River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-12-10
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UNCLE SANS NAVY.
Its Cord tion Reported Upon by secre-
tary Tracy-He shows tive Necessity of
Continued Davalaun.aas

4
Its Cord tion Reported Upon by seere-
tary rracy-He shows tive Necessity of
Continued Development.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. I'm his annual
report to the president Secretary
Tracy, of the navy, presents details of
truetion of new vessels and dis
cusses development of armament, pro-
/ Jectiles, torpedoes, etc. He shows
I that during the last twelve months
the vessels of the navy have
seen active employment than in
many years. In presenting the year S
history OF the several squadrons Secre-
4 tary Tracy repeats the details of the
attack at Valparaiso upon seamen of
the Baltimore, all of VIII CHI has been
given to the public In snov7i ing the
need of increasing the navy the secre-
/ tary says:
The course Of events during the last year
has shown anew the necessity Of continuing the
development Of the navy. The demands upon
/ ii have been constant and they are constantly
4 growing. The rapid extension OF commercial
relations has doubled the Importance Of our
4 interests. especially in the Pacific
ut is apparent that the mercantile competi.
/ tors OF this country ere to-day enlargiag their
! fields OF activity with a more aggressive
energy than ever before. No one can fail To
observe the indications Of a systematic effort
/ TO take advantage OF the disturbed condi-
1 tions now prevailing in many Of the
/ smaller states. In this movement naval
/ ascendencY plays large part The
/ consequences are not far TO seek The estab.
4 lishment OF complete commercial supremacy
/ by European power in any state Of the west
ern hemisphere means the exclusion OF Ameri-
can influence and the virtual destruction as
+ far as that state is concerned. of independent
/ existence. With the great maritime powers il
is only a step from commercial control TO ter
ritorial control.
IF that most important agency in the com.
4 mercial development of the United States the
/ Nicaragua canal, were completed the strategic
/ situation would be largely modified. At tue
| present time the two seaboards are so remote
that each requires its separate system OF
naval defense. Each has its vulnerable points
and each has neighbors that are well
prepared for offensive movements. There is
circle OF insular fortresses facing
our Atlantic seaboard. the sole object OF
! whose existence is TO maintain naval outposts
/ at our doors. There are states in the Pacific.
and not large states. either. whose fleets are
more powerful than any force that we could
readily bring TO meet them. To protect either
| seaboard even when our present authorized
feet is completed. will involve stripping the
other at a critical moment"
During the past year four new yes
sells have been placed in commission.
making a total of thirteen since March
! 4, 1889, as follows: The Chicago. York
town, Petrol, Charleston, baltimore,
! Cushing, Vesuvius, Philadelphia, San
/ Francisco, Newark, Concord, Benning-
ton and Mianitonomah.
The vessels remaining under con-
struction are as follows: Puritan,
! Amphirite, Nonadnock, Terror, Maine,
Texas, Monterey, New York (cruiser
No 81, Cincinnati no y. Raleigh (No.
81, No. o, Detroit (No. 10). No. II, a
practice vessel, harbor defense ram,
/ gunboat No. 5, gunboat No. 8, Indiana,
Massachusetts, Oregon, protected
cruiser No. IL, torpedo cruiser, torpedo
boat No. and protected cruiser No 10.
The naval militia is discussed and the
distribution of the funds provided is
noted. The number of men mus
tered IS 1,l49 in six states. OF the
/ cost of the navy the amount charged
/ to completed ships. fifteen in num-
Der, is S15.736. 354.57 OF the twenty
! four uncompleted vessels the expendi-
/ ture has been Sill, 4Ss, 194 Is. and the
total cost when completed will be
S53, go 2S2-03. The report recommends
/ the consolidation of revenue marine
4 and navy.