Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-28
Naval Affairs
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
Secretary Thompson in his annual report says
the condition of the navy has greatly improved
during the last year. There are now in commits
sion 45 vessels, consisting of cruisers, monitors,
and torpedo boats. OF the different classes 16
can be put into condition for sea service in few
months and 20 could be made ready in an emer-
gency. With this done the fighting force of the
navy which might be made available in a very
short time, would consist Of 81 vessels of all
classes. And if to this number be added the
monitors-Terror, Puritan, Amphitrite, and MO
nadnOck-and powerful tugs, which can be
fitted for either cruisers or torpedo boats, our
whole effective fighting force would consist OF
cable to the current expenses OF the fiscal year,
which ended June 30 1SI9 was $14, 52S, 431. 90 OF
which amount $l3, 81: :z9 was drawn by war
rant from the Treasury. The estimates for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1881, aggregate $l4,-
So, 1875. This amount is s361, ,S97.2 IS in excess
of the appropriations for the present year. The
$3.50, 66. The death of Commodore Foxhall A.
Parker since the date Of my annual report eve
ated vacancy in the Office OF superintendent OF
the Naval Academy. 1t occurred during the pro-
gress of the annual examination in June, and l.
was enabled, being present, to realize how ad-
mirably he had managed the institution: His sue
cessor, Rear Admiral George B. Balch, has
always borne SO high character in the navy
and possesses such eminent qualities as man
as to assure the department that he will be
equally successful The condition of the Acad-
eIny Is prosperous anu SdtlSldCIOTy lit Lul-
portance of the system which authorizes the
training of boys for seamen cannot be overesti-
mated. Thus far it promises complete success,
and If persevered in will undoubtedly supply the
navy with body of men to whom our ships
may be safely entrusted while at sea and upon
whose courage and patriotism the country may
confidently rely in time of war. No good rea-
son is perceived why these apprentice boys
should not be allowed their clothing without
charge. AT present the price has to be deducted
from their pay. while all the soldiers in the army
are supplied with clothing without cost to them
selves. After speaking Of the necessity of bring
ing our naval architecture up to the modern
standard the Secretary gives it as his opinion
that for unarmored ships wood is undoubtedly
superior to iron or steel. He says: "Although
immense sums of money have been spent by
European powers in the construction OF heavily
armed and armored iron ships OF war, it has by
no means been proved that the plans OF these
ships are superior to those Of our monitors.
The armament and armOr are undoubtedly SUI
perior and the contest for supremacy between
ordnance and armor is still going on. There is
no reason now apparent for supposing that our
type of iron-cladS, when armed and armOred in
accordance with the ideas now prevailing, will
be inferior to these of foreign powers. On the
contrary. there is much reason for believing they
will prove to be superior