The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-12-09

ships on San Francisco Bay in some
locality yet to be selected and mean
while the fleet must depend upon
Puget Sound, although there should
be more than one yard available.
Pearl Harbor will be made the prin-
cipal insular defense base in the Pa
cific ocean, Olongapo, in the Philip
pines is to be a small repair station
and the station at Cavite is to be dis
posed Of its tools being transported
to Olongapo.
Following the established policy in
the matter of annual naval construc-
tion, the secretary recommends the au-
thorization of two battleships, two col.
liers, one gunboat, one river gunboat,
two sea-going tugs, four submarines
and one submarine tender. He strong
ly deprecates any break in the estab-
lished policy because of it's evil effect
on the ship yards of the country upon
whose maintenance the navy must de-
pend in time of war The small crui-
sers and gunboats are becoming use
less through age and while the depart
ment desires to minimize expenditures
on such vessels of slight military value,
certain number are absolutely nee
essary for police duty surveying and
other work incidental to times of
peace.
Twenty years is about the effective
life of battleship and even then the
last ten years of that period should be
spent in the second line of defense
This short life is rather the result of
evolution in ship design and ordinance
than of actual decrease in efficiency
in the ship itself To make up for the
retirement of these obsolete vessels,
there must be authorized in addition
to the two ships per year provided in
the established program a sufficient
number of vessels to maintain the feet
lat the minimum of twenty ships of the
first line. AS it will be necessary for
at least five or six nations to main
tain navies to enforce the decree of
an international court, the secretary
does not feel that we are very near the
international settlement of all issues
and the era of international peace and
nnnIqr0C hn dnI,
nation with large population, great
wealth and resources is immune from
attack has been dispelled by the his
tory of war. A formidable array of
tables showing the enormous amount
of naval construction now under way
or authorized by foreign nations, is
presented to Justify the appeal for an
adherence to the regular building pro-
gram In this country.
Our flag officers are the oldest in the
world and consequently retire within
year or two after attaining that rank
without developing their fullest effici-
ency. Therefore, the secretary urges
strongly the passage of the personnel
bill now pending before congress which
will insure rapidity of promotion and
the accession to the higher grades of
the service of a limited number of
officers especially qualified. He also
requests the creation of grades above
the present rear admirals so as to con-
form to foreign naval practice and
sound administration.
The troubles which have agitated the
marine corps during the past year find
their reflex in recommendation that
the appointment of the commandant of
a corps (who should be a major gen.
eraD, should be limited to four years
instead of the present indefinite term,
while the marines themselves should
be stationed in two principal posts, !
one on the Atlantic and one on the
Pacific coasts, only small police de-
tails being assigned to the various
navy yards.
Secretary Meyer speaks with pride
Of the working of the reorganization
scheme inaugurated by himself and
points to saving of about $4,000, 900
IN the estimates for the next fiscal
year. Referring to the success of Avi-
ator Eugene Ely in his fight from the
cruiser, Birmingham, the secretary
says that it appears to be practicable
also for an aeroplane to board a ship.
But even if an aerial scout could not
and on ship from his aeroplane he
could be taken aboard from the water
o make his report and the loss of the
'eroplane would be of no moment. So
le requests an appropriation of $25, 900
o continue the aeroplane experiments.