Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-12-06
HERBERT Is HEARD.


WASHINGTON Nov. 29-The secretary OF tho
navy in his annual report to the president rec
ommends thatcongress be asked to authorize
the construction ofthree battle ships Of about
10000 tons displacement each. to cost, exclu-
siye of almament, not exceeding 81, 600 600 each,
and twelve torpedo boats Of from 100 to 300
tons each, at the discretion of the secretary of
the navy to cost not exceeding an average of
$4,000 or total expenditure for naval in
crease of S14,0iO000.
The naval estimates for the fiscal year end
ed June 30, 1896, amount to $50 952, 020 of which
S13,259,392 is to make payments upon work
hitherto authorized The construction OF
steam machinery, armor and armament Of the
new vessels now approaching completion.
This appropriation, which is to meet an indebt-
edness due before the end of the fiscal year,
will be substantially the last, for with the ex-
penditure of SEQ COO in 1897 the existing navy
will be entirely paid for.
The secretary makes the point thai not con-
sidering the effect Of the cessation OF this
work on industrial conditions and disclaiming
all obligations of the government to engage in
public works for the sole purpose of giving
employment to any class, from the stand
point OF n ton defense 1t will be unwise to
stop the work OF naval uphuilding.
The secretary announces the adoption of a
new naval policy regarding the movements of
ships in commission. He has decided In the
interests OF economy and efficiency and for
the more perfect protection of American In
terests abroad to put into operation policy
which Will keep a number Of cruising vessels
sufficient for the ordinary needs Of naval
policing on each of the six stations. North and
South Atlantic, North and South Pacific,
Asiatic and European, the South Pacific being
a new station, now for the first time an
nounced. This policy. it is thought, will allow
frequent feet and squadron evolutons which
are necessary for the instruction of officers
and men.
The secretary alludes to Secretary Chan
dlerS references to the WaStefulneSs resulting
from many different yards and from the meth
DDS pursued in them. What our navy needs,
says, the secretary, is more ships and guns, not
more navy yards Concerning the subsidized
merchant vessels, Secretary Herbert Is severe
on the congressional policy which annually
pays such vessels as the Paris and Now York
on condition that they hold themselves in
readiness to serve the government whenever
demanded, yet providing no armament for
them.
when they hauled down the English to
hoist the American flag" he says, 'they were
receiving pay from the British government to
hold themselves in readiness to serve that ma
ton, and the English government had guns
and gun mounts ready to be put upon them ut
moments notice." and, continuing an allu-
sion to the requirements Of the government in
the matter Of reserve Of ordnance and ord
nance stores, Secretary Herbert says:
lessons in all history is now being taught by
China and Japan. A nation, the most populous
in the world able to put millions of fighting
men into the field, Is now, after suffering many
disasters securing Europe and America for
munitions Of war 1t relied upon its numbers.
Now it Is buying discarded guns and discarded
ammunition whatever it can get, TO aid it in
repelling the assaults of people vastly in
ferior to it in numbers.
The recommendation OF last year that the
enlisted force be increased by 1000 men Is re-
newed. The number OF vessels which must be
kept in commission and ready for service Is
greater than the present enlisted force allowed
the navy will suffice to man. Calculations
place this increase at not less than 1000 men,
and the law t. au tnorize such increase should
be SO worGed as to permit the department. to
enlist them whenever needed.
be carried On without fair margin always be-
tween the number Of men absolutely necessary
to man the ships in commission and the limit
as fixed by law. New ships getting ready for
service and the constantly recurring emer-
gencies necessitating the dispatch Of vessels
to foreign waters are causing demands upon
the enlisted force which it will very shortly be
unable TO meet. The expense Of maintaining
the additional number of men asked for will
be small in comparison with the results to be
obtained and the value of public property OF
which they become the care-takers and de-