The Washington times., 1911-12-21

smaller vessels can be built much more
rapidly in case OF emergency than the
battleships. and we certainly ought to
continue the policy OF two battleships q
year until after the Panama canal II
In our reserve line we can number forty
available vessels of proper armament
The Reorganization Of the navy and
Secretary have continued to demonstrate
their usefulness. II would be difficult
now to administer the affairs of the
navy without the expert counsel and adj
Recommendation which made last
year. that the aids be recogized BY
4 e certain that the navy, with its
sctive command higher than rear ad. 4.
mirals. The recognised grades In order
are: Admiral Of the feet, admiral. vice
admiral. and rear admiral. Our great
bsttieship feet Il commanded by a rear
his orders. This IL not as It should
be, and when questions of precedence
arise between our naval officers and
those of European navies. the American
ten times the force OF a foreign vice
admiral, must yield precedence to the
latter. Such an absurdity ought not
to prevail. and 1t can be avoided by the
rank above that Of rear ADMIRAL.
attended the opening Of the new
training school at North Chicago. Ill,
and am glad to note the opportunity
young men Of the country from the in.
terror. from farms. stores, shops. and
offices. which insures a high average OF
intelligence and character among them
and which they showed IN the very
drill which only few short weeks
presence at the naval station had made.
I invite your attention to the consid-
Grafton Of the new system OF detention
and Of punishment for army and navy
Great Britain. and which has made
greatly for the better control of the
men. We should adopt similar sys-
Like the Treasury Department and the
War Department, the Navy Department
has given much attention to economy In
administration. and has cut down q
number Of unnecessary expenses and re-
ton and the increase that that in.
wolves. 90 ~ .....
I urge upon Congress the necessity for
an Immediate increase Of 1000 men In
the enlisted strength Of the navy. pro-
vided for in the estimates. Four thou.
sand more are now needed to man all
the available vessels.
There are in the service today abou,
Il, $50 enlisted men Of all ratings.
Apr is,a asiss mem viii n1g Be required a
for vessels In commission. and 5000 ap'
prentice seamen should be kept under
training at all times.
Abolition of Navy Yards.
The secretary Of the Navy has rec
commended the abolition Of certain OF tho
smaller ana unnecessary navy yards
and in order to furnish complete and
comprehensive report has referred thu
question Of all navy yards to the join
board of the army and navy. Thi.
board will shortly make its report. an.
tine Secretary Of the Navy advises M
that his recommendations on the sub
ject will be presented early in the com
ing year. The measure Of econom,
contained In a proper handling Of THU
subject Is 30 great and SO important t.
the interests Of the nation that shall
present It to Congress as separat'
Concentration OF the necessary WORT
for naval vessels In few navy yard!
on each coast Is q vital necessity !
lures 10 to be attained.
Amalgamation Of staff Corps in Navy
The Secretary OF the Navy 10 striving
to unity the various corps OF the nav,
to the extent possible and thereby slim
| ulate a navy spirit as distinguished
from a corps spirit. In this he has m!
warm support.
All officers are to be naval officer.
and specialist afterward. This means
that officers will take up at least on,
speciality, such as ordnance, construc
ton, or engineering. This Is PRACTICAL,
, what Is done now. only some of tn;
specialists, like the pay officers ane
naval constructors. are not Of the line
1t is proposed to make them all of tn,
line.
All conbatant corps should obviousl,
be OF the line. This necessitates ANAL
gamating the pay officers and alst
those engaged In the technical work o.
producing the finished ship. This Is a
present the case with the single excep
ton Of the naval constructors, whom 4
Is now proposed to amalgamate with
the line.
Council of Defense.
urge again upon Congress the de
STABILITY Of establishing the council o.
national defense. The bill to establish
this council was before Congress las
winter. and 1t Is hoped that this legisla
ton will pass during the present ses
/ sion. The purpose Of the council is I,