Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-03
BOARD CR|T|C|SES
THE NAVY YARDS
Declares Facilities Poor for
Repair and Construction
of BattIeships.

Facilities for construction and repair
of battleships in many of the navy yards
on the Atlantic coast are inadequate, &C
cording to a report made to Secretary
| Daniels by the board of inspection for
shore stations. This board, with Rear
Admiral Edwards as chairman. was re-
Gently appointed to inspect all the navy
yards along the Atlantic coast. Separate
report was made on each of the following
navy yards: New York, Boston, Philadel-
| phia, Portsmouth, Norfolk. Charleston,
Port Royal. Key West, Pensacola and
New Orleans.
In the report on the New York navy
yard, the board says, when measured
| from a numerical standpoint 1t may ap-
pear as If we had too many naval sta
| TONS but that If considered from other
standpoints navy yards activities in this
country are Unsatisfactory"
Must Soon Abandon Yards.
The navy yards at New York and Bos-
ton probably will have to be abandoned
IN the not distant future as result OF
the impelling demands Of commerce,
says the board; but this is no more rea-
son for arresting development of the yards
at those places it is said, than it would
be logical to neglect to repair the bat
| tleships now in commission"
/ Great as may be the loss to the navy
by vacating naval stations located like
| those OF New York and Boston," the re-
port continues, the impelling demands of
commerce may ultimately cause thought
full consideration of such action AT
| Boston development is needed, saws the
| board, particularly as regards overcom-
| ing its distinguishing industrial weak
| ness
| The existing overshadowing need of
the New York navy yard" says the re-
| port is the erection of a modern ship
| bul ding shop together with improved
| faculties for handling and distributing
| the large amount of material that en-
ters into ship construction. The dis
| advantages under which the hull di-
vision OF the New York navy yard now
labors in carrying on extensive ship
fitting work in several unsuitable
structures entails excessive cost in
construction For this purpose the
board recommends that an appropria-
ton of 100000 be asked for.
For Storage at Philadelphia.
| The board recommends to Secretary
Daniels the construction of more ade-
/ quate storage buildings at the Philadel-
phla navy yard "One of the reasons
for failure to establish efficient adj
vanced base at League Island" says the
report. lis attributable to the lack of
suitable buildings.
| The report points out that at present
it is impossible to care for patterns
owned by the government and that
there are no adequate facilities for stor-
| ing important supplies of the Atlantic
reserve fleet.
To remedy this defect the erection OF
two modern storehouses is recommend
| ed. one for reserve fleet purposes and
one for existing industrial needs. The
i erection of u new SuardhouSe and de-
tention building is also recommended.
The board points out that the develop
ment recommended must be extended
! oyera period of years, and suggests
that some of the weaknesses of the
Philadelphia yard may be overcome by
/ development of other yards.
While under certain conditions says
| the report, 1.-The success or defeat of the
| fleet may be accomplished in a brief pc
| Rod; 1t Is the ability of the fleet to carry
on extended operations that is the real
measure of its naval strength and eff
cheney, and such endurance can never be
| brought about without the nations pos
sessing navy yards capable of expedi-
tiously and efficiently repairing any type
of battleship or naval auxiliary that now
| floats.
Would Not Reopen New Orleans.
| The board does not recommend the
| reopening of the New Orleans station.
but recommends that no machinery or
appurtenances now at that station be
transferred unless provisions are made
| elsewhere in the Gulf of Mexico or Car
ibbean sea for naval docking and re-
pair station.
In the opinion of the board" says the
| report. New Orleans is not suitable for
| naval base Of the magnitude desired
| and a navy yard to repair subma rines
| or other vessels stationed at the mouth
| of the Mississippi could on account of
| the distance from the mouth of the river
| to the city Of New Orleans, and the very
| strong current ordinarily met with in
| the river, be located at some Other point
| not too far from New Orleans"