The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-07

charge or even suspicion Of misconduct attscnes
30 the men, who. on the night of October le, en-
deavoring without weapons 20 deieud tnein'
selves against the armed att&ck, were ori'sh "
the police to Chilean prison because they wore
the uniform Of American sailors
The old wooden ships have prscticaliy
passed out Of existence; they no iohge,
count even Is q nominal factor In naFai
defense. The sole reliance OF the country,
today for the protection OF its exposed sea-
board Ii IN the new feet. The rapid e1-
tension of our commercial relations nave
doubled the importance OF our interests
especially in the Pacific. 1t was said
few years ago by keen foreign observer:
Some day there will be q great rivalry OF three
or four nations In the Pacific for the commerce
of those seas, and the country which cultivated
its strength with 3 view TO that contingency
will carry Of the chief part Of the prize
The rivalry has already begun, and signs
are evident on every hand OF sharp competition.
Its apparent that the mercantile competitors
of the country are today eDlsrging their ne1os
OF activity with more aggressive energy than
ever before. No one can fail 10 observe the IN
dicGtions OF a systematic effort to take awe n
tsge of the disturbed conditions now prevailing
in many Of the smaller states. In this move
ment O naval ascendancy plays large part
Even when the present authorized feet Is COM
pleted, 10 protect either seaboard VIII Involve
stripping the other st critical moments. IL the
Nicaragua canal were completed, the strate-
getic situation would be largely modified
The press of the country, representing
the people, says the secretary, does not
believe that cities like San Francisco. Sc
attic and Tacoma should be open to the
attacks OF third rate power, whose ships
by sudden movement may enforce dis
in ha
entire expense of q war. If any one be-
lieves such rapidity Of movement impossi-
BILE let him recall the circumstances under
which the Esmeralda appeared in April
last without warning close to the Cali
fornia coast. sending on the Itata to San
Diego. As little does public opinion be-
lieve that the commercial seaports of the
Gulf and Atlantic should be unprotected
from attack by any nation whose fortified
harbors and fully equipped naval dock
yards ara within forty eight hours steam
Ing.
The report continues: Ii Is erroneous to
suppose that sea-coass states alone have
direct interest in the matter. The pros
perity of the whose interior depends upon
the uninterrupted supply of the demands
of the foreign market. BY blockade of
the important outlets, the great industries
ofthe interior will be paralyzed. The Sec
rotary goes on in the argument for the in
crease navy and coast defenses at length.
He urges the construction of more ships of
The type of the Indiana battle ship, and
says they are undoubtedly the most
powerful element that the protection of
this country can possess. Medium sized
cruisers, while valuable for the service
they are fitted to perform, cannot be
counted on as an element of force when
opposed to armored vessels. The
necessity for more torpedo boats is
also urgently set forth. Much space is de-
voted TO the personnel of the navy, pro-
motion, ETC., and q NUMBER of recon-
mendations are made with q view to an
improvement of the service, the efficiency
and excellence of which is on the increase.
No country, says the secretary, could
afford to keep up such a system and main
tain body of officers such as the line of
the navy will become in q few years under
the existing conditions. He recommends
the adoption of the system now In force in
the army. The president should be author
iEed TO select from the grade of captains
the officer who, In his judgment, is best
fitted for the grade above and so on. The
secretary wants designations of grades of
rear admiral and the rear admiral num-
bers, pay and relative rank to remain as at
present
In regard to enlisted men the secretary
says the number Of apprentices should be
increased from 750 to 1000; for emergen-
cies four-year term of enlistment should
be adopted. Other recommendations Of
last year are renewed.
The naval militia IL progressing well,
and now comprises an effective organized
force Of LOO men, distributed in six
states. Other states will establish organi-
cations as soon as authorized by legisla-
lures. This movement should be aided in
every way.
Recommendation for the consolida-
ton of the revenue marine service with
the navy are renewed.
Sailed for the West Indies.
GIBRALTAR, Dec. 6.-The United Statsx