The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-03

iod required for the construction of a
modern craving dock, it is conserva-
tive estimate which places a period OF
five years as the shortest probable
time in which such a dock could be
secured.
"114. The prospect is remote. and 1t
Is but recognising existing conditions
to appreciate the fact that it is not
likely that a modern dock win be
completed a Guantanamo in advance
OF the construction of at least two
more modern docks on the Atlantic
coast as well as possibly one on the
gulf coast. It may also be well to
recognize the fact that, however ur-
gent may be the demand for a mod
ern craving dock at Guantanamo, we
also need a reserve dock at some point
on the Atlantic coast south of Cape
Hatteras. as well as at some point on
the Gulf OF Mexico. The situation on
the Pacific as regards docks is prob
ably as critical as it is on the AtIna-
tic.
"115. Essential, therefore, as Guam
tanamo is to the defense of the 18TH
milan canal and Gulf Of Mexico, and
with full recognition of It's strategic
sskI4ee A .conarxa kx<ds1rs rartaisl st11
cFs to the Caribbean sea. there can be
I'D objection urged Except s regar ds
the cost OF such construction to sup
plenenting the dock arrangements OF
Guantanamo with docks upon our own
coasts.
Modern Docks.
"116. In view of the fact that it
appears innpracticable at present TO
obtain adequate appropriations for
the completion of an outlying naval
station in the Caribbean sea, 1t is but
accepting the inevitable to provide
modern dry docks at certain OF our
Southern navy yards.
iii. The fact may be incontroverti-
bic that strategic reasons demand
that the completion Of a great naval
base at Guantanamo should be eff
fected at the earliest practicable day.
1t may also be unreservedly recog-
nized that a great naval station st
some outlying point is the logical base
for the operation of our fleet in the
Caribbean sea, for the defense of the
isthrnian canal as well as for the pro-
lection OF the gulf coast; and, there
fore, dry dock construction at Guam
tanamo should be undertaken in adj
vance of dry dock construction at any
other navy yard on the Atlantic
coast. This opinion, however, has not,
and probably will not, be accepted in
its entirety by the people of the Mis-
sissippi valley region, or by those re-
siding on the gulf and South Atlantic
coasts. It is not, therefore, worth the
cost, and is not national defense pro-
NOTED by first developing our coastal
stations (since they will possess at
least reserve vaIue) if such action
would thereby ultimately give US the
great naval base that we need in the
Caribbean?
"11S. In order to clear the way Cor
the building Of the isthn1ian canal,
this nation went to heavy expenditure
in obtaining the Panama railroad, ac-
curing territory from Colombia, Sc
curing franchises and purchasing ex-
tensive apparatus that was in part
almost valueless. Is not the nation
equally justified in respecting the
deep seated conviction and sentiment
OF our own people by giving them the
coastal protection and the naval sta
tions that they are insistent upon OBJ
tanning, particularly If thereby we
can more rapidly obtain in the Car
fbhean and at Pearl Harbor the great
naval bases that are SO needful to the
operation Of the fleets in those oceans?
"11e. At the present time, according
to the Navy Year Book, 1913, the
United States possesses but three ma
val stations which contain dry docks
CAPABLE OF receiving the largest bat
tleships authorized by congress.
These three large docks. located at
New York. Norfolk and Puget Sound.
are too few in number for the needs
OF the fleet. It Is admitted that, by
maintaining docking scheduse
whereby certain ships are sent TO par
ticular navy yards at regular periods
or each year, we have been able TO
dock all our ships. But docking sehed-
ules could not be maintained under
war conditions. and the fact must be
apparent that we are now woefuiiy
weak as regards the extent and char
acter OF our craving dock facilities.
Independent OF the additional large