Evening journal., 1915-09-01
WARSHIPS IN FUTURE
WILL STAY At SEA
Rear Admiral Benson AbOl-
isheS Three Months Over
haul Period Allotted
FIGHTING CRAFT
MUST BE KEPT FIT

WASHINGTON. d. C.. Sept. 1.-The
most radical change yet made by Rear
Admiral w. S. Benson. the new Chief
of Naval Operations. of predecessor.
Admiral Bradley A. Fiske. is the
abolition in an order recently issued
by Secretary Daniels, of the three
months overhaul period allotted to all
vessels Of the feet
This custom is survival of the
regime of Secretary Meyer in the Taft
administration. 1t was instituted when
the total strength OF the Atlantic
Fleet. for the first time, was brought
up to twenty-one battleships. These
twenty-one under this arrangement
we're divided into four divisions Of
FIVE ships each and the fleet flagship
OF the five ships of each division.
one, under the plan was always in
the navy yard undergoing repairs.
Thus the feet at sea never consisted
of more than sixteen ships, the stand
ard tactical unit under the United
States Navy system of tactics. AS
fast as one ship came out of the navy
yard to take her place in line, an
other automatically left for the navy
yard to tie up to the dock for three
months.
AS each division was assigned to a
certain yard. this arrangement meant
that in the four yards-Boston' New
York. Philadelphia and Norfolk-there
always was to be just one ship under
going repairs, and consequently resu-
lar employment for workmen.
Officers Favored the Plan.
The plan was hailed with delight
bv the officers and men of the Meet
who saw in 1t a period OF three
months a year to be given over tC
rest and relaxation, with abundan
shore leave, furloughs, and "all nigh
in" Target practice was arranged
to come in the periods just when tn'
navy yard ships we're coming out t'
rejoin the fleet, and before their sue
cessors went in.
Unfortunately, it speedily devel
loped that the need for repairs di'
mot always coincide with the repai
{ period The Michigan and Soutl
Y lCarolina. on one occasion, simultane
o lously broke propeller shafts and ha'
r to 90 to a navy yard for repairs Will
L lanother ship of their division was en-
4 loving her repair period. Similar ac
e cidents we're continually happening
j. ships were over-running thel
= periods. and others being kept at SCI
j. in urgent need of repairs.
# None the less, the system continue
l. through Admiral Fiske's regime a
Z. chief of operations until that oihcel
t after testifying to the unprepared
Is mess of the navy before Congress, re
Ie signed his post and was succeeded b
It Admiral Benson. Admiral Benson 9
-e once set himself TO investigate ia
system What he found decided hil
r that il should be ended. and he S
It recommended to Secretary Daniels.
V Fleet Will Keep at Sea.
nl It is Admiral Benson's idea that d
e fleet is intended primarily to keep Il
s. sea and to keep itself fit by plenty
J. hard work In common with all q
J. "sea going" officers of the navy, he a
h wavs has found long stays in the yar'
Is demoralizing to both officers and cre'
.ol As a result. hereafter all ships will
.dl allowed two docking periods Of "
I'LL weeks each in every year These tv
All weeks will suffice, it is expected, If Il
all navy yard forces are up TO the mar
It for ali needed repairs. A ship will on
h be ordered to the yard for repairs
anv other time If a board Of inspecto
isl reports that they are urgently require
st In order to obviate the possibility
a ships overstaying their two weeks th'
D. will not be ordered to the yard until Z
IN the work TO be done has been dete
70 mined upon. mapped out and the ma
b. yard reports itself ready TO 60 ahei
10 with 1t at once
NORFOLK. Sept. For the fri
time probably in its history. II
United States Navy, so far as the A
lantic Fleet is concerned. is entirel
free of Japanese A few years as
r every ship in the feet carried fro
five to ten Jap stewards. Wallets an
. mess attendants for officers. Toda
their places are taken by Filipino
ID and negroes.
is Naval officers will not discus
% reasons for eliminating the Japs. bl
,r they tell a story of how the late he;
m Admiral Bob" Evans, on paying h
N respects to an Admiral in Japa
V. found a former mess attendant on
n American ship in command OF Il
20 Mikado's vessel.
n Naval officers also believe a goo
many Japanese who shipped as me
n attendants in the United States Ma
a were sent over by the Mikado
l. learn something about Americ'
n methods.