Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-06
WHIrNEr,s REPoBr.


An Abstract OF What re Says hb5sis
Our Naval Affairs t4ss9ta Z
WASHINGTON, Nov 80. Secretary Whit
ney's annual report has been presented
to the President. After reviewing the
| condition OF the navy, the secretary Hays
that everything necessary to fiest-ciBsB
| fighting ship can be probably and
speedily furnished at home now for the
first time. When the ships authorized
and building are completed, the United
States will rank second among nations in
the possession OF 'oommeree destroyers
having the highest Characterization.
The tonnage OF the registered vessels
OF tho United states had rieen year bv
year until in 1851 itamounted TO q, $40, 62s
| tons and between 1851 and 1866 it wss
reduced to 1,492, 1926 tons or in other
words, to the point which we had reached
in le49 from which dacline we have never
recovered.
We cannot at present protect our coast
but We can return blow for blow, for We
shall soon bs in condition to launch q
fl iet OF large and fest cruisers against the
commerce of an enemy able TO infllot the
most serious and lasting injury thereon.
The rapport further says that from On
examination made in 1885, il Yves dete.-
mined that the standard of productive
ness OF the machine must be ten-horse
power for each ton Of machinery. We
are obliged to guarantee tho results
determined upon by the department
under severe penalties for failure and with
compromising premiums in case of attain
ing better results.
The efforts OF the dep lrtment Ia this
matter have been cordially seconded BY
the bureau chiefs; and it ia believed that
at the present lime the department has
reached the point where entire reliance
can be placed upon 1t for the production
Of war VESSELS equal In character to those
Of any other country. 9s IN
"It Is gratifying TO be able to report,n
says the secretary, s'that as will be Eeen
from tue follo9ing table, notwIthstana-
ing the large expenditures for the new
navy in the last three years, the reduc.
ton in other directions has made the
total expenditures OF the department less
for three years than for the three wears
ending june 30sh, 1884, the ordinary ex-
penses Of the department having been re-
duced over 30 per cent The year 1884 IS
was omitted from the table as not having
been wholly in either administration.
Under the head of "Ocast and harbor
defence vessels" the secretary states
that: ''In the last animal report of the
department the considerations were given
leading TO the conclusion that IL would be
unwise for the department. to follow
the course Of the European powers IN
building unprotected torpedo boats and
in the present uncertainty regarding the
practicability OF subnarine bpats. and
Nub 10 x1asffpat ka ~ k.su
dynamite un-boat, it has, heen deamed
wiss for the department ton hui ID.
one light draught,p heevily.sYm.
ored hsrbor defence floating bat
terry or ram, for which designs
have been prepared by the bureau OF
construction and steam engineering in
consultation with the chief of the bureau
Of ordnance. The adverfismenfs for this
vessel call for the submission OF bids in
the month Of February next. The char
aotsristics will be fonnd statsd in the
table of armored vessels before men
toned"
The business methods of the depart
ment sie discussed at Home length, and a
history given of the efforts being made
TO simplify, systematic and improve
them. n
From more than so per cent in 1884
Ar 1895 tho rsofeFtiel e c-TTs,G;.ea
bought b open market instead of COM
/ panti1n ms been reductd during the
past year to less than ii per cent with
the prospect of reduction to about per
| cent IN the next fiscal year.
Responsible dealers are taking the
place Of naval brokers. Examination
showed that coal supplies had oeen short
in tonnage.
| Tho system OF property accounts re-
\ ferred to in the last annual report con-
tinues in successful operation.
The report says that by careful watsh-
ing OF the disbursement on foreign sta
tions and calling the attention OF pay
officers to the subjact OF their drafts by
| which greatly improved rates have been
| procured the department Is abls 10 report
that on the items Of commission, interest
and exchange whereas net less Of
| $lG3 493 was made in the twl yesr5 and
10 months ending April 24h, 1885. for
! the three years ending June 3Oth, 1883. a
n ct gain of 1903 WIS made.
A chapter IL devoted to naval progress
| during the year AZ home ara ahrDad and
| in it statement la, made that ;ne neees.
| sity for increased aumbers of fast pro.
teetsd cruisers whathhr for pur 1osas Of
| protecting or destroying u0mmejps ny
| for service with fpss o. Rnouts las bssn
emphasized durin9ths naval mauop ayyes
| Of the year and 10 4utly TecoSnIzsd hy,ail
naval powers. Bat with ths meyst4s
| OF the number OF eruisers, liz ta4
| been recognized in vieg OF ne
recent introduction Of high explosive pro.
| isctilaH and the increase OF powder aud
rapidly Of fire and rapid Are of otter
| gus, that renewed attention must be
\ given to tine armored beet and the RE
| Yelling opinion in England, France, Etslv.
| Germany and Russia is strongly ia iayar
Of addiiousi armored shSt 10 Ge bail! u
an early date.
II these new vessels the amor will be
rpuoh more widely distributed and will
certainly protect the battery and Grew as
| we'll M the water line and machinery,
,Ibe destruotiyeness OF high explosive
shell fiEa against unprotected sides empha.
sizes the peculiar advantage OF the motor
| iyps for coast defence service.
Torpedo boats, the eserstsry saws,
nust still be regarded 90 most useful Tor
coast ana harbor defence.
The estimates fer the navy and marine
| corps for the eurren. fiscal year spous.+ a
to 1923 003 ga, those Tor the next fiscal
yer anlunt TO $26, 767, 677, difference
Of 81, 764 053.
The appropriations for the current
fiscal Year amount to $19 9l2 4si, being
IS S25, 1856 less than the estimates for the
next fiscal year.
The secretary closes by giving the main
4 points Of the reports submitted by
the Admiral of the Navy, the
chiefs OF The various naval
bureaus and the board of visitors to the
United States Naval Academy, abstracts
OF which have been published frcm time
to time as they we're placed in the hands