The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-12-05

Ispent on this yard, the secretary thinks
that in order to avoid a total loss it
would be wise to utilize it for such
vessels as can reach it and also for
such manufacturing and repair work
for the larger vessels as can readily
be sent to the navy yard and returned
to the vessels lying in San Francisco
Bay. Looking to the future he says
that it will be necessary to establish
IA docking and repair station for battle
lships 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 small repair station
and the station at Cavite is to be dis
posed of, it's 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-
lsers and gunboats are becoming use
less through age and while the depart
ment desires to minimize expenditures
on such vessels of slight military value,
a 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 a battleship and even then the
last ten years of that period should be
lspent 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
thoro must hn oufbort1od 4, add;+;a,,
to the two ships per year provided in
the established program sufficient
number of vessels to maintain the fleet
at the minimum of twenty ships Of the
first line AS it will be necessary foi
at least five or six nations to main
tain navies to enforce the decree oi
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
he declares that the delusion that a
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 ar
adherence to the regular building pro
gram in this country.
/
Our flag officers are the oldest in the
world and consequently retire within
a 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 ant
the accession to the higher grades. o.
the service Of a limited number o.
officers especially qualified He alsC
requests the creation of grades above
the present rear admirals so as to con
form to foreign naval practice anC
sound administration.
The troubles which have agitated tn,
marine corps during the past year fine
their reflex in recommendation tha
the appointment of the commandant o
corps (who should be 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