The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-11
Says This Port Is the Best
On the Gulf for Such
a Dock
TESTIFIES BEFORE
SENATE COMMITTEE
Pensacola the Only Availa-
BILE Port With the Ex-
ception of Guantanamo
q. AssOCrATEp PREss-


Washington, Jan. 10.-Continued
maintenance of the Charleston navy
yard was advocated before the house
naval committee today by Rear Ad-
miral Stanford, chief Of the bureau
Of yards and docks.
Representative Galloway, Of Texas,
asked Admiral Stanford if the
Charleston yard was necessary.
''The Charleston yard" replied the
admiral, 'has been substantially de-
veloped with excellent drydocks and
with certain waterfront facilities for
handling of several smaller naval
vessels. It's use also relieves other
yards now congested."
do you think it should be main
tanned just for the use of smaller
craft7"
ayes, think 80. It Is the base for
torpedo boat destroyers on the At
lantic coast It's mechanical equip
ment is peculiarly fitted for the kind
Of work done there, There is UNI
doubtedly an advantage in having the
kind Of work that Is done there on the
smaller craft.
'You think we should retain all
these stations we have on the Attain
tic coast 2"
'fYes, they have a potential value
as long as we retain them"
Representative Kelly, of Michigan,
asked whether it would be possible to
prepare the Charleston yard to ac-
commodate the largest dreadnoughts.
Gas an engineering project" the
admiral replied, at would be possible,
but it would require great deal of
money"
"Then Charleston would be elimi-
mated from consideration as TO such
project?"
"The question would be whether
Charleston, or any other point, is best
suited to care for the large stretch
of coast"
The admiral said he believed the
need for additional large drydocks
and deep water piers was most
urgent. He thought the need for dry
docks was the most urgent need of
the navy af1oat.
PENSACOLA RECOMMENDED.
Guantanamo and Pensacola in the
order named were the best locations
south of Cape Hatteras for drydock
capable of accommodating the largest
dreadnoughts, Admiral Stanford told
the committee.
Admiral Stanford said the largest
dock south of Cape Hatteras Is at
New Orleans with capacity for ships
of 10000 tons, while the latest ships
have $4,000 tonnage. He said there
should be ample facilities for docking
these dreadnoughts.
with two big docks at New York
and at Norfolk, either or both may be
required for an indefinite period for
some injured vessels, particularly In
time Of trouble" said the admiral,
"and If we fail 10 have reserve docks
with ample facilities, we would have
a most serious handicap. We could
not clean the bottoms Of our ships,
nor repair their propeIlers and sea
valves
sWhere would you put big dry
dock south of Norfolk ?" asked Rep
resentative Butler.
81 believe Guantanamo is the best
situated place" the admiral said, "and
there should be craving dock at
Pensacola with dimensions sufficient
to take care Of the dreadnought
types"
He conceded that there was little
natural defense ashore for ships at
Guantanamo, that it would be very
expensive to defend big dry dock
there and that the water supply would
be a very serious problem
sWhat is the best location Of dock
for our purposes anywhere on the
Atlantic 2" asked Mr.. Butler.
81 should say Havana" was the
reply.
Mr.. Butler said Havana was out of
5000 -. rz-a T-rH