The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-16

Secretary Of the Navy Meyer has com
pleted a tentative organization Of the
Atlantic battle ship feet for the next
three years. or until the end Of the
present administration
/ The programme contemplates three re-
organlzations-the first next month, the
second on July /. 1911. and the last on
April l. 1912 BY the first Encouragement
the number Of battle ships will not be
Increased from sixteen. which is the
present strength Of the Atlantic fleet
Changes viii be made however. in the
war vessels composing the divisions Of
the feet.
! Tho home port system viii be modi-
fed so that all battle ships Of a division
will make their headquarters In the same
home port" Under the second reor-
ganization the feet Will be composed Of
/ twenty-one battle ships, and a puntlng
division. consisting Of four armored
cruisers. Five battle ships will comprise
each division, instead Of four, as at
present
Twenty-One Ships in 1912.
On April l. 1872 the strength Of the feet
! will remain at twenty-one battle ships
and four armored cruisers. The Wyo-
| ming, which is now under construction
at Philadelphia. will become the flagship
OF the feet, instead OF the Connecticut.
which has led the fleet for several years.
Mr.. Meyer also intends 20 have a re-
serve fleet Of ten battle ships by April,
1912, which Will make its headquarters
al Philadelphia. This viii give. if the
plans are carried out. a fleet Of thirty
one battle ships on the Atlantic Ocean.
The contamination Of Nj Meyers plans,
however. Is dependent upon legislation
by Congress providing additional officers
and men.
The creation Of an armored cruiser
/ squadron for the Atlantic fleet will neces-
state the return Of the Tennessee and
Washington. which went 10 the Pacific
in 1901 They will be brought hack %
the Atlantic next fall to join the North
Carolina and Montana. which will re-
main on the Atlantic. after visiting the
Buenos Ayres Exposition wis summer
! These four vessels will constitute the
| armored cruiser squadron.
Plans for Next Month.
Under the reorganization 20 be ordered
next month, the fleet viii be constituted
as follows:
First INSTRUMENTATION, Delaware
North Dakota, and Michigan. Second di-
yision-Louisiana. South Carolina, Kansas
and New Hampshire Third division
Georgia, Nebraska. Rhode Island. anC
Virginia. Fourth division - Minnesota
Vermont. Mississippi. and Idaho.
The other battle ships will be kept il
reserve or out Of commission at the yari
Gus navy yards. On July next order.
viii be issued assigning the first division
70 New York as its home port" the sec
ond division to Norfolk the third TO Bos
ton. and the fourth to Philadelphia.
BY July ]. 1911. several vessels which
are now building VIII be ready for service
and the fleet Will be enlarged from sixteeI
to twenty-one battle ships. On that dat,
il will be composed Of the following battle
ships.
Florida Utah, Delaware, North Dakota
and Michigan.
Second Observation-Disclosures. South caro-
lima, Kansas, Vermont, and New Hamp
shire.
Third division-Georgia Nebraska. New
Jersey, Virginia. and Ohio.
Fourth division-Minnesota, Mississippi
Idaho. Maine. and Missouri.
Fifth division, or armored cruiser divi
sion-Tennessee. Washington, North Caro-
lima. and Montana.
Plans for OverhaulinE.
Under this reorganization, four bat;I
ships will be kept in reserve. while fiv,
others will be out Of commission 70
general overhaUling.
On April J. 1912, the Wy, ming. 2S,Oo
ton dreadnought. will succeed the Con
necticut as the flagship. The other bat
tie ships will then be as follows.
First Observation-Disclosures. Florida, Utah
Delaware. and North Dakota.
Second division-LOuisiana,' Michigan
South Carolina, Vermont. and New
Hampshire.
Third division-ConneCticUt. Kansas
Minnesota. Idaho. and Mississippi
Fourth division-Georgia, Nebraska
New Jersey. Rhode Island. and Virginia
The reserve battle feet will consist o
the following vessels: Missouri, Ohio
Maine. Wisconsin. Illinois. Alabama
Kearsarge, Kentucky, Iowa, Massachu
sets. and Indiana.
The commander-in-chiefs flagship It &
intended, will make its headquarters a
New York, on account Of its central lOCa
ton and advantages as a supply base
The heaviest ships will be locked eithe
at New York or Norfolk. where IN,
largest docks will be located. It Is in
tended to have the whole feet visit nav,
yards twice n year for docking only
Each division will have five ships. fou
Of which will be ready at all times 10
active service. while the fifth will be a
the division home port for overhaulinl
and repairs. BY this system the feet ca
a,,-o,.s ba keDt I'm 70 its flllI strength