The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-16
Tho Auxiliary Navy.

The Inman line registry bill. now law. Is
ono Of the many valuable fruits OF the late
controversy with Chill. Tho preparations
made by Secretary TRACY to defend the
rights Of American sailors and the honor OF
the American flag. secured the first
mobilization ever made OF our new steel
feet; developed plans for coaling In
foreign stations: hurried forward the work
Of coast defence, especially at San Fran
cisco and New York: gave q new impetus
to the manufacture OF heavy guns and
torpedoes; and. above all. aroused the
spirit Of patriotism in the American people
from the lakes to the Rio Grande. Now
this present step toward founding an auxil-
larry fleet from the mercantile marine. COM
prising ocean racers Of the highest class.
available as cruisers. can also be ascribed to
the practical experience Of the CHILEAN AZ
fair. It was then found that the Inman
steamers City Of New York and City Of
Paris could not be chartered by our Govern
ment. while carrying tho British flag. with
out notice Of several weeks; and In mod
ern warfare delay OF weeks In the use Of
transports or cruisers may be as fatal as
one Of years.
All the leading maritime nations have Of
late years paid much attention to tho posi-
bility Of reinforcing their navies from the
merchant marine. The ability to call out
at once a supply Of fast and capacious
transports. capable OF being armed.
may give advantage enough In naval
operations to decide the fate OF
war. Again. armed merchantmen OF
the highest speed are Of incalculable SER
yo hat L.,
there In British ocean commerce that could
defy a feet OF armed Inman liners? This
possibility has boon greatly strengthened
OF late by the invention Of rapid-tire guns.
which. with their light mounts. furnish
batteries for auxiliary cruisers powerful
enough to riddle any commercial vessel.
and hence as effective for their specific
purpose as II ten times as heavy.
Each Government has its own method Of
the services Of these auxiliaries
The pledge to hold them In readiness for
war may be obtained by employment In
tho mails on terms amounting to
subsidies. and designed to build up the
merchant marine Great Britain pays
about 5000. 900 year in this way: France
and Italy about s20OO.O0o each: whIo the
OF Germany and Spain arc
sums MISC reckoned In the millions. Tho
bountlcs aro in some cases for construction,
based on tho tonnage. and In others on
navigation. according to the number OF
miles run. England also pays flxed sum
yearly to her fast ocean passenger steam
ships. in addition to the price for carrying
the mails. and thus can keep the ships
under inspection and can charter them
on stipulated terms II needed It is GUS
tomary In such cases for the naval authors
ties to prescribe certain conditions of con-
for ships while building and GER
tain alterations for those already con-
especially relating to strength of
decks and bows.
In the United States steps toward secur-
ing an auxiliary navy were taken at least
halfa dozen years ago. The Board OF In
spection ut New York was directed to report
upon the merchant vessels available at that
port for this purpose and selected as suita-
BILE the Louisiana Of the Cromwell line and
the Newport OF the Pacific Mail line. The
Navy Department then began to keep men,
oranda as to available cruisers. not failing
to look ut such ports as San Francisco.
Boston. and Philadelphia But. as Secre-
tary TRACY said In his last annual report.
" the difficulty Is that American capital
will not be drawn into the enterprise unless
It con be sure OF specific compensation for
the concessions which 1t makes to tho Gov
first. In tho adaptation OF It's
vessels to tho latter's needs. and secondly.
IN tho surrender OF n privilege to use them
when the exigency arises" Out OF such a
iiGiculty arose Mr.. WHIrrHoRNE's bill ito
create n list OF auxiliary cruisers" which
was introduced five years ago. but never
secured enactment. and Mr.. FRYE's bill In
the Fifty-frst Congress.
Now. at last. we have the foundation OF an