Evening journal., 1889-12-02
OUR NAVY Anu ITS NEEDS
Secretary Tracy Says Uncle
Sam Has Only Begun.
HE THINKS IT IsA POOR NAVY YET

Fast Merchantmen That Could he Read
lily Utilized as Cruisers Are Recomend.
ed-what tho Navy should Consist or
Secretary Noble Files His Report.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The report Of the
secretary Of the navy shows that the effect
i've force Of the United States navy, wher
al the ships now authorized are completed
viii comprise eleven armored vessels, OF
which only three are designed for fighting
at sea, and thirty-one unarmored vessels
making a total of forty-two. Mr.. Tracy
gives a table showing the number of wai
vessels on the effective list Of the principal
foreign powers, which shows that ever
when the present building programme is
completed the United States cannot take
rank as naval power The purpose foi
which the United States maintains navy
is not for conquest but defense says the
secretary, adding that il the country is e
have navy at all it should have one that
is sufficient for the commerce and ample
protection Of its coast in time OF war
The New Cruisers.
The now cruisers and their speed are com
pared with the vessels Of foreign powers
Most OF our new vessels-namely, the Balti
more, Chicago, Boston, Dolphin and York
town-have in later service beaten their own
record on this contract trial The net results
Of the departments operations for tho last
seven years are more than satisfactory The
secretary says the country must not deceiv,
atself by supposing that it has an effective
navy. The necessities Of our vulnerable
position, he says, demand the immediate
creation OF two fleets Of battle ships, Of which
eight should be assigned to tho Pacific and
rwelve TO the Atlantic and Gulf.
what We Need.
In addition to the battle ships the sitna-
hicn Of the country requires at least twenty
vessels for coast and harbor defense. The
sone problem, says Mr.. Tracy, in the matter
sof a naval policy, is to get these forty vessels
built at the earliest possible moment IL Is
recommended that the construction OF oight
sarmored vessels be authorized at the coming
session and that they be Of the type Of battle
ships rather than coast defense ships, the
former being more generally sorviceable and
there being only three of them now in pro.
cess Of construction against eight of the
latter.
In reference to fast cruisers, all modern
experience goes to show, says the report,
that they are essential adjuncts Of an ar.
mored fleet, and the proportion Of three
cruisers to one hatHeship is believed to be
sound and reasonable This would make the
future navy consist Of twenty battle ships,
twenty coast defense ships and sixty cruisers,
or 100 vesseks In all, which is believed to be
a moderate estimate Of the proper strength
OF the fleet OF the sixty cruisers required,
thirty-one are now built or authorized
A Reserve Fleet Recommended.
II is a matter for serious consideration,
Mr. Tracy says whether steps may not be
taken towards the creation of fleet Of
specially adapted Steamers owned by Amori-
can merchants, and capable under well de-
fined conditions Of temporary incorporation
ia the American navy. The advantages of
such an arrangement, which enlarges the
merchant msrine and makes it self protect
ing, are Overwhelmingly great II Is diff
cult q imagine a more effective commerce
strlyer than the steamship City Of Paris,
armed With a battery of rapid firing guns
She can steam over q knots an hour and
aan average 1910 knots from land 70 land
across tine Atlantic. No man-of-war could
Dvertake her; no merchantmen could escape
her. A fleet Of such cruisers would sweep
an enemy's commerce from the ocean.
The secretary recommends the construction
Of five torpedo boats Of the first and second
classes. He says the efficiency Of tho navy
is greatly weakened by the large pQzsAartion
Of foreigners who man our war vessSS, and
he thinks the plain remedy lies in a statu-
tory extension Of the torn Of enlistment to
twenty-four years Of age, and recommends
shat the number Of apprentices be increased
from $50, as now allowed by law, TO 1850,
making the total enlisted force 5000 He
further recommends the establishment OF a
naval militia. In conclusion he says:
"Ihe force actually available at the pres
ent time comprises eight modern vessels Of
no great lighting power because OF their
weakness tor defense The main force has
yet to be authorized. Until the United
States has a feet OF twenty battle ships,
with coast defenders, cruisers and torpedo
boats in suitable proportion for efficient de-
fense and an establishment in such working
order as TO administrative machinery, Off
Gers, men, reserves and vessels that il can be
brought without delay into effective action
the country cannot consider that il possesses
navy, and navy il can never afford to be
without
SECRETARY MOBILES REPORT.