The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-12-01
Daniels Wants Navy
to Supply Own Fuel
(Continued from First PAGE

4
1
nies, and asserts that without it's own
plant the government would be at the
mercy of three manufacturers in time
OF war. History does not warrant an
assumption, he adds, that the patriot
ism of these companies will prove su-
perior to their desire for profits, mas
much as during the time war with
Spain was imminent they refused to
accept the price fixed by congress and
declined to manufacture any armor
until they got their own price of 800
more ton than congress had determ-
ined on The report comments upon
contracts made by the companies to
supply foreign navies with armor at
prices much below those charged their
own government. and directs particu-
lar attention to the fact that they at
cruiser Haruna at S4oe.35 a ton while
charging 1904 to $44o a ton for armor
for the American batt1eship No. SO.
PRODUCE OWN FUEL.
The recommendation regarding oil
wells and refineries follows the trans
formation of modern navies from, coal
to oil burners. The report says the
price of oil is steadily creeping up
ward, is now twice as much as in 1911
and will be a staggering item in the
expense account of the navy in the fu-
ture unless the navy controls its own
wells. Even now the navy is using
100000 gallons of ell a year and
there Is likelihood that this will be
increased in the future to 125,000,000
gallons, which must be purchased from
the oil companies at their own price.
Therefore, Mr.. Daniels urges, by the
time the Panama canal is opened the
navy should be producing it's own oil
from its petroleum reserves in the Elk
Hills and Buena Vista fields of Cali
fOrnia; its refneTies should be in OPP
Grafton: oil lands should be leased in
the mid-continent fields and oil tanks
erected at various ports.
The report speaks of the wrecking
of the Pearl Harbor dry dock as the
naval tragedy of the year." which in
an hours time caused loss of LOO, geo,
swept away naval project and intro
duced a problem of unreasonable diff
hculty which will be referred to con-
gress.
The report declares that too much
money has been spent ashore for build
ings, and too little for docks and war
ships though no definite recommends
tions are made for the location of new
docks pending the building of "aI ade-
Quate and we'll proportioned navy
DESERTlONS DECREASE.
Desertions, formerly a serious prob
lem, have decreased in q gratifying de-
gree, the secretary reports, owing to
abroad for the benefits of foreign tray-
Ell and closer intimacy between the
enlisted men and the offers. Surpris-
ingly good results. it is added have fol-
lowed the disciplinary barracks which
are really schools of correction and
most of the young men sent to them
for desertion have justified being re-
turned to their ships.
More chaplainS, many more, is the
crying need of the navy and Secretary
Daniels II Is a T6nTn2Ph the
country that it now has only the same
number that it had in 1910. He recon-
mends not only an increase in the
number of chaplains, but an appsh-
priation to enable him to employ on
every ship that has no chaplain a
young religious leader to be known
as a welfare secretary" He thinks,
though, that there should be a chap
lain for every 1000 men in the sery-
ice.
Because youths admitted to Annapo-
LIS by fair competitive examination, !
rank higher than those who enter
without competition, the report sug-
gestS that congressman hereafter |
should name midShipmen on the basis |
of such examinations Carrying out |
the same principle-recognitio of fit |
ness demonstrated in honest compel /
tion-the secretary says that the an |
by the arbitrary marks of Adaptable |
ity in making appointments to the |
marine corps, has at last been rele- |
gated to the rear and he hopes it will /
never again stand in the way Of real |
merit.
In conclusion the secretary says that
the apportionment of S3,239.664 of the /
annual appropriation for naval pay for
retired officers and men seems excess
sive. He cites the case of young officer
for retirement because
Of defective vision, perfectly qualified
FOR any service except as a line off,
GER. Mr.. Daniels refused to retire him
because he would receive $4,000 in
pay if he lived his allotted life There
fore, the report suggests, a graduated
law by which young men
IN good health but with slight defects
shall not receive the same retired pay
Is an old officer entirely incanacifatAd |