anaheim-gazette 1907-12-12

THE FLEET IN THE PACIFIC Secretary Metcalf Points Out Future Importance of This Coast as Regards the Navy-Recommends Improvements The growing appreciation of the importance of the Pacific coast in naval affairs is made strikingly manifest in the report of Secretary of the Navy Metcalf transmitted to congress last week. The secretary makes many notable recommendations for work at the different navy yards of the coast, and the report is from first to last essentially of great interest to the Pacific coast. Carrying out the plan outlined last year, says the secretary, all naval forces in the Pacific and Asiatic waters were early this year united in one command forming the Pacific fleet. This is an important step for strategic reasons, since all operations in the Pacific as well as in the Atlantic should have one general direction and control. No proper development of naval efficiency could proceed without it, and it is important also as serving directly to bring about a general appreciation of the fact that geographical limits, such as our squadrons hitherto have had, were opposed to the idea of perfect mobility, by which a fleet, squadron, or division should be free of any local tie or dependence. Geographical interests still exist bad enough and to spare. Aningly, in response to urgent appeal from such sources, naval co-used to relieve certain exigent mands, appropriations being reimbursed therefor. The was that when spring came the coal supply was low. This co-was serious and became more when it was found that additional coal would be needed on the coast to meet the requirement of the fleet. It has been the earnest point the department, in obedience statutes on the subject, at all to favor shipment of naval supplies in American bottoms. In purity of this policy the Bureau of Measurement attempted to secure transportation in vessels of American try, but unfortunately found it be substantially impossible. American vessels offered were few in ber, and the prices asked by were such as to be practically habitive. In order to induce America to undertake this transportation department, by express directive the President, went so far as to them as much as 50 per cent the prices named by foreign persons, but notwithstanding all in this direction offers receive wholly inadequate. In these situations the matter of providing ed coal for the navy having b imperative, the department, careful consideration and upvice of the Attorney-Genetic speciting the legal phases of question, found itself compel- development of naval efficiency could proceed without it, and it is important also as serving directly to bring about a general appreciation of the fact that geographical limits, such as our squadrons hitherto have had, were opposed to the idea of perfect mobility, by which a fleet, squadron, or division should be free of any local tie or dependence. Geographical interests still exist, however, and must be looked out for, which the adopted plan of organization covers by the periodical or frequent interchange of squadrons or divisions among waters which were formerly parts of separate stations under independent command. Such a movement was the recent one of the Armored Cruiser Squadron from Asiatic waters to San Francisco. By adhering to this plan of interchange, with frequent resort to large concentrations of all, or nearly all, of one general command, in both Pacific and Atlantic, we may hope for the same gratifying results in tactics that wholesome competition has won for gunnery. In passing it should be noted that the Pacific fleet is homogeneous in the composition of its divisions, although of lighter and smaller vessels than in the Atlantic. During the first days of the Atlantic fleet at Jamestown a plan long under consideration was made public to send the fleet on a voyage to the Pacific as a substitute for the comparatively short cruising and the harbor work which the fleet has engaged in for the winter season of the past six or more years. Shortage of officers and men made it necessary some time ago to discontinue all training-ship cruises; so that recruits now pass to general service with only a few months' training all given on shore. Although by this system the recruits may not so soon become familiar with their sea duties, their development will be sounder and better, their sea experience being acquired by long service as regular service as pers, but notwithstanding all in this direction offers receive wholly inadequate. In these situations the matter of providing coal for the navy having been imperative, the department, careful consideration and upward service of the Attorney-General speciting the legal phases of question, found itself compelled contract for the transportationeign bottoms of sufficient capacity meet the pressing demands service. During the summer I made full inspection of the Bremerton Mare Island navy yards. yards are the only government located on the Pacific coast. Bremerton yard is ideally located having a depth of water in for the yard and the approaches sufficient to float the navies world. It is necessary, however, order that this may be made in class yard that additional applications be made for new buildings and machinery. It is also, judgment, necessary that a dock in addition to the one fore appropriated for by congo authorized. With three dock buildings, and additional macking the Bremerton yard will be there of any of the navy yards on the lantic coast. The Mare Island navy yard always been a working yard well equipped with building tools. The climate is good the round, and at no time is the