Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-05
NAVY SECRETARY
CR|T|CISES YARD
At MARE ISLAND
Station Scored Because of Dis
tance from San Francisco
and Channel Depth
BREMERTON is DISAPPR0VED
Official Requests Appropriation
of $4,000 to Continue .
AeropIane Tests
IAssociated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The results
of a careful, personal investigation by
Secretary George Won l.. Meyer OF
many of the navy yards and naval
stations are apparent in certain sweep
ing recommendations for the abolltlon
of some of these and the development
of others, as set out in the secretary
annual report just made pubic.
Secretary Meyer recommends giving
I'm and disposing of the naval stations
at New Orleans, Pensacola, san Juan,
Port Royal, New London, Sackett' 3
Harbor, Culebra and Cavite. He finds
that the average yearly cost OF MAIN
tanning these stations for the past hVe
years has been $1.672,675, while very
little useful work has been performed
therein. :.
Touching the New Orleans yard, 1t
is said that it's position 100 miles up
the Mississippi river Us such that IN
time of war no large vessels should pe
sent there on account of the danger OF
the passes being blocked The Pen
sacola navy yard is condemned as I'M
possible of fertilization and as strate-
pically unnecessary. The secretary
thinks that the gulf and south Atlantic
coasts can best be defended by an ef-
fective naval station at Guantanamo,
Cuba. where the emergency docking
and repair facilities should be pro-
vided at an expense of about $SOO0OO
or 100000.
TOO FEW DRY DOCKS
Because the Portsmouth, Boston,
New York, Philadelphia and Nortolk
wards have accessible dry docks, of
which we have too few, it Is found
impossible to give up any OF them'
Port Royal has a dry dock uhap-
nroachable for battleships or even
hn charleston dock is
useless for battleships or cruisers, as
the channel fills in opposite the docks
at the rate of from three to four feet
a year. e.o.o,.,, NIevar
finds the Bremerton yard at ulsau :
vantage through its lack OF fallroau
communication and ITS distance from
any large supply OF laoor. Du. i's
fu,.ther development is regarded as
necessity, in view of the fact that the
acct at some time after the opening
of the Panama canal may be baseo III
the Pacifje-o ocean, .,,
The Mare island navy yard Is very
severely criticised for its inaccesslpll-
ity. both on account of its great alS-
tance from San Francisco ana the sllal-
lowness of the channel. The muody
water of the San Pablo bay is also salo
to work havoc with the condensers OF
the warships. No battleship injured IN
action could be taken to Mare lslanu
even for temporary repairs, nor eoul's
the ward be reached by NUMBER ol
the heavy battleships or heavy eruls-
ers even when uninjured. But as $i4,-
mn 000 already has been spent on tnls
yard the secretary thinks that in order
10 avoid a total loss it would be wise
20 utilize il for such vessels as can
reach it and also for such manufactur-
4, ing and repair work for the larger yes"
sells as can readily be sent to the navy
ward and returned to the vessels lying
in San Francisco bay.
NEW REPAIR YARD NEEDED
Looking to the future he says that 1t
will be necessary to establish dock
ing and repair station for battleshlps
on San Francisco bay in some locallty
vet to be selected, and meanwhile the
fleet must depend upon Puget sound,
although there should be more than
one yard available.
Following the established policy in
the matter of annual naval construc-
ton the secretary recommends the au-
thorization of two battleships, two col-
liers, one gunboat, one river gunboat,
two seagoing tugs, four submarines
and one submarine tender.
The secretary urges strongly the
passage of the personnel bill now pend
ing before congress, which will insure
rapidity of promotion and the acces-
sion to the higher grades of the service
of limited number of officers espe-
cially qualified. He also requests the
creation of grades above the present
rear admirals so as to conform to for
eign naval practice and sound admin
istration.
Referring to the success of Aviator
Eugene Ely in his flight from the
cruiser Birmingham, the secretary
says that it appears to be practicable
also for an aeroplane to board a ship.
He requests an appropriation of $4,000
to continue the aeroplane experiments.