Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-12-22


stofeArcpef .4~.eal ID GOING rms. /
think the change viii greatly increase
business for the benefit of all The
reduction in the cost of living it will
bring about ought to make its coming
certain.
The Navy Department.
On the I'd OF November last I re-
viewed the fighting fleet of battleships
and other vessels assembled in New
York harbOr. consisting of twenty-four
battleships. two armored cruisers, two
cruisers, twenty-five destroyers. twelve
torpedo boats, eight submarines and
other attendant vessels, making nine
ty-eight vessels Of all classes of a ton
mage of 576,634 tons. Those who saw
the feet were struck with its prepared
ness and with its high military eff
cheney. All Americans should be proud
of its personnel
The feet was deficient in the num-
Der of torpedo destroyers, In cruisers
and in GOLFERS as well as in large bat
tleship cruisers.
The building plan for this year con-
templates two battleships and two col
Tiers. This is because the other and
smaller vessels cnn be built much
more rapidly in case OF emergency
than the battleships. and we certainly
ought to continue the policy of two
battIeships IA 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 have continued to demon
strate their usefulness.
1t is certain that the navy with It's
present size should have admirals in
active command higher than rear ad-
mirals. Our great battleshlp feet Is
commanded by a rear admiral. with
four other rear admirals under his or
ders. This is not as it should be. and
when questions OF precedence arise be
tween our naval officers and those or
European navies the American rear
admiral. though IN command of ten
times the force OF a foreign vice ad-
miraI must yield precedence 10 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
1 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 IN
terror from farms. stores, shops and
offices. which insures a high average
Of intelligence and character among
them and which they showed in tho
very wonderful Improvement in disci-
pline and drill which only few short
weeks presence at the naval station
had made
urge upon congress the necessity
for an immediate increase OF 1000
men in the enlisted strength of the
navy. provided for in the estimates.
Four thousand more are now needed
to man all the available vessels.
There are in the service today about
47,750 enlisted men Of all ratings.
Careful computation shows that in
April, 1912. 40, 166 men will be requir-
ed for vessels in commission, and
3 GOO apprentice seamen should be
kept under training at all times,
The secretary of the navy has rec
the abolition OF certain of
the smaller ana unnecessary navy
yards and in order to furnish a COM
plete and comprehensive report has
the question of all navy yards
to the joint board of the army and
navy. This board will shortly make
its report. and the secretary of the |
navy advises ne that his Recommended
tons on the subject win be presented |