The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-12
TIE AFFAIRS OF TIE NAVY.
The Report of the Secretary Given to
the Public.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE report Of
the Secretary of the Navy has been made
public. It deals very fully with the affairs Of
the navy. The following srs brief extracts
from it:
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1894, for the navy and marine
corps, including those for public works and
tor increase of the navy, amount to S24,-
All. .49S 81, being Sans, 14l SO less than
those for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1898.
The estimates for the running expenses
Of the navy and the marine corps for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1894, amount to
Sl4, 767 ,S4l 2l. being S135, 943 SO less than
the estimates for the fiscal year ending June
80 1898.
The estimates for the increase of the navy
amount 80 80, 7O3, 657 for the fiscal year end
ing June 30. 1894 aud are g., SIT 1873 less than
those for the fiscal year ending June 90,
1898.
THE REVENUE MARINE SERVICE.
The department again refers TO its recom-
mendation made for two successive years in
favor OF legislation consolidating the reve-
nue. marine service with the navy. The
advantages of this change have been fully
stated in previous reports Of Secretaries Of
the Navy, and ii is not necessary to repeat
them here.
A striking illustration of the feasibility
and expediency of this change was given by
the Berlng sea feet during the past sum
mer The operations of the naval vessels
and OF the revenue cutters were far more
efficient than those of last year, a result
partly due to their union under one COM
mand. The two branches OF the service
worked together in perfect harmony. Four
vessels Of the navy were united under the
wnyfk i, =,
revenue marine service, upon identical
duties. pursued in the same manner and
under a common commander in chief, who
employed a naval vessel or a cutter without
distinction in the ey ecution OF anv orders Of
the department.
The zeal and ability OF the revenue ma
rine service In the discharge OF these duties
called forth from Commander Evans, com
msnding the squadron, than whom no one
was better able TO judge, the highest praise,
and form an additional ground for the re-
newal Of previous recommendations.
THE KIND OF SHIPS FAVORED.
Another year Of experience, Of discussion,
and of criticism both at home and abroad
confirms the department in the views
which it adopted in the annual report OF
1889 as to the policy of construction which
the navy should pursue.
The policy then advocated, which was
radical departure from any view previously
presented in this country, consists in the
production of three principal types: First,
the armored battleship of 10000 or more
tons; second, the armored cruiser of from
5000 to 5000 tons, and, third, the COM
merce protecting and destroying cruiser, Of
extreme speed, OF 1900 tons.
NEW VESSELS IN COMMISSION.
The secretary says that nineteen vessels of
the new navy we're put in commission dur
ing the present administration, of an aggre-
gate tonnage of 81, S32 tons, mounting alto
gether two 12-inoh, six 10-inch, sixteen
S-inch and eighty-two 6-inch guns, all of
which, with the exception of five of the
earliest have been manufactured in this
country. Eighteen vessels are In process OF
construction and certain to be completed
should their armor be delivered within the
next year, Of an aggregate tonnage Of 93 497
tons, and mounting altogether twelve 13-
inch, six 12-inch, sixteen 10-inch, thirty
8-inch, thirty-two 6-inch thirty EIGHT 5-inch
and thirty-four 4-inch guns, all Of which
have been or are to be manufactured In this
country.
STRENGTH OF THE NAVY.
Our new navy now consists of forty-two
vessels. Recommendations are made for
building four small vessels for river service
and thirty torpedo boats. The aggressive
policy Of foreign nations, the report says ,
continues, and this country, whetherit will
or not, will soon be forced into a position
where it can not disregard the measures
which form a standing menace to its pros
perity and security. On the isthmus our
commerce is engaged in a desperate fight to
maintain its foothGld. In the South Pacific
repeated annexations and protectorates
are extending powers and influence
of the maritime states of the old world
Subsidized lines of fast steamers are COM
pleting the circle of maritime communica-
tion on the eastern and western coasts of
the Dominion of Canada, and fortresses
daily increasing In strength are surround
ing our coast upon the south aud east.
Under these circumstances it is imperative
to the welfare OF this country that the
policy ofnaval reconstruction so success
fully carried on in the past should suffer no
Interruption in the future.
THE NAVAL REVIEW.
Speaking of the naval review Mr.. Tracy
says: "The department for some time
past has been engaged in preparations for
the review and the date of April &c, 1898,
has been fixed for the rendezvous at Hamp-
ton Roads. Invitations to take part have
been sent ito all maritime nations. The
number OF responses thus far received indi-
Gates that the review will be by far the
most important assemblage of naval vessels
that has ever taken place in the waters of
America"
The naval militia is composed of !, ,794
men and officers, distributed through the
states of Rhode Island, Maryland, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Massachusetts ,
California and New York.