New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-16
frrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

{ " dolitlis May 49,
i vo LONGER A THEORY.-The Meyer
scheme of navy reorganization is no longer
theory 1t has been in operation practi-
cally six months and the concrete benefits
are obvious on all sides. Ambition, emula-
4 ton competition and co-operatfon-these
are the keynotes Of the system itself and
the causes of the highly gratifying results
attained. The navy yards have become an
adjunct to the feet, not tie fleet to the
navy yards. The door of opportunity has
| been opened to the naval engineers ana
| they are responding with an energy ana
enthusiasm which means the saving or
millions of dollars in time of peace and an
| incalcuIabIe increase of efficiency in time
| Of war In his direction of the affairs of
the navy George Won Lengerke Meyer, Sec
rotary Of the Navy since March 4, 1910. has
sought a single goal, has directed the ener-
gies of his subordinates in a single channel,
the increase of the efficiency of the fighting
force afioat. To that end he may have had
10 sacrifice something ,of the commercial
spirit. something of the economic saving
ashore attained by his predecessor-and he
NAV not But that he has instiled new lie
into the military organization and promoted
the effectiveness Of the feet none who In
vestigates without prejudice the conditions
in the navy can deny.
A GARNET OF EXPERTS.-Of primary
| inheritance in the naval reorganization Is
the cabinet of experts which supplies that
technical knowledge which no civilian Sec
rotary of the Navy can possess. four
officers, each selected for his proficiency IN
his special line. constitute this cabinet. The
members are designated as aids, one each
for operations personnel, material and IN
spectlons Two rear adnlrals and two cap
tains have been chosen for these dutles'
and a moments reflection on the hlghiy
specialized and technical character OF the
modern navy will make clear the assistance
which such board of advisers must prove
to a. civilian appointed Secretary OF the
Navy partly for political reasons and large
Is, in the present instance at least lor
marked executive ability. Secretary Meyer
has adopted the practice of inviting from
every officer OF the navy suggestions for the
Improvement of the service. Many OF these
suggestions have proved OF the utmost
value of themselves, while the simple TACT
that they will be received and have incelH-
gent consideration has proved an incentive
to every officer at once TO improve the
service TO which he Is devoted and at the
same time to bring himself to the faVoTaole
attention of his superiors The receipt OF
multiplicity of such suggestions by
civilian Secretary unaided by specialist adj
visers, would have served only TO add to
his embarra ssment. With the staff of ex-
perts created by Mr.. Meyer the wheat is
quickly sifted from the chaff. and only
those uropositions which possess actual
merit are brought to the personal attention
of the Secretary.
COAL, CONSTITUTIONAL navy burns
in round numbers 100000 worth of coal
year After allowing for differences I'm the
amount of cruising, the naval engineers
have to their credit saving of $4,000 in
three months. That probably cannot be
maintained under all conditions. but there
is every reason to believe that permanent
and continuous saving of 10 per cent over
last wear can be maintained How? BY at
tention to details, by more systematic firing
by economy Of steam, by replacing defective
Joints and journals stopping leaking valves
and the hundred ard one little things which
go to make up increased efficiency. For
example on the Georgia improved eVap-
orators have reduced the cost of making
fresh water 40 per cent On the Kansas
and the North Carolina the fitting OF I'M
proved propellers has greatly reduced the
cost of steaming. On the Montana saw
ing of fifteen tons of coal a day has been
effected by systematic firing. On a single
shin the coal consumption has been de-
creased q per cent at sea and So per cent
in port. When the Atlantic feet returned
recently from Guantanamo it steamed at
an average speed of 121 knots and
consumed $50 tons-1eSs coal than on the
down trip, when the speed was only 115
knots Since last December total saw
ing in coal consumption of . per cent has
been accomplished.
EyAPORATORS AND OIL.-Fresh water
at sea Is an expensive luxury. Such water
is secured by evaporation. a new type of
evaporator was suggested some time ago
ard has now been abundantly tested. It
has been found that the new type will eff
feet an average saving of four tons Of coal
a day for each ship. Figuring coal at So a
ton and the average number of ships at
thirty, the annual saving would amount to
more than 100000 Even if the average
number of vessels at sea falls below that
figure The saving will amount to not less
than $780, 600 Then take the consumption OF
oil In twelve months, with an aggregate
mileage of slightly over 100000 miles, 100000
gallons Of lubricating oil was used In the
following twelve months, with an aggregate
mileage of approximately 10000 miles.
less than $4,000 gallons of oil suff1ced- SINH
lar instances of saving might be multiplied
without number. 1t is the attention to de-
tails which is making he machine-the fleet
more nearly perfect each year, and it is
the spirit of the service which Is insurlng
the attention TO detail. 1t is the reorgani-
cation of the system which is producing the
spirit.
THE MEYER IDEAS has been said
the first principle of the Meyer policy is