Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-04
For Present at Least He Is Not in
Favor of Closing Any of the
Government Navy-Yards.
WANTS MORE BATTLEsHlPs
On Principle He Opposes Construction
or Vessels at United States
Navy-IarIs.

Washington, Dec, 3.--Despite the agl-
tation to close some OF the navy-yards
along the southern coast. Secy. of Tie
Navy Meye. win oppose any such step
for the present This much was made
plain in his annual report submitted
10 President Taft today
Secy Meyer says that he is not en-
tirely convinced that the government
can advantageously give up sites. in
which large expenditures nave beer
made. until after the opening OF the
Panama canal, when it definitely can
be demonstrated which arc likely tc be
Of the greatest value.
1T is not unknown in the history OF
the government" says the secretary,
s9hat national reservations have been
given up and later were bought lack
et increased cost" Again in discussi3g
the same subject, he says that the
'complction of the Panama canal. the
. development OF trade in the Calf OF
Mexico and the whole Caribbean re-
Sion and the probable increase o. thr
naval establishment to meet our ma
tional responsibilities in that area will
probably call for supply stations. III
part for the heavy fleet, but principally
1or 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 ca
scene of great commercial activity,
and our responsibility as To the police
and maintenance calls for an adequate
naval repair base in that locllty."
The secretary reviews in detail his
proposed plan for the reorganization
OF the navy, and in addition makes
many recommendation for the conduct
of affairs in his department
Two moro battleships of the all-big
structed. but. on account of the de-
sire to keep down the expenditures. he
asks only for n repair ship in addition
TO these two proposed giants of the
sea
The completion of the big drydocl1
at the Brooklyn nayy-yard is urged,
and furthermore the secretary says
that 1T 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 con-
nection, he pointed out that provisions
for docking OF heavy vessels injured or
damaged in action or by standing are
almost entirely lacking. and that but
few navyyardS exist on either coast
which have sufficient water to dock
nn injured battleShlp drawing four or
five feet more than its ordinary draft
Ship construction 1T The navy-yards
oi the United states is opposed as i
principle by the secretary Only oc-
casionally. as n check in costs OF par
ticul0r types. does he believe that the
United States should build a ship. Ship
building concerns should be encour-
aged. In his opinion, so that the gov
crnnent can profit by their experience
and resources, and also because or
oinarily the work is done more econom-
ieally by them than AT navy-yards.
Furthermore, Secy. Meyer is opposed
10 Congress restricting the construc-
tlon ~ one shipbullding company to
one blttleship, or to requiring one
battleshlp to be constructed at navy
yard. or on ono coast or the other.
Estimates for the coming fiscal year
were included in the report They are
Si0,0ll,0 ,000 less than the total amount
appropriated for the present fiscal year.
The senior officers OF the navy are
loo old, according to the secretary. He
announces in his report that he soon
VIII send to the president some recon-
nendatlon as TO new legislation for
reinedylng this defect.
The senior officers OF our navy arc
too old for the responsibilities and ar
duous duty required In the modern bat
tleshlp," 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 Off
ccis arrive at the grade Of rear ad-
miral so late that even those OF long
est possible service do not get adequate
training as subordinate nag officers be-
fore assuming the chief command"
Recommendations for the legal estab-
lishment of Il naval reserve of officers
and men and i'm regard to the develop
nent of a naval militia are also prom
ise1.