Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-07
THE NEEDS OF THE NAVY.
SECRETARY HITNEX'S AN
NUAL REPORT.


That the System ia Bad snd Reform
lie Needed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The Secretary
Of the Navy, in his annual report says
that the value Of property of the govern
mept in navy yards, docks, "harVes'
buildings. and other property under the
jurisdiction of the bureau Of docks ana
wards. is about $50 100000, and this Is re-
ported falling into decay.
APPRENTICES.
The number of apprentices received IN
the navy during the past year was l59
The cruising training ships have oeen
kept at sea as much as possible, making
two cruises, each OF several month du-
ration. 10 the West Indies and TO Europe
The average number OF seamen and APP
prentices has not exceeded the legal
quota.
EXPENDITURES.
The expenditures OF the department
during the year were Sl6.0l4.47l, and
from July to Oct. l, 1881, 81, 2S5, l64. The
estimates for the year eDdIng June ~,
1887. amount to S35, 104,695 10, in which
are embraced estimates for new OBJECTS,
not those ordinarily for the service,
amounting TO SIG, 069, $50 "a, leaving for
the customary purposes of the service
SIq.O34. 7449l. They embrace for increase
of the navy SIC, 500. TO; for the completion
and armament of the dou ole-turreted
monitors 81. 202. 656, and for public works
and improvements at the yards and sta
lions 81, 26S, 337 IL.
NAVAL WAR COLLEGE.
The Naval War College began its first
session Sept. 3, under the direction OF
Rear Admiral Stephen b. Luce, President
OF the college. The instruction consisted
Of lectures on military science, the art OF
naval warfare, and marine International
law. The college, now fairly in opera
ton, by giving officers an advanced course
of instruction on subjects directly con-
nected with the most important du lies oil
the profession, fills what has hitherto
been a serious want in our system OF
naval education.
DISTURBANCES AT PANAMA.
With reference to the Panama affair
the Secretary. after giving history of it,
SAYS: "The officers and men charged with
restoration of the freedom OF transit
on the isthmus, in accordance with the
provisions o the treaty of 1S46, discharged
their duty in a highly satisfactory man
ner, The action OF the Department was
carefully confined to measures only as
were necessary to enforce treaty stipula-
tions. every precaution being taken to
respect the autonomy OF Colombia; ana
our interference ceased the moment the
object mad been accomplished, and the
freedom Of transit had been securely re-
established. Among the results of these
naval operations upon the isthmus, by no
means the lea-t gratifying, has been the
establishment of still closer and more
friendly relations with sister republic,
while our commercial and other interests
in Central America have been strength
ened aud an additional guarantee Of Sc
10, 20 hn mn Mi a
enterprise of Americans in this quarter.
1t is LARGELY tor the purpose OF protecting
the mercantile marine and for assisting
It's healthy development that the navy
exists; and there are reasons for believing
that its services on the isthmus during
the months of April and May last will
have imp prtant and far-reaohing conse-
quences in this direction.
TWO NEW CRUISERS.
Regarding the construction OF the two
cruisers and two gun-boats. authorized at
the last session of Congress, the Secretary
says that within the next thirty days the
plans will be sufficiently advanced to
Justify the commencement of the adver-
tisements for contracts, and the ships are
likely to be finished long prior to the prob
able completion of their armament.
THE ROACH CONTROVERSY.
The Secretary reviews his controversy
with John Roach regarding the construc-
ton OF the Dolphin, Chicago, Boston and
Atlanta. He considers that they will. il
we'll built, be an improvement upon the
previous work of the department, but it
Is not profitable to consider them as stand
ards OF excellence for future work. Be
cause of the just complaints OF the con-
tractor long DELAYS took place in settling
details after the contracts were entered
into. He reviews the contracts for the
Boston, Chicago and Atlanta and says
that all the government can do from a
business point OF view is to complete
them. Whatever they turn out to be they
will demonstrate in practice.
NEW NAVY.
The Secretary quotes from the policy OF
other governments 10 demonstrate that il
the United States is TO have a frst-class
navy it must give private enterprise a
chance TO engage in the work. He says:
eli the S75,00O,000 spent since 1868 by the
government had been used to stimulate
competition among our people in the pro-
duction of modern ships OF war, ii is quite
fair to assume that the activities and
agencies at the disposal of the government
would have been by this time entirely
adequate TO its needs. 1t has been wasted
by government agencies upon worthless
things The invention of the country has
been discouraged. The HOtchkiss gun,
now commanding the widest attention,
the manufacture of which is becoming
an important industry in France, was
the product of American invention
which, when ignored and rejected by
government agencies here. found else
where its field Of development. Ericsson,
whose name will always be one OF the
great ones Of our time in history, works
now at the age Of 50 without encourage
ment or notice at the great problems of
naval warfare, and is receiving more at
tentlon and greater encouragement from
other governments than from our own.
Examples might easily be multiplied.
suthce II 10 say that our government has
placed itself in no relation 10 the inven-
tive genius Of the country. and Is without
the rich fruits which such a course would
bring 70 IT,"
WITHOUT HEAD.
The Secretary SAYS with reference 20
the inefficiency OF the Navy: alt must be
evident that there Is something radically
wrong with the department. The univer-
sal dissatisfaction Is the conclusive rroof
Of this. Each bureau, in the matter of
purchases, being practically independent
Of every other and charged With duties 10
which these are generally subordinate,
with no immediate responsibility to any
common head. IL is not only not surpris-
ing, but It rs inevitable that their pur-
ohases should he made without the pre-
cautions aud the judgment and the sa-
gacity which might be expected III that