Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-02
THE WHITE FLEET.
T IS EXPECTED SOON TO SAIL For
HAMPTON ROADS.
Tho Monitors Near Rtchmond- Rscom-
msndatiops THAT rhey Bs Sold
or Repaired NAVAL Notes.
lpy .sIerrnpn ta .ns pl.pasca.l

WAsuTEeroN, p. c.. December i.--
Acting Rear-Admiral Walker expects bis
flagship. the Chicago. to be turned over
10 him tomorrow. She Is now at the New
York nayy-yard. He further said that be
would almost immediately sail for Hamp-
ton Roads. making that his FIRST objective
point, with the Chicago. Newark, Atlanta,
and Bennington. After tnat the pro-
gramme for the equadron's movements IL
very indefinite.
In his annual report 10 the Secretary Of
the Navy. Commodore Ramsay, chief OF the
Bureau ofNavication, devotes much atten-
ton to tho Naval Academy. He says that
large number OF candidates for admis-
sion to the Naval Academy fail to pass the
required mental examination. IL Is be-
heyed that this is chiefly due to the want
of proper instruction and time for prepare
ton. II is therefore recommended that
the statutes be so amended that appoint
ments to the Academy shall be made one
year in advance Of tho time OF admission,
as is now provided for appointments to
the Military Academy.
Further changes in the existing statutes
relating to the Naval Academy so As tocor-
form TO the laws governing the Military
Academy are recommended, the most i'm
portant being one fixing the age for adnnis-
sion of cadets at between fourtaen and
eighteen years, the abandonment OF the
two-years,, cruise, and the dismissal OF sur
plus graduates Immediately upon the com-
pletion Of the four-years course.
The report says of the enlisted force !;
"Under the system Of enlistment for three
years q portion Of the force allowed il not
available for manning the fleet. 1t Is there
fore recommended that the numter of
men of ell ratings allowed for the navy. in
cluding apprentices and boys, be increased
to 10000, and that the term Of enlistment
for general service be extended ~ law TO
four years."
Commodore Theodore Wilson. chief Of
the Bureau Of Construction, in his annual
report to the Secretary OF the Navy
recommends that the Galena wrecked on
Cav Head and afterwards recovered), the
tug Speedwell, and the Intrepid be sold,
as they are useless to the Government and
a source of expense.
The single-turret monitors now IN the
James river. the report says. should be re-
paired or sold. For comparatively mode
rate sum they can be made useful adjuncts
to whatever other means the country may
possess for repelling an enemy, their shall
low draft rendering them especially adapt
able for service in the smaller barbors or
onr coast, which armored vessels cannot
enter on account Of their great draft. and
where consequently they would only be
exposed to the attacks OF unarmored
cruisers.
Touching the old wooden navy. the re-
port says: These vessels are rapidly dis
appearing from the active list of the SER
vice. while others ere being utilized as
training and receiving-ships,. and still
others are lard up in ordinary, having ex-
ceeded the 20 per cent. limit allowed for
repairs Of such vessels, Only twelve are
now available for cruising purposes, and
they within FIVE or six years will be mus
tered out Of service, as their repairs ex-
ceed the limit Of the amount fixed for that
purpose