The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-11-17
ASKS BIGGER NAVY
TAFT AFTER REVIEWING FLEET
~ NEW YORK +AR6oR CALLS
FOR MORE SHIPS.
ONE SEAMAN LOSES HIS LIFE
o,ly Incident to Mar Mighty pageant
Of Marine Fighting Forces Is
Drowning Of Man From BattIeshlp
New Jersey.

New York. Nov. Outstanding bare
headed in whipping gale. William
Howard Taft, president OF the United
states. ana commander-in-chief OF the
navy. reviewed the greatest mobiliza-
ZION OF Uncle Sam marine fighting
forces ever convened
President TAFT and tse 10000 Off
GERS and men OF the fighting fortresses
wrote an epoch into the history OF the
nav that will endure forever.
TAFT Graves eo-Mile Gale.
Standing on the bridge Of the May
flower. anchored off Twenty-thlrd
street.. the president brayed 6O-mlle
gale TO receive the homage OF % great
steel-clad leviathans steaming down
the river along the shore OF New York
city.
AS the line OF ninety-nine ships OF
war swept past the Mayhower. on
which stood Mr.. Taft and doomed the
presidential salute of twenty-one guns.
the three tiers OF men manning the
port rail were in rigid salute. AS the
New Jersey. seventeenth vessel in
line. swept by everyone on the presi-
dents yacht uncovered in silent re-
spect TO the memory OF Gustaye Frey.
able seaman. who had lost his life
only an hour before. The seaman lost
his footing while assisting at the star
board gangway OF the New Jersey and
plunged into the raging river. For an
hour the vast amanda was held up
while boats from various ships made
vain search for the unfortunate
sailor.
Because OF the delay the president
was forced 10 leave Secretary Meyer
in sole occupancy OF the Mayfower
after the last Of the warships had
passed. The president departed from
the Mayhower and left Jersey City for
Hot Springs. Va.
President lauds the Navy.
Before his departure the president
issued the following statement:
Those who saw the fighting feet
which was assembled in New York
harbor could not fail to be struck with
its preparedness and with its high mil
tiary efficiency and must have been
proud OF It's personnel
The demonstration has had an ecu-
caiioual value in arousing patriotism.
increasing the general knowledge Of
and interes. in the navy. illustrating
the ability TO mobilize on short iar'ce
anc showing the skill % the officers
who turned the whole fleet + the nar
row river and sent It to sea al the
rate o. II knots an hour.
The equipment of the feet is excl
lent. except as 10 the number OF de-
stroyeTs and cruisers and Golfers in
proportion 10 the whole number. We
had in the fleet today % destrOyers.
and 10 meet the requirements there
should have been approximately one
hundred destroyers. or an avera ge OF
four TO each battleship. IL is true that
there has been a marked improvement
IN the type of GOLFERS and fast crus-
ers in our navy. but ii is also true that
We haven't a sufficient number.
In addition to building great battle
ships, other nations are building enor-
nous high-speed cruisers-2S knots an
hour-and IL is believed that our
navy should be similarly equi pped.
Unless a navy is maintained at the
highest possible state of efficiency 1t
ha needless extravaganza.
Il am more than ever convinced Of
me desirability OF comforting upon
the commanding officer OF our feet the
Title Of admiral. OF at least Of vice-ad-
mirai AT present the ranking officer
is rear dmiral and this title is not
commensurate with the importance Of
The feet AT the review of the German
neet at Kiel smaller number OF ships
We're under the command Of a fu II adj
mlral. two squadrons were command
60 by vlce-admirals. and each OF four
divisions was commanded by a rear
admiral"