The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-18
WOULD RETAIN
ALI PRESENT
NAVY YARDS
LBy Associated Press.l


Washington, Jan. 18.-RetentiOn of
all existing navy yards, establishment
of submarine bases on the Atlantic,
gulf and Pacific coasts and a thorough
aeronautical survey of the coast of the
| United States and it's possessions
were recommended to- congress in a
preliminary report by a special. COM
mission of naval officers appointed by
President Wilson. IL
The commission consisted of Rear
| Admiral J. M. Helm. Chief Constructor
w. l.. Capps Civil Engineer H.. H.
Rousseau; Captain G. w. McElroy and
| Commander C. L. Hussey.
1t was announced that further in
vestigation will be necessary before
complete reports can be made on
many questions. sw-,
On the adjustment of navy yards
the commission says that full con-
sideration of the present and prospect
i've size of our navy, it's requirements,
not only in peace, but during the far
more exacting conditions of war
should bring convincing, evidence that
the abolition at this time of an ex-
listing navy yard or naval station
within the continental limits Of the
United States would be quite without
Justification" -
The report explains that. this should
not be taken to mean that there might
not be transfer Of work from one yard
to another or changes in methods of
handling work at certain plants.
1t declares that the present equip
ment of navy yards is inadequate in
drydocking facilities, berthing space,
storage facilities, machinery and other
details.
1T is not only unequal for the re-
quirements of the fleet" says the re-
port; "but will be seriously inadequate
for it's proper maintenance when the
fleet is completed to it's present
authorized strength"
Not all the yards are ideally 10
Gated" to meet strategic and other re-
quiremerits but the commission con-
cludes that such considerations must
have little force 'in view Of actual
conditions and the actual require
ments of the present and prospective
fleet"
The report says in answer to the
statement that a greater concentra-
ton of yards would be economical
that the question of economy as de-
termined by concentration OF naval
repair establishments must yield to
the far more serious necessity of the
fleet, as undue concentration Of such
naval repair establishments might
easily involve in time of war military
disaster" ...
These facts and the fact that there
is a large investment in existing
yards, the use to which they could be
put for fleet repair purposes and for
care of merchant ships that would be
taken over in case of war leaves the
commission with no doubt in it's
mind" as to the ACCESSIBILITY Of their
| retention.
It's recommendation includes the
present and the near future"
The commission says 1t is unable at
this time to determine locations for
aviation bases but recommends in ad-.
dition to the comprehensive coast
survey an investigation Of climatic
air, Industrial and other conditions
where such bases may be located. 1t
says there is no particular reason for
haste in connection with their estab-
! lishment, for in case Of necessity there
would be no great difficulty in finding
suitable bases quickly.
| There is divergence of opinion in
naval circles, the commission reports
over the location of submarine bases
and there is little probability at pres
ent that naval authorities will agree
on the subject. Generally the commits
sion advocates bases on the Atlantic
gulf and Pacific coasts but suggests
no places.
inspection Of the Pacific coast with
view to deciding whether another
yard should be located there has not
been completed and the report says
recommendations will be made later