Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-04
THE NAVY.
The concentrations of Secre-
tary whitney.

WASHINGTON, december o.-oec-
retary Whitney's report opens
with renewal of his former
ommendaton of consolidation of thee
bureaus so as to insure responsibility in
the purchase and care of supplies, etc.
The report says there is at present no
real responsibility for the care and dis
position of property. Property lost,
msused or stolen W hich cannot be traced
or accounted for no person can he held
responsible. The inventory shows a
very large and increasing accumulation
of stores and supplies by different
bureaus, aggregating over twenty mil
lion dollars in appraised value. Among
these accumulations some very absurd
facts appear. At eight navy yards there
have accumulated altogether of augers
and bits 46, 566, of which 25,274 have
been lying for several years at closed
yards, where no work has been done or
is likely to be done.
The report of the Chief of Construc.
tion of the Navy sets forth the present
condition of vessels now in commission
and their probable duration. If his
est mate is correct in six years the coun-
try will be possessed of but three SER
vIceable cruising ships of those now on
the list, and unless new navy shall be
created there will be none in existence
after that lapse of time. The small
amount of modern armor which has
been used by the Department of late
years has been purchased abroad. The
policy is certainly not in keeping with
proper dignity and pride, nor at all con-
sistent with wisdom at the present time
and for many years to come.
In the event of conflict with either a
first or second class naval power it
would be quite impossible for the United
States, as at present situated, to produce
within its territory either the arnor re-
quired for armored ships or guns neces-
sary for their armament, nor would
it be possible for the navy
of the United States to protect such ar
ticles in transit across the ocean If it
were possible to obtain them elsewhere
in time of war.
The Secretary recommends that the
Naval Academic course be shortened to
four years, as recommended by the COM
mandant of the Academy. He also
urges that apprentices be admitted to
the Academy.
Regarding the new cruisers the report
says: The experience of thedepartment
in its first attempt at the creation of
modern vessels of war has been such as
to excite the greatest concern and dis
appointment. The examination of facts
with reference to them demonstrated
that an entirely new departure was nec-
essary in undertaking further similar
construction. One characteristic " hich
an unarmed cruiser must possess is
great speed. She must be able to
escape from ironclads and outrun so as
to overhaul merchantmen. If slower
than ronclads she could not keep there
and if slower than merchantmen she
might as well stay in port. The Secre-
tary compares the trial trip of the Dol
phin and Atlanta with those Of English
and French boats only recently con
structed to the disadvantage of the
former.
In considering the matter of the con-
struction of additional vessels authorized
by Congress in March, lSS5,,it is de-
c.ded BY the Department to exhaust
every effort to avail itself of the most
advanced thought and knowledge at
tanned by cur own and other countries
on the subject. The report says "The
Department has accumulated large in
formation which will be utilized in the
construction of vessels in the future"
The report gives a resume of the bids
and awards for new cruisers, and says
regarding cruiser No. l. for which no
bids were received within the limit fixed
by Congress, orders have been given to
reduce her size for the purpose
of carrying out the intention of Con-
gress, if possible, of bringing the ex-
pense of her construction within the
limits, ST, 100, 200. 1t requires a read
justment of all weights, and in fact the
designing of new vessel, which neces-
sarily takes some months. Meanwhile
it is hoped the limit fixed by Congress
may be removed, SO as to render avail
able the present plans, which have been
the result of many months labor on the
part of officers of the Department. The
report deprecates the idea thst this
country should be content to be depend
ent upon the manufacturers of any
other nation for the fabrication of ar
NOR and high-power guns.