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VOL. 38. CLEVELAND, DECEMBER 24, 1908. No. 26 NEW YORK REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE: NAVY. Secretary of the Navy Metcalf, in his last week, dwells at some length upon the annual report made _ public several notable events of the past year in navy circles. With regard to the great cruise of the battleship fleet around the world, Secretary Metcalf calls attention to the splendid results, the ships having maintained schedule. time and practi- . cally taken care of their own repairs on the entire cruise, which is now about half over. The secretary points out that this undertaking has brought us into great- er prominence in the eyes of those republics to the south of us, our own island possessions, Austraiia, and other Oriental nations, and has cemented our interests to those of the countries visited in a more effective manner than has. ever before been done. In passing to the recent Newport conference, which was convened for the purpose of discussing the criti- cisms made of the new and larger battleships now building, the secretary says that after 43 days of considera- tion. by this assemblage of the best authorities available in the navy, in- cluding 60 officers, all but seven of whom were of the sea-going branch, the design of these ships was ap- proved, with the exception of a few minor details. Some of these alleged defects had been under consideration previous to the published criticisms, but they were not corrected owing to the fact that the designs had been made before the developments which proved superior were brought about. The secretary states that he feels no hesitancy in concurring in the view that the designs of the North Dakota and Delaware class aré superior to those of any battleship now in course Japan- of construction for any other navy. Secretary Metcalf urges that the United States navy should, without delay, be provided with two vice ad- mirals, since the officer in command of the fleet now is as he holds the rank only of rear admiral, is in a position of subordina- tion to foreign naval officers on im- portant stations, who for the most part rank as vice admirals. Among other recommendations is one that the dry dock authorized by congress to be constructed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, be built to a length of 1,140 ft., rather than 850 ft., der that it may accommodate two or more vessels at once. Secretary Met- calf recommends that the navy yards at New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Puget Sound and Mare Island be de- veloped to their fullest capacity for in Of- the repair and maintenance of ships, but he does not believe that other navy yards should be further devel- oped, at least until that at Guantina- mo shall have been fully equipped, the last-named being regarded as of the first military importance and as a nat- ural strategic base. The secretary deems it highly ad- visable to acquire by purchase or con- struction a dock in San Francisco harbor, after which the development of the Mare Island and Bremerton navy yards will make the acquisition of another navy yard on that coas: unnecessary for some time to come. © On the subject of organization of the department, Secretary Metcalf says: "Many of my predecessors have submitted comments and recommenda- tions concerning the reorganization of the navy department, and from time to time changes have been made with a view to simplifying administrative methods and more clearly defining the responsibilities of the various in the far east, ; bureaus. While it is easy to criti- cize, however, it is exceedingly diffi- cult to demonstrate the practicability of any scheme which would involve radical changes in the present depart- mental organization. _ ee "The navy department, under our system of government, must neces- sarily he a group of. organizations un- der the control. of the commander in chief, the president of the United States, acting through a member of his cabinet, the secretary of the navy. "The business of the navy depart- ment is so extensive and varied that its grand divisions must of necessity be under the immediate supervision of individuals having special qualifi- cations and training which will fit them for their responsible duties. "The enlistment and control of the personnel of the fleet, the responsi- bility for the discipline and movements of the fleet, the supervision of train- ing stations, target practice, and oth- er matters which directly bear upon the efficiency of the, fleet, must nat- urally be under the direct. supervision of an officer of the highest attain- ments and large. experience as a sea- going officer. The bureau of naviga- tion of the navy department, which has direct. responsibility for all the foregoing work, would seem, there- fore, to be an imperative necessity, and its duties could not well be merged in or distribited among those of any other bureau... - The navy department. being a large business organization, Mr. Metcalf suggests rearrangements of the du- ties of any bureau are exceedingly difficult. and complex, and necessarily rest with congress; but those who speak of the millions unnecessarily spent annually by the lack of eco- nomical administration do not realize that a comparatively small percent- age of the annual budget goes for