The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-12-10

1es Coudlta0A Reported Upoa By eoero-
tary Tsaoy-Hs shows the Necessity g
Continued Dsvslopnsst. 81
WASHINGTON, Dec. TIN his annual
report TO the president Secretary
Tracy, q the navy, presents details 81
obstruction of new vessels and dis
zcusses development OF armament pro-
jectiles, torpedoes, etc He shows
that during the Last twelve mouths
the vessels Of the navy have
ssson NO 9 active employment than in
many yearA IN presenting the ye3r's
history OF the several squadrons Score
tary Tracy repeats tho details Of the
attack at Valparaiso upon seamenI Of
the Baltimore, all Of which has beenu
given TO the public. N showing the
need Of increasing the navy the secre-
tary says: Il s :.
Tho course of events during the last year
has shown 6neW the necessity OF continuing the
do 'elopment Of the navy. The demands upon
1t have been constant and they are constantly
growing. The rapid extension Of commercial
relations has doubled the importance Of bur
interests, especially in the Pacific.
1T Is apparent that the mercantile compett.
torn Of this country are to-day enlarging their
fields Of activity with , moro aggressive
energy than ever before. No one can fail to
Observe tho indications of Q systematic effort
to take advantage Of tho disturbed condi-
lions now prevailing in many of the
smaller states. In this movement naval
sscendency plays q large part. The
consequences are mot fur to seek. The estab.
ltshment 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 Is that state IL concerned. Of independent
existence. With tho great maritime powers it
Is only step from commercial control to ter
ritorial control :
III that most important agency In the COM
mercial development OF the United States, the
Nicaragua canal, were completed the strategic
situation would be largely modified. Az the
present time the two seaboards are SO remote
that each requires its separate system of
naval defense Each has its vulnerabls points
and each has neighbors that are well
prepared Tor 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 Poetic,
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 Critical moment"
During the past year four new YES
sells have been placed in commission,
making 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 Us follows: Puritan,
Amphirite, Monadnock, Terror, Maine.
Texas, Monterey, New York (cruiser
No. 81. Cincinnati mo. y, Raleigh NO
81, No. 9, Detroit (No 10Y. No. II, a
practice vessel, harbor defense ram,
gunboat No. 5, gunboat No. s, Indiana,
Massachusetts,, Oregon, protected
cruiser No. IL, torpedo cruiser, torpedo
boat No and protected cruiser No. IS.
The naval militia is discussed and the
distribution of the funds provided is
noted. The number of men mus
tered is 1,149 in six states. OF the
cost of the navy the amount charged
to completed ships, fifteen in mum.
Der, is SIS, 7s6, s54.5 OF the twenty
four uncompleted vessels the expendi-
ture has been $l1 ,4Ss, 7942S. and the
total cost when completed will be
s5s, 900. 2s2-03. The report recommends
the consolidation of revenue marine
and navy.