Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-05

security, the Chfef sources OF supplies
and material and the probable points
from which our troops will embark
either for the Isthmus of Panama for
further transit, or for service in the
Caribbean, as may be required.
Because the Portsmouth, Boston
New York. Philadelphia and Norfolk
yards have accessible dry docks OF
which we have too few. it is found i'm
possible to give up any of them. Port
Royal has dry dock unapproachable
for battleships or even cruisers and
the Cha rleston dock is likewise useless
as the channel fills in at the rate Of
from three to four feet Il year.
On the Pacific coast Secretary Meyer
finds the Hremerton yard at a disad-
vantage through its lack of railroad
communication and its distance from
any large supply of labor. But its
further development is regarded as a
necessity in view Of the fact that the
fleet At some time after the opening of
the Panama canal may be based in the
Pacific ocean.
The Mare Island navy yard is very
severely criticised for its inaccessible
ity, both on account of it's great dis
tancc from San Francisco and the
ShalloWncSs OF the channel. The
muddy water of the San Pablo Bay is
also said to work havoc with the con-
denscrs of the warships. No battle
ship injured in action could be taken
to Mare Island even for temporary re-
pairs nor could the yard be reached by
a number of the heavy battleships or
heavy cruisers cren Wnen uninjured.
But as $1i.000.o00 already has been
spent 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 il 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 q docking and repair station
tor battlcships on San Francisco bay
in some locality yet to be selected and
meanwhile the feet must depend upon
PuSet Sound. although there should be
more than one yard available, il the
battieShip fleet is TO he based in the
Pacific ocean.
Pearl Harbor Win be made the
principal inSular defense base in the
Pacific ocean; Olongapo, in the Philip
pines Is to be small repaid station
and tho station at Cavite is to be dis
posed of, its tools being transported to
Clongapo.
Following the established policy in
the matter of annual naval construc-
ton. the Secretary recommends the
authorization of two battleships, one
aollier, one gunboat, one river gun
boat. two sea going tugs, two sub
marines and one submarine tender.
He strongly deprecates any break in
the established policy because Of its
evil effect on the ship yards of the
country upon whose maintenance the
ravy must depend in time of war. The
Small cruisers and gunboatS are be-
coming useless through age and while
the department desires to minimize
expenditures on such vessels OF slight
military value, Z, certain number are
absolutely necessary for police duty,
surveying and other work incidental
70 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
spent in the second line of defense.
This short life is rather the result OF
evolution in ship design and ordnance