The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-21


Japanese.
, The building plan for this year con-
teni plates two battleShipS and two col
liers This is because the other and
smaller vessels can be built much more
rapidly in case of emergency than the
battleships, and we certainly ought 70
continue the policy of two battleshi ps
a year until after the Panama canal is
| finished and until in our first line and
in our reserve line we can number 40
available vessels. of proper armament
| and size.
The recognition of the navy and the
| appointment of four aids to the secre-
| tary have continued to demonstrate
their usefulness. 1t would be difficult
| now to administer the affairs of the
navy without the expert counsel and
| advice of these aids, and I renew the
recommendation which. made last
year, that the aids be recognized by
statute.
Not as 1t should Be.
It is certain that the navy, with its
active command higher than rear ad-
miralS. The recognized grades IN
order are: Admiral of the feet, ad-
miral, vice admiral, and rear admiral
Our great battleship fleet is command
ed by a rear admiral, with four other
rear admirals under his orders. This
is not as it should be, and when Ques-
tionS 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 a 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.
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 in
terror. from farms, stores, shops, and
offices, which inSureS a high average or
intelligence and character among them
and which they showed in the very
wonderful Improvement in discipline
and drill which only few short
weeks presence at the naval station
had made.
invite your attention to the con
sideration of the new system of deten-
ton 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 a similar sys-
tenn here.
Like the treasury department and
the war department, the navy depart
ment has given much attention to
economy in administration, and has
cut down a number of unnecessary
expenses and reduced its estimates ex-
cept for construction and the increase
that that involves.
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
T,a
quired for vessels in commission. and
5000 apprentice seamen should be
kept under training at all times.
Abolition of Navy Yards.
The secretary Of the navy has re-
commended the abolition of certain of
the smaller and unnecessary navy |
yards, and in order to furnish a COM /
plete and comprehensive report has
referred the question of all navy yards
to joint board of the army and navy T.
This board will shortly make its report /
and the secretary of the navy advises I
me that his recommendations on the +
subject will be presented early in the /
coming year. The measure of economy 1
contained in a proper handling of this .
subject is so great and so important to !,
the interests of the nation that shall |
present it to congress as a separate |
subject apart from my annual message. !
Concentration of the necessary work
for naval vessels in a few yards on
each coast is a vital necessity if proper I
economy in government expenditures
is to be attained.
of staff Corps in Navy.
The secretary of the navy is striving
to unity the various corps of the navy
to the extent possible and thereby
stimulate a navy spirit as distinguished
from a corps spirit. In this he has my
warm support
All officers are to be naval officers
L g.
means that officers will take up at least
one speciality, such as ordnance, con-
struction, or engineering This is prac-
ically what is done now, only some of
he specialists, like the pay officers and
naval constructors. are not of the line.
It is proposed TO make them all of the
inc.
All combatant corps should obvious
v be of the line. This necessitates
matchmaking the pay officers and also
hose engaged in the technical work of 4
producing the finished ship. This is at
ion of the naval constructors, whom it
s now proposed to amalgamate with
he line.
Council of National Defense.
I urge again upon congress the de-
of establishing the council of
rational defense. The bill to establish
his council was before congress last
inter- anu IL - AOBt0 that tAAAS AGH
alton will pass during the present ses-
ion. The purpose of the council is to
determine the general policy of nation
Il defense and to recommend to con-
,ress and to the president such meas ]
Tres relating to it as 1t shall deem nee
,ssal = and expedient
NJ such machinery is now provided {
" which the readiness of the army {
md navy may be improved and the
programs of military and naval re- {
shall be coordinated and {
scrutinized with view to the I
necessities of the whole nation rather {
han of separate departments.
For the cOnsid eration of matters {