Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-21
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

On the I'd Of November last l reviewed
the fighting fleet Of battleships and other
vessels assembled in New York harbor,
consisting of "a battleships. 2 armored
cruisers, 2 cruisers, % destroyers. IL tor
pedo boats. 8 submarines. and other at
tendant vessels making 90 vessels of
all classes. OF a tonnage of 516,634 tons.
Those who saw the fleet were struck
with its preparedness and with it's high
military efficiency. Ali Americans should
be proud of it's personnel
The fleet was deficient in the number
OF torpedo destroyers, in cruisers, and
In golfers, as well as in large battleship
cruisers. which are now becoming very
important feature Of foreign navies. not
ably the British. German and Japanese.
The building plan for this year con-
templates two battleships and two col
Tiers. This is because the other and
smaller vessels can be built much more
battleships. and we certainly ought to
continue the policy Of two battleships
year until after the Panama canal is
finished and until in our first line and in
our reserve line we can number forty
available vessels of proper armament and
size.
The reorganization of the navy and the
appointment of four aids to the Secretary
fulness. It would be difficult now to adj
minister the affairs Of the navy without
the expert counsel and advice of these
aids, and / renew the recommendation
which / made last year. that the aids be
recognized by statute.
1t is certain that the navy, with it's
present size. should have admirals in
active command higher than rear ad-
mfrals The recognized grades in Or
der are: Admiral of the feet admiral.
vice admiral and rear admiral. Our
great battleship feet is commanded by
a rear admiral. with four other rear
admirals under his orders. This is
not as it should be. and when ques-
lions of precedence arise between our
naval officers and those of European
navies, the American rear admiral,
though in command of ten times the
force of foreign vice admiral, must
yield precedence to the latter Such
an absurdity ought not to prevail, and
it can be avoided by the creation Of
two or three positions of flag rank
above that of rear admiral.
Praises Training School.
I attended the opening of the new
training school at North Chicago, ILL.,,
and am glad to note the opportunity
which this gives for drawing upon
young men of the country from the
from farms, stores. shops and
Offices which insures a high average
of intelligence and character among
them, and which they showed in the
very wonderful Improvement in discipline
and drill which only a 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
enlisted men which has obtained in Great
Britain. and which has made greatly for
the better control Of the men. We should
adopt Similar system here
Like the Treasury Department and the
War Department, the Navy Department
has given much attention to economy in
Der of unnecessary expenses and reduced
its estimates except for construction and
the increase that that involves.
l 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
vessels.
There are in the service today about
A, $50 enlisted men Of all ratings.
Careful computation shows that in
April, 1912, 49, 1876 men will be required
for vessels in commission. and 1900 ap-
prentice seamen should be kept under
at all times.
ABOLITION OF NAVY YARDS.
The Secretary of the Navy has recon-
the abolition Of certain of the
smaller and unnecessary navy yards, and
in order to furnish a complete and COM
prehensive report has referred the ques-
ton of all navy yards to the joint board
Of the army and navy. This board will
shortly make it's report and the Secretary
Of the Navy advises me that his recon-
on the subject will be pre-
scented early in the coming year. The
measure of economy contained in a
proper handling of this subject is so
great and SO important to the interests
of the nation that I shall present it to
Congress as a separate subject apart
from my annual message. Concentration