The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-12

yards IL IL works as well as IL prom
ises, by which an admiral is TO be
commandant. In charge or all mill
tary matters, and an engineer-orlicer
TO be Industrial manager.
A cruise OF the nayy-yardybuilt col
lier Jupiter, under electric propulsion.
from San Francisco TO Philadelphia
by way OF the Panama canal, was
made In 80 days, as against 90 days
for the oregon's fmous trip around
Cape Horn. The test proved the
value OF the electric drive, which viii.
therefore. be installed on the battle
ship California, 10 BIO built at the New
York navy yard. and may In other
cases, II results continue satisfactory,
be substituted for the reciprocating
engine now generally In use.
our navy Is keeping pace with, II
not leading, the world In the transit
tion from coal 10 oil, and the cum
bersome and dirty task or coaling
ship promises to disappear at an
early day.
The feasibility OF the government
running an oil pipe line TO some gulf
port from the midcontinent field OF
Oklahoma In order to have always
u
fuel has been under investigation Dy
representatives OF the navy and In
terror departments. aided by counsel
OF the bureau OF mines, who Will pre-
pare a report to the senate. The de-
partment has been unable TO take any
steps for the development OF the
naval petroleum reserve In California
on account OF lack OF funds, absence
OF special authorization by congress.
the unsettled question as to the valid
| ity OF the withdrawal orders or 1909,
and OF the titles of operators on lands
within the confines of these reserves.
! The department is still OF the opin-
ion that the navy should own its oil
lands and ultimately produce, trans
port, refine, and store its own oil.
Radio Stations.
After a reference to the enforce
ment by the navy OF the executive
order TO prevent radio stations under
the jurisdiction OF the United States
becoming the instrument through
which unneutral messages might be
sent, the report states that the navy
has opened 20 radio stations to com
mercial business. Every ship or the
navy is indeed commercial station,
The naval radio service renders a
free service OF inestimable value In
the daily transmission from Airing
ton and other stations OF the time
signals from the Naval observatory
Not only are ships at sea enabled 70
determine their exact chronometer
correction, but 800 jewelers. all over
the country are receiving the time
and weather reports. and it is stated
the number is soon likely TO grow To
5000. While the navy has thus In
! cidentally been able to be OF service
TO the country at large, there has
nevertheless been an enormous ad
vance during the past year, due TO the
original work OF the department. In
the military feature OF radio, and oui
experts are confident that our equip
ment for military purposes places us
in the lead as compared with all the
world.
The department renews Its recon
mendation for the restoration OF the
rank OF admiral and viceadmiral
The report calls attention to the or
ganiZation OF the National Nava
militia this year and the organization
OF naval militia general board. The
secretary strongly urges the perfec
I tieH of the erganizatien-Itc costs only
$3S5.000 year 10 maintain the 7.l3.
naval militiamen as against $4542,87t
10 maintain the same number OF en-
listed men in the regular navy FOL
the same period of time. In this Con
nection the report urges the organiza
ton OF the country's potential nava
reserve which IL possesses in the NOR,
than $4,000 men who in the past II
years have retired after at least on,
four-year enlistment.
The service has become so attrac
tive TO the youth OF the land that i
has been possible not only to selee
young men of the finest physical an,
mental qualities but to have also
waiting list. Out OF SS.943 applicant
only 1880 were accepted. The pres
ent enlistment is 56.667. or 1912 great
er than in 1913. The avenues OF pre-
motion for these young men who ar
so freely offering themselves for thei
Icountrys service have been facilitat
ed to the naval academy, the line
and pay corps. Upon the depart
mental recommendation, the naval ar
preparation bill provided for the er
trance to Annapolis of 10 enlisted me-
annually provided they pass the re
lquired examinations. The maximum
comforts for the crew are to be prc
vided for on the new battleships al
thorized by the last session Of cor
gress, with crews reception room
and laundries for the crew as we'll a
the officers. The educational system
aboard ship and at shore stations ha
been further perfected, largely du
to the excellent work OF the aid 70
education appointed during the year
A money-order system has been In
stalled on board ships of the navy
and arrangements have been mad
whereby all issues Of clothing to tn
enlisted men will be made at cost
which means an annual saving [,
them OF $4,000.
The/vers Cruz Incident
/ The secretary reviews at length tn
splendid work OF the officers, men, an,
ships OF the navy at Vera Cruz, an,
publishes In an appendix the name
OF all who we're commended for bray
cry; and not only this, but also tn
names OF those who were commende,
for heroism Of every kind during tn
year.
In view Of the departments opinion
and that OF great alienists and re
formers, confirmed by a referendum
to the admirals and captains OF tn
navy, that long confinement In TIM
10 a