The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-12-07
STATE OF OUR NAVY
Secretary Tracy Makes His
Annual Report.
ARMoR TESTS SATISFACTORY
American Tars Not at Fault in the
Trouble at Valparaiso,

The Present system of Seniority Promo
tion Considered Unreasonable - War
ships Launched During the Year-New
Style OF Boat Needed for Chinese Wa
Accommodation OF the Depart
ment Regarding New Ships.
WAsmNGroN Dec. THE aunus
report OF Secretary Tracy on the condi-
tion Of the navy will be / aid before Con-
gress when it organizes for business
Concerning the present state Of naval
construction the Secretary says:
'Of the new constructions under
taken during this period, by far the
most important is protected cruiser No.
13. This vessel, of Z, 500 tons displace-
ment, is a sister ship to cruiser No. 10
The peculiar advantages of these two
cruisers consist in their extraordinary
coal endurance and their high speed,
in both Of which respect athey have no
equal among the large cruisers Of the
world. With a maximum speed Of 22
knots an hour aud a sustained sea speed
Of 81 knots, they can safely be counted
on, in any ordinary sea, to overJake any
commerce destroyer, any commerce pro-
tector or any mercantile vessel now
RhOat, while their ability to cruise for
great distan ces without recoallng makes
them peculiarly important addition to
a navy destitute of coaiing stations
abroad. During the past year four new
vessels have been placed in commission,
making a total number of l3 since
March 4, 1889
The department will recommend that
two more battle ships bs provided for
this year, and also cruiser like the
New York, of which Mr. Tracy says:
"Ihis magnificent YES sci, whose func-
tions cover a far wider range than those
OF an ordinary cruiser, presents an ex-
traordinary combination Of great coal
endurance, high speed and efficient ar o.
NOR protection. With the exception of
the three ships Of the Indiana class, sac
is the most important element Of de-
feasive strength which this country now
possesses. "
The Secretary points out that the
utility of the 3, OOO-ton cruiser is now
questioned, AS we'll as that of small
gunboats liK tho Petrol, which are 20 cd
chiefly for peace cruising purposes. He
advocates burding torpedo cruisers, and
has this to say about boats for river SER
/ vice in China: 81 recommend the con
struction of vessel specially adapted
for river service, but so constructed as
| to be capable OF the highest military
| efficiency in the quarter where she is
| intended to operate
| Such vessel, which would cost about
| $400, 0O0 would Immediately prove
herself to be the most useful vessel of
any foreign power upon that sta
| tion."
| Considerable space is given to the at
| tack in Valparaiso on the seameu OF the
Baltimore, and the Secretary sums up
| the situation as follows. "WheUher the
attacks on the seamen of the Baltimore
were preconcerted or not, their real
cause can only be found In the bi tier
hostility OF the Chilians toward the
United States, a feeling largely due to
the false and malicious accusations
which have been put forth at Iquique
and later at Valparaiso in references to
the action Of the navy of the United
States during the progress of the revo-
luton. 1t is due to the navy to STA to
that SO far from having given cause for
such a feeling, its conduct, under the
instructions OF the department, has in
every respect bsen fair, just and tenn
perate."
The Secretary says the most mo-
mentous question of the year was that
of armor and he refers to the trial al
Indian Head as follows: 1.-THE results oi
the trial were in the highest degree sat
isfRctory. Each of the six plates manu-
factured in this country was superior tc
the compound plate, while the nick O.
HRryeyed plate and the high h-carbon
nickel plate were superior to all the for
eign plates of the Annapolis trial. They
may, therefore, be pronounced in ad
vance of the best armor hitherto manu-
factured in Europe"
The subjects of high explosives, nRva
militia and a better system Of promo tioI
are discussed by Mr. Tracy.