yards exist on
either coast which have suiilclent
water to dock an injured battleshlp
drawing four or five feet more than
its ordinary draft.
Opposes Principle
Shin construction at the navy yards
Of The United States is opposed as a
nrinciple by the secretary. only oc-
casionally, as a check in costs or par
ticular types, does he believe that the
United states should build snip
Shinbuildng concerns should be en-
couragcd. in his opinion, so that the
government can profit by their eX-
nerience and resources, and also be
cause ordinarily the work is done more
economically by them than at navy
yards.
Furthermore, Secretary Meyer is op-
posed to congress restricting the con-
etruction by one shipbuildinS company
to one battleship, or to requiring one
battleship to be constructed at navy
,,ard or on one coast or the other.
Estimates for the coming fiscal year
were included in the report. They are
S1O,Ol1 600 less than the total amount
appropriated for the present ilscal year.
The senior officers of the navy are
too old. according to the secretary. He
announces in his report that he will
soon send to the president some rec
ommendation as to new legislation for
remedying this defect THE senior
officers of our navy are too old for the
RESPONSIBILITIES and arduous duty re-
ouired in the modern battleship," says
the secretary. "They are much older
than similar officers in the other prin-
cipal nayies 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 possible service
do not get adequate training as sub
ordinate flag officers before assuming
the chief command"
Recommendations for the legal es-
tablishment of a naval reserve of Off
GERS and men, and in regard to the de-
velopment Of naval militia, are, also
promised.
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