The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-05


Whie the fleet must depend upon Pu-
get sound. although there should he
more than one yard available III the
battleship fleet is to be based in the
Pacific ocean.
Pearl Harbor will be made the prin-
cipal insular defense base i'm the pa
eric ocean; OlOngapo, IN the Philip
pines. is TO be small repair station.
and the tation at Cavite is TO he dis
posed OF, its tools being transported
70 OlongapO.
More ships Needed.
Following the established policv fn
the matter or annual naval construc-
ton. the secretary recommends the
AUTHORIZATION Of two battleships one
'coiueF. one gunboat. one river guuboat
Two seagoing tugs. two submarines and
one submarine tender. lie strongly
~ Prtcates any break in the established
policy because OF its evil effect on inc
sup yards OF the country. upon whose
maintenance the navy must depeud iu
lllue on war The small cruisers and
EuhDoSts are becoming useless through
age ana, while the department. desires
20 minimize expenditures on such YES
sells OF slight military value certain
NUMBER are absolutely necessary for
ponce duty surveying and other work
Incidental 10 times OF peace
twenty years is about the effective
lie OF battleship and even then the
last ten years OF that period should he
spent IN the second line of defense
lhis short life is rather the result OF
evolution I'm ship design and ordnance
/ tliaN VA dtkNal decrease in efficiency i'm
tne snip ltself. To make up for the re-
tirement Of these obsolete vessels there
must be authorized. after 1912 i'm addf-
tlon 10 the two ships per year provided
IN the established program. sufficient
number OF vessels TO maintain the fleet
at the minimum Of twenty SIMS or the
/ hrst line. As IL viii be necessary for
| at least five or six nations to maintain
navtes to enforce the decree Of an inter-
national court. the secretary does NOT
reel that we are very near the inter
national settlement Of all issues aud
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 history Of
war. A formidable array OF tables
showing the enormous amount of ma val
construction now under way or author
lled b[ foreign nations. is presented
I TO justify the appeal for an adh erence
country.
RRpidity of Promotion.
Our flag officers are the oldest in
l the world and consequently retire with
\ IN year or two after attaining that
/ rank without developing their fullest
/ elilclency- therefore, the secretary
! urges strongly the passage Of the per
sonnet bill. now pending before Con
I gress. which viii insure rapfdifv OF
/ promotion and the accession to the
/ higher grades of the service of a linz
tied number Of officers especially ANAL
/ lied He also requests the creation of
I grades above the present rear adrniraIs
D so as to conform to foreign navat r,rac-
I tcc and sound administrator.
The troubles which have agitatcd the
/ marine corps during the past wear find
their reflex i'm recommendation that
/ the appointment OF the -commaudant
OF the corps (who should be "A major
gcneraD should be limited to four wears
instead Of the present indefinite term
I while the marines themselves should be
stationed in two principal posts. one
| on tie Atlantic and one on the PacifIc
coast only small police details being
assigned TO the various navy yards.
Economy In Reorganization.
Secretary Meyer speaks with pride OF
scheme inaugurated by himself, and
points to a saving Of about 5000. OOC
IN the estimates for the next fisca'
year. Referring to the success Of Avf.
atOr Eugene Ely in his flight from the
cruiser birmingham, the secretary SAYS
that IL appears to be practicable also
for an aeroplsne to board a ship. But
even IL IN aerial scout could not Ia nd
on ship from his aeroplane he could
be taken aboard from tbc water &C
make his report and the loss OF the
aerOplane would be OF no moment. 81
ne requests an appropriation OF SIS, 00l
TO continue the aeroplane experiments
secretary Meyer refers TO the estab-
fishing Of the naval supply account by
which seven. or more accounts wer,
consolidated Into one, with great de
crease in bookkeeping and knowledg,
obligated on March 81 the condition
now is that the whole value OF the
naval supply fund is liquidated and
available. and the secretary recommend,
that its value, S2.700.O0O be turned int
the treasury. This represents a saw
ing OF that amount and in the future
the department will work along on th'
regular appropriations
The discovery Of the north pole b,
Robert E. Peary. after years of patient
and erduous endeavor. is declared to b'
an event which has added to the honol
and credit OF our country
Says Secretary Meyer.
? 1T is fitting that the government
should recognize the value of his serv.
. ices and their successful termination
If IL meets with your apprOval, 7 rec
ommend that Peary, the discoverer o
the north pole, be given a commission
By legislation. as rear admiral OF th'
corps of civil engineers OF the navy. &
date from April s. 1903. the date OF hi
discovery Of the pole. and that he b'
retired as OF that date with highest re
tired pay OF that grade"
Estimates OF Secretary Never for tn
fiscal year 1912. which show a savinl
OF S5,o00,o00 as compared with the ap