The Washington times., 1915-09-05
OLD NAVY YARDS TO +.
Be SUB" STATIONS
Experiment to Be Tried at New
London and Others viii Be
Established Later.

The conversion OF "useless navy
yards into submarine bases Is to be
undertaken by the Navy Department IF
the New London. Conn. submarine base
| proves to be successful.
The Navy Department will have It's
| first shore station or submarine base
at the New London yard. which was
pra ctically abandoned several years ago.
1t is learned that Secretary Daniels con-
| templates converting other small and
| useless yards into submarine stations as
| soon as the experiment and the increase
| in the submarine strength Of the navy
| Justify the conversion.
With the date for the reconvening of
Congress- approaching. 1t has become
| known that the Administration program
concerning the navy contemplates Q
| genuine effort to abandon useless navy
| yards. The abolishment of such yards
| has been undertaken in the past. but
legislative "logrolling" has prevented
economies.
No Submarine Base.
About the time the Administration had
| made up its mind to do away with the
useless yards. the European war began
to demonstrate the value OF the subma-
rine. This nation had no submarine
base. The present policy is to maintain
the submarine in fiotillas. attended by
mother ship or tender.
II reported plans for the building OF
at least 100 submarines in the compare
| lively near future are carried out. sew
| eral stations will be needed on the two
! coasts.
Secretary Daniels announcement of
the approaching Establishment of a
base at New London followed his in
spection OF the Government property
| there. A marine school had been main
| tained there up to 1911. and the prop
| erty was regarded by Secretary Daniels
| as ideal for the establishment of a SUBJ
marine base to care for coast subma-
rines The larger seagoing submarines
Will still be provided with tenders with
capacity for long distance travel.
May Become Aero Depots.
That so-called useless navy yards'
may also be utilized as shore stations
for airship fleets is revealed by Assist
ant Secretary Of the Navy Franklin d.
| Roosevelt. Before Mr. Daniels an
| nouncement of the submarine base at
| New London. the Assistant Secretary
had prepared an article for the Econ
| omic World on the navy. Advance
| proofs OF this article show that when 1t
\ was written there was already a plan
| under way to convert these yards into
| useful adjuncts of the navy.
| Assistant Secretary Roosevelt indi-
Gates that the Government will not al
| low any existing navy yards or naval
| stations to fall into decay. He says:
Much has been written about the
useless navy yards At one time they
| undoubtedly were wastefully managed,
| and were not useful from the military
point of view. 1t must always be borne
| In mind that navy should be run on
| two considerations: First and foremost,
| What is best for the efficiency of the
| fleet? Secondly land after the first has
! been answered.. How may the result
desired be obtained as economically as
| possible without h1uring that efficiency?
| During the past few months a great
| change has come over theories about
navy yards. Many of those who
| thought two great bases on this coast
! sufficient have realized that the devel-
opment of the submar rine and aircraft
requires many sub-bases to give them
| their greatest effectiveness: and. also,
hitherto unthought of needs in the
rapid construction Of ships. and in the
| manufacture Of vast quantities Of sup
plies and munitions make 1t at least
doubtful whether the Government
should now allow any existing plant to
fall into decay. for in the matter Of
private shipyards capable Of rapidly
building warships this country possess
ses. unfortunately. too few"