Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15

ganization of the navy since you be-
came Secretary
we have practically reorganized the
service. and that along modern business
lines When I took hold OF the depart
ment found il made up OF bureaus
which were acting independently of one
another. Every bureau its own
master, and each did as seemed best to
its oh eff. The same system was in opera
tion that had been used since 1912, and
that notwithstanding the enormous
growth of the department. II seemed 70
me that the organization was bad; and
after a careful study OF the other great
navies of the world | reclassifed II. We
grouped the business under four natural
divisions and appointed an expert as the
head of each division to act as the eyes
and ears Of the Secretary and to form a
staff Of expert and responsible advisers.
That is what We have today. We have
division of inspection, of materials. or
nersonnel and of operation. Admiral
Wainwright is at the head OF the latter.
lie has charge OF the feet at sea. and
of having IL always ready for war. IN
connection with the War College and the
genera board he gives his entire atten-
tion to movements of the vessels. and
with them makes studies and plans or
poss BILE wars and OF how the navy
should act in case OF attack
I'VE have investigated the business %
the navy continued Secretary Myer.
I'VE have had expert accountants intro
sucing new systems of bookkeeping and
trial balances. We have consolidated the
stores and by this means alone have
turned back s.. rocco into the Treasury.
| tn nix we have made a great gain in
economy and in operative efficiency. We
have increased the number OF ships have
increased the power of the motive ma
chinery, and have increased the cruising
speed Of the feet without additional con-
sumption of COAL
How about the navy yards? ] under
stand there is great opposition to your
proposed reduction of them?
That is only natural replied the Sec
rotary of the Navy. Each state and
city which has a navy yard would like to
keep it, and the senators and represent
atiVes are forced to urge it's retention on
the ground Of local patronage and local
pride Nevertheless, there s an enormous
waste in keeping up these yards, and last
year / proposed that eight of them be
abolished. That would have resulted in a
saving in annual maintenance alone Of
more than a million and half dollars.
We do not need more than three navy
yards on the Atlantic coast, and We
should have two on the Pacific. The
others should be sold or otherwise dis
posed of. Many of them could be turned
to commerc al uses. AS for the docks
the government might retain many OF
them. You see il used to be that our
war vessels spent more time in the yards
than now. The present policy is to keen
the feet on the seas and to allow the
ships in the yards only when they need
serious REPAIRS
How about Panama? Should we have
a yard there?"
II think not. There will probably be
dry DOCKS and craving docks in connec-
ton with the canal, but they Will be also
for commercial purposes.
Should the canal be fortified"
Most certainly it should. What is the
use of spending S3o1, 100000 for a water
way like that If we cannot protect IL. The
feet must be kept intact for meeting
and destroying the enemy's fleet"
FRANK G. CARPENTER