On November 1 the ships assembled at New York were inspected by the Secretary of the Navy. On the following day the President arrived and reviewed the fleet, both at anchor and as it steamed out of the harbor in fleet formation. The review was a complete success and was an object lesson to the people, in that there was assembled the largest and most powerful collection of vessels ever possible under the United States flag. It was a concrete example of what the money of the taxpayers had been spent for.

During the days that the fleet was mobilized at New York it is estimated that 100,000 people visited the fleet and that more than

2,000,000 people saw the fleet from the shore or from passing river craft.

The force assembled at San Diego on October 30 for review on the Pacific coast consisted of the following:

While the review on the Pacific coast was much smaller in size than that on the Atlantic coast, it was eminently successful and particularly interesting in that it contained the battleship Oregon, recently reconstructed. The fleet went to San Pedro Harbor on the morning of November 1 for review by the commander in chief and a number of Senators, Representatives, and other distinguished people, who reviewed the fleet from the gunboat Vicksburg.

For the benefit of Congress and the people, I quote below the statement given out by the President of the United States at the end of the naval review at New York on November 2:

Those who saw the fighting fleet which was assembled in New York Harbor to-day could not fail to be struck with its preparedness and with its high military efficiency, and must have been proud of its personnel.

The demonstration has had an educational value in arousing patriotism, in increasing the general knowledge of and interest in the Navy, in illustrating the ability to mobilize on short notice, and in showing the skill of the officers who turned the whole fleet in the narrow river and sent it to sea at the rate of 14 knots per hour.

The equipment of the fleet is excellent, except as to the number of destroyers and cruisers and colliers in proportion to the whole number. We had in the fleet to-day 22 destroyers, and to meet the full requirements there should have been approximately 100 destroyers, or an average of 4 to each battleship. It is true that there has been a marked improvement in the type of colliers and fast cruisers in our Navy, but it is also true that we haven't a sufficient number.

In addition to building great battleships, other nations are building enormous high-speed cruisers-28 knots per hour-and it is believed that our Navy should be similarly equipped. Unless a navy is maintained at the highest possible state of efficiency it is a needless extravagance.

I am more than ever convinced of the desirability of conferring upon the commanding officer of our fleet the title of admiral, or at least of vice admiral. At present the ranking officer is a rear admiral, and this title is not commensurate with the importance of the fleet. At the review of the German fleet at Kiel a smaller number of ships was under the command of a full admiral, two squadrons were commanded by vice admirals, and each of four divisions was commanded by a rear admiral.

REORGANIZATION OF THE FLEET.

The reorganization of the fleet substantially as outlined in my report of last year has been carried into effect. This plan provides for the systematic and periodic visit of all vessels to their home yards for all necessary navy-yard repairs; for the maintenance of the ships by their own crews in a greater and increasing degree; for more uniform and continuous employment for the yard forces; and, generally, for increased economy with efficiency.

PREPAREDNESS OF THE FLEET.

The above-mentioned reorganization provides for the readiness for service at all times of at least 17 battleships, and, taken in connection with the reserve fleet organization to be referred to later, for the readiness of all other important vessels on short notice. It is not expected that all the benefits, military and economical, will be completely realized until after the new plan shall have been in operation a year or two, as there is some inertia here and there to be overcome, and it takes time for the personnel to readjust itself to the changed conditions. The progress made is most gratifying, however, and the further improvement looked for seems certain of realization.

In a few essentials the preparedness of the fleet is not being advanced satisfactorily, and these are in the matter of reserve guns, ammunition, and torpedoes, and this condition can be remedied only

by liberal appropriations for these necessities. The question of an increase in the enlisted strength of the Navy is discussed in another part of this report, but it is to be noted here that the full preparedness of the fleet can not be assured without such increase.

The operations of the fleet and the movements of vessels have been so regulated as to give, as far as practicable, reasonable time for overhauling machinery after extended sea trips. This is necessary to keep modern engines in good condition and it encourages the crews to keep their vessels in repair, thus lessening the cost of upkeep and insuring greater endurance in time of war through the inculcation of habits of self-maintenance.

A revision of the Regulations for the Government of the Navy has been undertaken and will shortly be completed. This revision was imperatively necessary owing to the recent changes in organization and administration effected in the fleet and, in fact, throughout the service.

The work of the General Board, the War College, and the Office of Naval Intelligence has been so coordinated as to lead to better preparation for war.

NAVAL COAL AND OIL DEPOTS.

The Navy lacks adequate coal and fuel depots at several important strategic points, notably Guantanamo, Puget Sound, and Pearl Harbor, but arrangements are being made to increase the capacity and facilities at these places as far as practicable with the funds available, but a considerable additional appropriation for the purpose is required. Without ample coal and oil storage capacity at the distant bases, and in the absence of a large merchant marine to insure a continuous supply of fuel, the activity and effectiveness of the fleet will be seriously, if not fatally, affected in time of war. An item of $500,000 for depots for coal has been included in the estimates to Congress, and I strongly recommend that this amount be appropriated.

WIRELESS TELEGRAPH.

The wireless equipment of the fleet and shore stations has been greatly improved as regards range and immunity from interference. A high-power station is being erected in the vicinity of Fort Myer by means of which it is expected that direct communication will be maintained with the fleet within a range of 2,000 miles and with the Canal Zone. Other high-power stations will be erected on the Isthmus of Panama, on the California coast, in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Tutuila as soon as the funds therefor become available. This chain of naval wireless stations will render our fleet

independent, to a great extent, of cable lines, and will be an asset of the highest importance in time of war.

The coastwise wireless service has been extended by the erection of stations in Alaskan waters, and an extension along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to the Rio Grande will be effected as soon as practicable. The business of the coast wireless service has steadily increased to the great benefit of commercial as well as naval interests. This service handles commercial business only when it does not compete with private companies, and this business is very beneficial to our stations which are most efficient when steadily employed. This service is also employed in a considerable and increasing degree in all Government service for which it is adapted, notably in the collection and dissemination of weather reports from and to vessels. at sea.

It is recommended that the Secretary of the Navy be authorized to collect tolls on commercial wireless messages handled by Alaskan stations in order that a message for transmission by wireless to a point on the Washington-Alaska cable, thence by cable to the United States, may be prepaid by the sender. At present the Army lines and cables are not authorized to receive collect messages, and it is more or less impracticable for inhabitants of outlying islands to arrange for payment in advance for such messages or to make a deposit at the nearest Army cable station to cover the cost of a collect. message. It is also recommended that the Secretary of the Navy be authorized to collect tolls for wireless messages handled by any naval stations or ships in order that the business in connection with the commercial wireless and cable companies may be satisfactorily arranged. This authorization would prepare the Government coast wireless system for working under the rules of the International Wireless Union should the Government ratify the International Wireless Convention and open its stations for international business.

THE ACTIVE FLEETS.

ATLANTIC FLEET.

The Atlantic Fleet engaged in such cruising and exercises as seemed most desirable to improve and maintain its efficiency. In December the fleet, under the command of Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder, visited Gravesend and Weymouth, England, and Cherbourg and Brest, France; and in June the second division of the fleet, under the command of Rear Admiral C. J. Badger, made a cruise in the Baltic, visiting Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Cronstadt, Russia; and Kiel, Germany. On both cruises. the officers and crews received a most cordial welcome at all the ports visited.

20986°— NAVY 1911