THE AMERICAN NAVY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13337, 1 February 1909, Page 7

THE AMERICAN NAVY.

SCOPE OF THE ENQUIRY

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By E'ectrie Toleprsph—Copyright. NEW YORK, January 29. President Roosevelt's Commission intends, inter alia, to searching!}- enquire into certain so-called political nevy yards, namely, those favoured by Congressmen in the interest of their own districts.

'"Do the people, of this, country realise that the destiny of the American Navy—perhaps, in. a crisis, tho destiny of this country —is in the hands of Eugeno Hale (president of the Se-uase Xavai Committee), a civilian and a Senator from tho State of Maine?' , asks Mr G. P. Connoliy in "Collier's Weekly." "Do they know that his good or iU Trill now toward any particular policy of the navy may mean victory or defeat in a time, of great national peril 1 J L)ewey cut the cable at Manila because there "vas business of importance ahead that May morning. It, is time tho Americ-an people out the riliLons which enaUJo Senator Hale to drive thoir navy as if it wore a private i >ur-in-haud." Mr Connolly makes some startling <'i.l legations ol unnecessary expenditure for tho purpose of pleasing constituents.. I iv- .\l:ire Island yard, on tho Pacific Coast, cost 17,000.000 dollars, but 'its dry-dock will not tako a battleship, and some of the ships cannot approach the yard owing to the shallowness of the water. In 1007. 1,620,000 dollars were spent there for 928,000 dollars' worth of work. In a>l tho years the Portsmouth yard Ims bpon in existence, no battleship commander would ihave dared to approach it until last Tear, when tho channel was made. It cost 10,000,000 dollars, and last year 702,000 dollars were spent, there for 418,000 dollars' worth of work. Besides, there is no necessity for a yard 6O close to the Boston navy yard. Ten years ago the abandonment, of the Now Orleans navy ya.rd was recommended by Admiral Porter, yet in the last seven years over 2,000.000 dollars have- been spent on it. Tho drydock there has been used twice. Years ago Admiral Sumner pointed out that there was no ploco less fitted for a navy yard than Charleston, South Cairo'lina, yet 011111011.9 have been spent on it. Last year tho appropriation, was 287,000 dollars. "Tillman liad to have bis 'slico , for South Carolina, and tho others had to give it to him for fear lie would break out on the floor of the Senate." The dry-dock at Port Royal, South Carolina, cost over 1,000,000 dollars. "Once Admiral Evans tried to 'dock' a battleship there and nearly lost her. The officials held their breath whale ho went im and came out. This was the first and last time that drydook vas used."