The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-03-07
TUESDAY. MARCH I. 1915.
Naval Experts Consider Pensacola
Has Superior ADVANTAGES

Naval Experts Consider Pensacola
Has Superior Advantages
The Mobile Register of Monday carries
IN interview with Richmond P. Hobson
Of Alabama, in which Mr.. Hobson is quot
ed as making this statement:
Mobile is superior to any place on the
American seaboard as site for gov
eminent shipbuilding plant and naval
base where the American fleet can
come for repairs and stores.
Mr. Hebson further says, according to
The Register:
If this country goes to war she will
find that her biggest battles will be
fought in the caribbean sea, where the
control of the Panama canal will
tempt the enemy greatly. Our ships
that fight down there will need base
on the mainland just as near to the
scene of operations as possible. Our
fleet will require rendezvous where
they can repair and be equipped in per
feet safety, where supplies from the in
terror can reach them quickly and
where shipyard is able to get armor
plate in quantities at once. Mobile of
fers the nation such site.
I will do every thing can to make
the government realize this, and if
there comes a time when my position
will be such that I WELD more inhu-
ence, it will be in Mobiles behalf
Mr. Hobson is fairly we'll informed or
naval affairs, and his services to his coun
try have been such as to make his opinion
count, but his Judgment can hardly be con
sidered superior to that of the Board o.
Naval Experts, the business of which it il
to pass on these matters, and who have
given it as their expert opinion that Pen
sacola is the logical point for naval sta
ton.
The following is taken from the major
ity recommendations of the Board of In
spection for Shore Stations of the Nav,
Department as to the Pensacola Nav,
Yard, signed by Capt. George R. Evans
II. S. N; Naval Constructor William G
Du Bose, u. S. N. Civil Engineer Arch
bald L. Parson, u. S. N.
The Board is of the opinion that a
hrst-class naval station, adequately
protected with a modern craving dry
dock and repair facilities capable of eff
fecting expeditiously the most extern
sive repairs on capital ships, located
in or as approximate as possible
to the area including the caribbean
sea and Panama canal, is most desir-
able in peace times and absolutely inn
perative to the success of the fleet in
time of war.
In view of the fact that it appears
impracticab1e to obtain such station
Immediately within the strategical
area above mentioned and in consid-
Grafton of the many advantages as set
forth in this report in favor of Pensa-
cola the Board recommends this site
to the Department for the location of
repair station of the first order.
The Board recommends that an ap-
preparation be Immediately requested
from the Congress for modern gray
ing dock capable of taking in the larg-
est battleship which may be anticipat-
ed in the future.
In the event of the Departments de-
cision to recommend to Congress the To-
cation of large craving dock at Pen
sacola the Board recommends the inn
mediate reopening of the Naval Sta
ton and that its development for the
purpose of making it first-class Navy
Yard be undertaken at once.
Under the heading of advantages as
Naval Station the following is taken frol
the report of the Board of Survey of Shor
Stations of the Navy:
Tho &c 4, -