The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-06
SECY MEYER
ASKS CONGRESS
FOR BIG NAVY
Says Peace and Safety Demands
Four Battleship Chip On
Our Shoulder
SAYS PANAMA CANAL
OFFERS NO ADVANTAGE
More Money Is Wanted for Ex-
periments With Aero
planes

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-That the
| continued peace and safety of the Uni
| ted States demands provision for the
| construction of four battleships az
| this session OF congress, and that II
| these ships ere not built the country
will fall from second-class naval
power to a fourth-class, were declar
ations made by George Won L. Meyer
secretary OF the navy. in his annual
report, fled today with President
TAFT.
The secretary also asked the con.
struction OF two cruisers, 16 torpedo
boat destroyers and a number of aux
Hilary vessels during the coming
year.
The secretary discounted the asser'
lions OF enemies Of q large navy that
the opening OF the Panama canal
would double the navy" characteriz.
ing such a proposition as erroneous.
The completion OF the canal. he said,
would simply enable the squadron on
one side of the North American con-
tinent to steam to the help OF the
squadron on the other side in less
time than heretofore.
He stated that, with an immense
coastline, and with the whole OF South
and Central American to separate
the east from the west coast, this
country needs a fleet double the size
OF a country whose coastline Is con-
tinuous. The secretary's report stated
that total OF III battleships, With a
proportional number of other fighting
and auxiliary vessels, was necessary
10 place this country on a safe basis
in its relations with other world
powers.
In commenting upon this subject
Secretary Meyer said:
I'm times OF peace IL is pointed out
that there will be no more wars, but
history shows that wars come at
times with little or no warning. There
Is then no time left to build battle
ships and is II impossible to buy them
Congress should provide the auxf'
iiaries, destroyers, etc, that go with
the battleshi2 feet. But when war
comes the auxiliaries will not go out
and sink the battleship fleets. Only
battleships can do this work.
Secretary Meyers report requests
larger appropriations for carrying on
experiments and training officers In
the aeroplane branch OF the service.
The report says In this regard:
1T is particularly unfortunate that
the small limit Of $4,000 has been
placed on aeroplane machinery this
year because experience shows that
each aeroplane used for instruction
required two motors to carry on the
work effectively. This, OF course, vii!
be impossible under the present limit
as the expense Of repairs is also com
paratively great.
1T is requested the congress re
move these limits, and thus permit
the expenditure OF as much as is nee
essary to continue progressive devei
opment and adoption as rapidly az
circumstances permit, with due re-
gard for economy"
The report further recommended
that legislation be enacted providing
for:
On Consolidation of naval examin
ing and retiring boards; CD admins
tration Of oaths by boards OF inquest
(2) the administration OF discipline In
naval landing forces, authorizing d.
vision commanders TO act upon rec
ords of summary courtmartisls and TO
convene general courtsmartiai. au-
thorizing commanding officers OF ma
val stations outside the Continental
limits OF the United States to con.
yene courts OF inquiry, and fixing the
relation between the commanding OF
ficcr of marine battalion embarked
thereon; ca naturalization Of navai
aliens; (5) change in the manner or
appointing feet staff officers: CD the
issuance OF medals OF honor to ON
GERS OF the navy and marine corps not
now entitled to receive them; CD &C
ceptance by retired officers Of appoint
ments In the diplomatic or consular
service: 90 graded retirement OF en-
listed men Of the navy and marine
corps.