Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-07
VOYAGE OF BATTLESHIP
FLEET AROUND THE WORLD

The return of the bottleship fleet
from its VOYAGE around the world i'm
more efficient condition than when it
started. was a noteworthy event OF
interest alike to our citizens and the
naval authorities OF the world Be
sides the beneficial and far-reaching
effect on our personal and diplomatic
relations in the countries which the
feet visited. the marked success OF
the ships in steamIng around the
world in all weathers on schedule time
has increased respect for our navy
and has added to our national pres
tlge
Our enlisted personnel recruited
from all sections Of the country Is
young and energetic and representa-
tive OF the national spirit 1t Is. more
over, owing TO its intelligence. capable
of. quick training into the modern
man-of-wars men. Our officers are
earnest and Jealous In their profess
sion. but it Is n rcgrettable fact that
the higher officers arc old for the
responsibilities of the modern navy.
and the admirals do not arrive at
flag rank young enough 10 obtain ade-
quatc training in their duties as flag
officers This need for reform in the
navy has been ably and earnestly pre-
sented to Congress by my predecessor.
and I also urgently recommend the
subject for consideration
REORGANIZATION OF OFFICERS.
Early in the coming session n COM
prchcnSiVo plan for the re-organiza-
tion of the officers of all corps of the
navy will be presented TO Congress,
and ] hope ii will meet with action
suited 20 its urgency.
REDUCED ESTIMATES.
Owing to the necessity for economy
in expenditures ! have directed the
curtailment of recommendations for
naval appropriations so that they are
3S millions less than the corresponding
estimates of last year. and the re-
quest for new naval construction is
limited to two fiIstclass battleships
and one repair vessel.
The use OF a navy is for military
purposes. and there has been found
need in the department OF a military
branch dealing directly with the mill
tary use of the fleet. The secretary OF
the navy also felt the lack of respon-
siblc advisers to aid him in reaching
conclusions and deciding important
matters between coordinate branches
OF the department. To secure these
results he has inagurated a tentative
plan. involving certain changes in the
organization of the navy department.
including the navy yards, all of which
have been found by the attorney gen
eral to be in accordance with law.
have approved the execution OF the
plan proposed because Of the greater
and economy it promises.
NAVAL OBSERVATION.
The generosity OF Congress has pro-
vided in the present naval observatory
the most magnificent and expensive
astronomical establishment in the
world. 1t is being used for certain ma
val purposes which might easily and
be subserved by n small
division connected with the navy de-
partment at only fraction of the cost
Of the present naval observatory. The
official board of visitors established by
Congress and appointed in 1901 eN-
pressed its conclusion that the official
head OF the observatory should be an !
astronomer appointed by the |
president by and with the advice and |
of the senate, holding his place
~ a tenure at least as permanent as
nat of the superintendent of the coast
survey or the head Of the geological
survey and not merely by a detail OF |
wo or three years duration. ] fully
concur In this judgment. and urge
provision by law for the appointment
# such q director
1t may not be necessary to take the
observatory out OF the navy depart
nent and put it into another depart
nent in which opportunity for scien-
ific research afforded by the observa-
ory would seem to be more appropri-
tie, though l believe such trans
er in the long run is the best policy
am sure, however. / express the de-
ire OF the astronomers and those
earned in the kindred sciences when
urge upon Congress that the naval
be now dedicated TO science
nder control of q man of science VINO
an, IL need be. render all the service
o tho navy department which this OBJ
ervatory now renders. and still furnish
q the world the discoveries in astron-
my that a great astronomer using
UGH a plant would be likely to make