New-York tribune., 1910-01-23
In ARMY AND NAVY
Would Prepare for Bigger
Battleships.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.]

Washington, January o..
ENLARGING DRYDOCKS.-The belief
that the 3o,0OO-ton battleship is only ques-
ton of time has served to impress on the
Secretary of the Navy the necessity of es-
tablishing a policy in drydock design and
construction which shall be sufficiently
elastic to anticipate increases of battleship
displacement The fact that there are no
drydocks on the Atlantic Coast capable of
taking in the 26.000-ton battleship, to say
nothing of the 30000-ton ship, presents an
emergency which Secretary Meyer has been
prompt to meet in the form of instructions
to the General Board TO prepare PROPOSE
ton for the guidance of Congress. The
General Board has been discussing this
question, which bears so vitaly on the pro-
lection of the fleet in time of war. The re-
vised plans contemplate lengthening the
new dock for which a contract has just
been made at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian
Islands, so as to take in a ship $50 feet
long, and II is estimated that this enlarge
ment of the dock would require an addi-
tional appropriation of $4,000.
Nothing can be done in the way of en-
larging the docks at New York The linn
tied space there imposes restrictions on the
dimensions of the structures. The dock
which most conveniently lends itself to the
new condition is the new one at the Nor
folk Navy Yard, which it is purposed to
lengthen by about 123 feet Under these
conditions it will be possible to dock a ves-
sci 644 feet long, or a batteship of 10000
tons. Such change would require an ad-
ditional allotment of s375,OO0. An alterna-
tive plan contemplates enlarging the dock
so as to take in a ship $50 feet long, which
would mean an additional cost of 100000
Secretary Meyer has reported this situa-
ton to the House and Senate Naval COM
mttees, with view to having provision
made for the enlarged docks at Pearl Har-
Dor and Norfolk in the naval appropriation
bill when it is reported to the House. There
is some doubt whether the provision will
be made, in view of the determination In
both House and Senate not to increase, II
avOidabe, the original estimates for naval
expenditures, but Secretary Meyer has
pointed out in a convincing way the need
of anticipating battleship increase, and 1t
is hoped by the naval authorities that there
will be appreciation at the Capitol of the
necessity of affording vessels of the flee.
adequate means of docking, cleaning and
repairing.
The situation has served to revive discus
sion in favor of monster floating dry
dock which shall be capable of lifting a
risk his reputation as a prophet by pre-
dieting when such a battleship will be
built, but already there is serious con-
sideration of such vessel, and Repre-
sentative E. w. Roberts, of Massachusetts,
q member of the Naval Committee, is hav-
ing statistics prepared to show whether
such a ship may be built this year. He
intends to suggest to his associates the
desirability of authorizing the construction
of one 300o0-ton ship, instead of two 26,O00-
ton battleships. The present indications
are that the House committee will provide
for only one of the latter. although the
question has not been put to a vote, and
will not be until Secretary Meyer is heard,
probably in the course of the next week, on
increase of the navy.
TAFT FOR TWO DREADNOUGHTS-
At conference with Chairman Foss. of
the House Committee on Naval Affairs
and Representative Roberts, of Massa-
Chusetts. a member OF the committee
President Taft to-day announced that he
favored provision for two new battle
ships of the improved Dreadnought or
"all big gun type in the forthcoming
naval appropriation bill. While economy
is to be the watchword of the administra-
ton, Mr., Taft declared that the policy
adopted by his predecessor of keeping the
American navy well equipped with modern
fighting machines could not be abandoned
and that 1t would be false economy to
provide for any less than two battleships
a year.
ORDERS ISSUED.-The following orders
have been issued:
The following changes in the medical corps
are ordered Captain HARRIS, from duty
Fort Gbbon, Alaska, relieving Captain
JAY W. GRISSINGER. who will proceed
10 Seattle and await orders; Captain Ed
WARD b. VEDDER, from Fort Stevens,
oregon, Will proceed to San Francisco,
sailing May for the Philippine Islands.
The following officers designated to conduct
tests of infantry equipment at Presidio of
Monterey: Captain JAMES P. HARBE-
SON. 18th Infantry: Captain MERCH B.
STEWART, sth Infantry, and Captain
JOHN l.. DE WITT 20th Infantry.
Colonel HENRY A GREENE. 10th Infantry
about February ,. 1910, to Fort Benjamin
Harrison, and later to Davenport, Iowa.
First Lieutenant VERNON w. BOILER. Cd
Infantry. from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, to
Whipple Barracks, Arizona.
Leave of absence: Major EUGENE o.
FECHET, signal corps, one week.
NAVY.
Rear Admiral C. f. VREELAND, commits
stoned from December -. 1909
Captain r. {. SMITH, commissioned from De-
cember 81, 1909
ART EXHIBITIONS AND SALES.