The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-05

Says X Is More Economical to
Build New Vessels Than to BE
Continually Repairing Old Ones.
Washington, Dec. 5.--The secretary
Of the navy, George Won l.. Meyer, in
his annual report for the fiscal year
1910 recommends the use of airships
by the navy ana states that platforms
can conveniently be built on the
decks OF battleships from which
aerial craft can be started and on
which they can alight.
After describing the successful
flight OF Eugene Ely Nov. Ia from the
deck of the United States cruiser
Birmingham in Hampton Roads to a
point on the Virginia shore Secretary
Meyer says:
This experiment demonstrated the
conditions governing the location of
future platforms on shipboard for this
purpose and showed that they could
be installed without interfering seri-
cusly with other features of the ship.
Landing on or near ship on re-
turning with information after a
scouting trip appears to be practical
BILE. This experiment and the ad-
vances which have been made in avl-
alton seem to demonstrate that II is
destined to perform some part in the
naval warfare of the future. It ap-
pears likely that this will be limited
to scouting. A scout which is not
strong enough TO pierce the enemy's
line can get as near as possible and
then send an aeroplane thirty or forty
miles, obtain valuable information
and then return to the scout.
''The department contemplates fur.
ther experiments along these lines
with the belief that 1t will be neces
sary In the near future to equip all
scouts with one or more aeroplanes
TO increase the distance at which in
formation can be secured.
'For the purpose Of carrying on
such experiments the department rec
ommends that $4,000 be authorized
Mr.. Meyer advocates the abandon
ment OF several naval stations both III
this country and among some Of oyI
insular possessions on the ground In
some instances that the channel ap
proaches are inadequate. He de
scribes in detail the improved bust
ness methods and organization in the
department and states that a great
saving will result to the government
thereby; also a coincident increase In
efficiency. 70
The secretary also states
"The estimates submitted for pub
lie works at navy yards and stations
amounted to s2S,621, ,53037, and the
amount approved and sent In by mt
was $s,135.S27.
THE navy departments estimate,
for the expense of the naval estab
lishment for the next fiscal year show
a savink OF about S4,3O0,000 as com
pared with the amounts appropriated
last year.
Competition in the feet has beer
encouraged and has resulted In in
creased efficiency In target practice
economy in coal consumption anC
economy in consumption of supplies
"A new organization of the torpedo
vessels of the navy. including subma
rines, has been put into effect will
marked benefit to the service. Thii
groups all such vessels In commission
In the Atlantic into the Atlantic tor
pedo fleet, under the command of {
single officer experienced In this class
OF work. The Pacific and Aslatic tor
pedo fleets have been similarly con
stituted In those waters.
THE department has effected a re
organization of the Atlantic fleet will
view to increasing the efficiency O
the feet, promoting economy in re
pairs and so regulating the repai
periods that the amount OF work a
the several navy yards will be prac
tically uniform throughout the year
"The Inauguration OF the steaminl
competitions awakened a lively inter
est In engineering matters Throughout
| 'hS poi NlCt, 1 MS lHlSItbl mas DTOuBn
about increased efficiency and econ
omy OF expenditure. During the fisca
year ending June 80, 1910, the horse
power of the machinery OF the fee
has been increased 16 per cent ant
the average cruising speed has beer
increased about 10 per cent, yet thu
total cost OF fuel used on vessels O
the navy decreased over $20O0,000.
Increase Of the Navy.
) The department recommends thu
authorization of the following add
} tions to the naval establishment fo
the coming fiscal year: Two battle
} ships, one collier. one gunboat, ont
. river gunboat. two seagoing tugs
: two submarines and one submarin,
tender. The department invites atten
4 ton to the fact that II is more eco
4 nomical to build new vessels than Il
continually repair those which have
. outliyed their usefulness. The de
n partment therefore recommends thu
q construction OF gunboats each yea
q until existing vessels OF that class
are replaced"
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