New-York tribune., 1909-11-10
In ARMY AND NAVY
Secretary Meyer to Go Oper
S1rift Report To-day.
lFron The Tribune Ruresu.l

washington. November y
SWIFT REPORT FIRST.-Ths Secretary
OF the Navy win leave Washington to-mor-
row morning for Richmond. where he viii
meet the President ana return with him
10 Washington.
During the six hour journey from Rich
nond 10 Washington Secretary Never will
discuss with President Taft the plan for
the REORGANIZATION OF the Navy Depart
ment prepared by the board of officers OF
which Admiral Swift was the president.
Mr.. Meyer will be prepared TO tell the
President on the authority of the AttoT-
ney General, the extent to which the reoF-
ganiZation recommended by Admiral Swift
and his associates can be put into opera
tion without legislation and the exact ex-
tent OF the legislation which would be nee
essary were the reorganization to be
adopted in its entirety. He will also be
armed with an opinion Of the general board
as TO the relative Importance of those por-
tio7s OF the general plan which cannot be
adopted without authority from Congress.
The respective merits of putting the plan
into operation for experimental purposes
before asking its formal approval OF Con-
gTess or OF deferring such experimental
ton until Congress shall give formal sane
tion 10 the proposed changes will be dis
cussed.
The contents of TIE Swift report have
been guarded with the utmost secrecy.
even naval officers within the department
having been denied all information regard
ing its recommendations. The Secretary OF
the Navy has indicated his purpose to
make its contents public when it shall
have been approved by the President and
II is a matter OF qualification to all con-
eerned thai Mr. Meyer has hit upon this
means Of bringing the report so promptly
to the attention OF the President.
PACIFIC TORPEDO sTATIoN.-The es-
tablshment of a naval torpedo station on
the Pacific Coast similar to that which is
now In existence at Newport, II. l., IS
designated by the naval authorities.
\ survey has been made Of u locality
tentatively recommended TO the Navy De-
partmeEt as fulfilling the requirements Of
the situation. Before anything can be done
more definitely toward establishing such a
station Il will be necessary, Of course, to
obtain an appropriation by Congress, and
while the estimate OF the cost of the land
anI the expense of equipment has been
prepared some doubt is entertained
whether the appropriation will be made at
the next session Of Congress. as there is
every evidence that all new items will be
disapproved, while the estimates for cur
rent projects will be cut 10 per cent.
The advisability OF establishing a naval
torpedo station on the Pacific Coast has
been specially set forth in a report made
by the chief OF ordnance of the navy. Rear
Admiral n E. Mason. who mas called at
tenuon to the present necessity. at some
expense, Of shipping terpedoes across the
| continent for the fitting cut OF vessels
serving on the Pacific Ocean.
For the present there is no intention to
have this torpedo station equipped for the
| manufacture Cf torpodoes. although in time
/ there viii be a small plant for repair work
| In order that the torpedoes may be rem
Ovated Torpedo material will have to be
shipped across the continent as hitherto
/ but il will be possible to make repairs with
I out this costly item Of transportation. The
/ project includes a laboratory where tests
/ may be conducted and from which the tor
/ pedoes win be distributed. There will also
/ be firing range. and such an outfit Is be-
/ lieyed to be sufficient 10 fully meet the
| needs of the situation