Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-02
A HUNDRED SHIPS WANTED.
Secretary Tracy Tells What Our Navy
Ought to BE.

Secretary Tracy's first annual report, which
was made public today, says: The necessities
of our vulnerable position demand the i'm
mediate creation of two fleets of battle ships.
Of which eight should be assigned to the
Pacific and twelve to the Atlantic and gulf.
They must be the best of their class in four
leading characteristics armament, armor,
structural strength and speed
In addition to the battle ships the situation
OF the country requires at least twenty vessels
for coast and harbOr defense.
The one problem now before the govern
ment, the Secretary says is to get these forty
vessels built at the earliest possible moment
The steps necessary to their completion,
namely, legislation. design and construction,
cannot take less than five years in the case OF
each one. Unless the existing yards, public
and private, are enlarged and restocked with
plant not more than eight could be built at one
time, and the construction of the others would
have to wait for the launching OF the first.
Using the utmost prOmptness the ships most
essential to efficient protection could not be
supplied in less than twelve or fifteen years.
1t is recommended that the construction of
eight armOred vessels be authorized at the
next session and that they be of the type Of
battle ships rather than coast defense ships.
'.In reference to fast cruisers, all modern ex-
perlence goes to show that they are essential
adjuncts OF an armored feet, and the proper
ton OF three cruisers TO one battle ship is be-
ueNeu 10 De EOunu ana reasonable. Ihlj would
make the future navy consist of twenty battle
ships, twenty coast defense ships and sixty
cruisers, one hundred vessels in all. OF the
sixty cruisers required thirty-one are now
built or authorized"
AN AUXILIARY NAVY.
II is matter of serious consideration, the
report says, whether steps may not be taken
toward the creation of fleet of specially
adapted steamers of American nationality,
owned by American merchants, carrying the
American flag and capable. under well-defined
conditions, of temporary incorporation in the
American navy.
Referring to the English auxiliary navy, he
says: 1t Is difficult to imagine a more effective
commerce destroyer than the steamship City Of
Paris, armed with battery of rapid-firing
guns. She can steam over u knots an hour
and can average 1919 knots from land to land
across the Atlantic. No man-of-war could
overtake her; no merchantman could escape
her. feet Of such cruisers would sweep an
enemy's commerce from the ocean. Our
deficiency should be supplied either by line
of fast merchantmen, constructed with special
reference to use i'll time OF war. which will en-
able the government to avail itself of their
services at critical moments, Oh, I'VE should build
fleet Of at least five tirstclass cruisers of the
very highest rate of speed, certainly not less
than y knots. The displacement of these
vessels should not be less than 4, 900 TONS"
THE ENLISTED MEN.
Secretary Tracy also makes some important
recommendations looking to the lettering OF
the condition Of the enlisted men. He asks
that the present four-year term be replaced by
a continuous service plan, based en- the prin-
ciple of retaining the services of enlisted men
for life, with privilege of retiring on half pay
after thirty years service. He recommends
the creation of . naval reserve, composed of
ships, officers and seamen, and naval militia
should also be formed. he says, and he recon-
mends that 1.-The department be authorized to
furnish such vessels now laid up, unfit
for sea service, to states making provision for
naval militia upon their request"