extreme of heat or cold. Stably its location cannot be sued. The city of Vallejo furnishes good and steady supply of excellent labor, while in times of activity the necessary add laborers and mechanics can not be secured from San Francisco; the cities and towns in the immediate vicinity of the yard. The ennment owns a large tract of much greater than will ever needed for a naval station it necessary some time ago to discontinue all training-ship cruises; so that recruits now pass to general service with only a few months' training all given on shore. Although by this system the recruits may not so soon become familiar with their sea duties, their development will be sounder and better, their sea experience being acquired by long cruises in regular service, as in the coming voyage to the Pacific. Mobility and expert gunnery are the essential qualities of an efficient naval force. Neither can be dispensed with nor can a deficiency in one be tolerated more than in the other; nor can one be developed at the expense of the other without impairing the efficiency of the whole. Of late, devotion to gunnery has somewhat disturbed the balance, but the Pacific cruise will restore this, affording ample opportunity for training in naval seamanship, besides tactics, and experience for all concerned in the many features of the movement of a large naval force to a distance. Last winter a coal famine prevailed on the Pacific Coast, due in part at least to the fact that the railroads did not have the transportation facilities necessary to provide that region with fuel. It seemed unreasonable to allow public utilities, such as mail and coast survey steamers, revenue cutters, and other branches of the government service, to suffer lack of fuel when the navy good and steady supply of material labor, while in times of activity the necessary additions to laborers and mechanics can not be secured from San Francisco; the cities and towns in the immediate vicinity of the yard. The ernment owns a large tract of much greater than will ever needed for a naval station or largest size. The system of dikes authorizes congress is nearing completion while all necessary data have not been secured, sufficient information is at hand to indicate beyond sonable doubt that the channel be maintained at any depth which it may be dredged with dredging hereafter. But even a channel of sufficient depth national mooring and berthing is needed, and while, in the current caused by jetty action docks, the channel apparently tains its depth, beyond the limit the channel silting occurs great rapidity, and, to secure pierthing facilities, it has been gested that Napa river be diverted from its natural outlet into the rarento river and made to San Pablo bay by damming river at some place north of navy yard and cutting a small across a short strip of marsh which separates Napa river from San Pablo bay. The silt-beam stream would thus be turned its course in front of the navy and to spare. Accord response to urgent appeals, resources, naval coal was severe certain exigent de-propiations being duly therefor. The result when spring came the naval coal was low. This condition and became more so is found that additional be needed on the Pacific set the requirements of in the earnest policy of ment, in obedience to the subject, at all times moment of naval supplies bottoms. In pursuance by the Bureau ef Equipment to secure transport vessels of American registrory found this to actually impossible. Amer- offered were few in num- prices asked by them to be practically pro- to induce American ships like this transportation, the by express direction of it, went so far as to offer such as 50 per cent above named by foreign ship withstanding all efforts station offers received were adequate. In these condition of providing need the navy having become in the department, after consideration and upon ad- Attorney-General re legal phases of the fund itself compelled to eliminating the swift current which now runs there. It is believed that silting along the navy yard water front would then no longer occur. State Reforestation Demanded While the proposition for National forests in the Appalachian mountains is becoming more popular day by day, there is also a growing inclination for the states in addition to set aside forest tracts so far as they can do it with benefit to themselves. From all parts of Penusylvania are reports of serious drought. Careful surveys by the forest commission of that state show that only one-fourth of its forests remain. Much of the rainfall, instead of soaking into the soil, now runs away, producing a decreased amount of water in the streams and an increased aridity in the farms. The only help for this, says the Lancaster New Era, is for the state to purchase all the deforested lands it can get at a nominal price, and begin restoring the forests. It is doing this now but not fast enough to make good the continual waste of forests going on all over the state. The attention of Pennsylvanians may be called to the fact that in Wisconsin where lands are sold for taxes the forestry commission has the first opportunity, and may use all suitable lands for tree planting. This makes the expense of acquisition small. Arizona Forest Reserve FOREST SERVICE, Washington, D.C. withstanding all efforts tion offers received were adequate. In these conditatter of providing needthe navy having become in the department, after consideration and upon adAttorney-General relegal phases of the and itself compelled to the transportation in for tons of sufficient coal to pressing demands of the summer I made a careof the Bremerton and navy yards. These only government yards in the Pacific coast. The yard is ideally located, depth of water in front of the approaches thereto float the navies of the necessary, however, in this may be made a firstthat additional approprimade for new buildings every. It is also, in my necessary that another mention to the one heretoriated for by congress be With three docks, new and additional machinery on yard will be the equal navy yards on the AtIsland navy yard has a working yard and is used with buildings and climate is good the year at no time is there an heat or cold. Strategiation cannot be surpassby of Vallejo furnishes a ready supply of most exterranean while in times of great necessary additional mechanics can readily from San Francisco and towns in the immediof the yard. The govns a large tract of land, less than will ever be a naval station of the Arizona Forest Reserve FOREST SERVICE, Washington, D.C. The President has just signed a proclamation creating two additions to the Prescott National Forest in Arizona, having an aggregate area of 320,000 acres. The tracts will be put under Forest Service administration at once and protected from fire, theft and waste. The additions include much yellow pine timber land and will give the Prescott Forest an area of 1,063,256 acres. The country included is located in the central portion of Yavapai county, between the boundary line of the present forest and the Baca grant, and occupies a portion of the divide between Williams Fork and the Verde River. The Santa Maria Mountains and the Juniper Mountains are prominent features of the territory. The creation of the additions will result in a benefit to Arizona by conserving the timber supply for the use of settlers and the wood using industries, and through the protection of the flow of small streams which supply water for a number of small ranches. It is estimated there are about 70,000,000 board feet of yellow pine on the additions. In some places covered with commercial forest, the stand of yellow pine often reaches 10,000 feet board measure an acre, but on the low divide and on rocky slopes the scale is often reduced to 1,500 feet an acre. Parts of the additions are covered with a scattered growth of willow, cottonwood, ash, and box elder, and while these areas are valueless for lumber production it is most important that they be protected from destructive fires, that stream-flow be conserved and erosion of soil prevented. Stockraising, agriculture, and mining are the prin- Boradent Tooth Paste differs from all others. It contains no grit or substance that will injure the enamel of the teeth and positively neutralizes all acid secretions of the mouth. Alkaline--antiseptic--beneficial. At all drugs, 25 cents Trey Pharmacal Company “WAHS’ LIFE is the So says Mr. ranch You can get it in Quar Half Gallo Sold by Bird California F. Conn Center Street Wholesale Best Brands of Bottled Beer. The PALACE STABLES Has a new summer Come and see it. J. HAHN Enjoy about six months coul Orange County Business Co fall. Holiday Goods that are appropriate as well as useful which we carry a large assortment in the latest styles and patterns; Fine neckwear—put up in fancy boxes. Fine suspenders put up in fancy boxes. Fancy hose and handkerchiefs. Silk Handkerchiefs, Mufflers and Reefers. Cuff Buttons with Pins to match—in sets. Fancy Arm Bands and Garters. Umbrellas, Hats and Sweaters. White and Fancy Vests. Pleted, Golf and Stiff Shirts—something swell. Suit Cases and Trunks. Last but not least, KUPPENHEIMER and SINCERITY Suits—the best fitting garments made. Overcoats in Oxford greys and Rain-proof and many other things. ungbluth & Kroeger 127 W. Center St proof and many other things. Hungbluth & Kroeger 127 W. Center St HOUSTON & CLARK Electrical Contractors All Kinds of Electrical Wiring Extra Lights Installed Dry in stock a full line of Electrical Fixtures, Doorbells, Electrical Ins and Novelties. 120 West Center Street First National Bank ANAHEIM, CAL. Drafts sold direct on all European Countries Interest Paid on Time Certificates OFFICERS F. BOTSFORD, President JOHN HARTUNG, Vice Pres.-Cash. BANK SHANLEY, 2d Vice Pres. ZEUS, Assistant Cashier DIRECTORS W. F. BOTSFORD JOHN HARTUNG FRANK SHANLEY A. S. BRADFORD J. CASSOU KNOW THAT THE American Savings Bank compound interest on your savings as well as your idle money? Better put your money at work with us BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anley, John Hartung, H. A. JohnF. H. Houck, C. Federman, Frank Rust, B. Dauser, A. Nagel, Geo. L. Hale. OFFICERS Frank Shanley, President H. A. Johnston, Vice-President F. H. Houck, Second Vice-President John Hartung, Cashler VAHS' LEATHER DRESSING' is the best on the market. Better put your money at work with us BOARD OF DIRECTORS Danley, John Hartung, H. A. JohnF. H. Houck, C. Federman, Frank Rust, B. Dauser, A. Nagel, Geo. V. L. Hale. OFFICERS Frank Shanley, President H. A. Johnston, Vice-President F. H. Houck, Second Vice-President John Hartung, Cashier "VAHS' LEATHER DRESSING" is the best on the market. So says Mr. Howard Wassum, one of the largest ranchers on the San Joaquin ranch. Quarts for 75c Half Gallons for $1 25 Gallons for $2 25 by Bird V. Beebe Anaheim California Wine Co. F. Conrad & Son, Props. Ever Street - Anaheim Wholesale Wine and Liquor Merchants Bands of Bottled Beer. Delivery Made Everywhere PLACE STABLES Is a new summer coat. See it. J. HAHN, Prop. about six months course in the County Business College this Aug8tf Joseph Backs Undertaker Embalmer Furniture Bedding Repairing Done Phones—Sunset M. 93. Home 1062