Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-28
THE NAVY'S WORK
Some Facts From the Annual Re-
port Of Secretary Herbert.
THE LESSON OF THE EASTERN WAR
Important Recommendations as to
Improvements and Changes.
THE NAVAL OBSERV ATORY

The most important recommendation
made by Secretary Herbert In his annual
report is that Congress authorize the con-
struction of three great battleships Of
about 10000 tons displacement each, to
cost. exclusive Of armament. not exceeding
100000 each, and twelve torpedo boats.
Of from 100 to 300 tons each. to cost not
exceeding an average of $4,000. The Sec
rotary says that since his last report five
splendid ships have been completed and
tried and added to the naval list, three Of
which are capable of speed In excess of
twenty-one knots. while two of them are
the fieetest cruisers in the world.
No Speed Premiums.
One important. change Of naval policy is
noted In connection with the advertise
ments for three new torpedo boats. soon to
be issued The Secretary says that no
speed premiums will be allowed on these
boats; that the premium system undoubt-
eddy had its advantages when adopted, but
the department is now convinced that the
time has come when, with the experience
gained, II may with profit be abandoned.
The Secretary speaks in terms of deep
regret of the loss of the Kearsarge, and to
prevent the famous name from lapsng on
the naval list he suggests that a battleship
be built TO perpetuate II. He also suggests
that the renowned old Constitution be put
In repair and placed on exhibition at the
Washington navy yard as an object of in
terest to patriotic Americans.
The report tells at some length of what
was done to cure the fault of lack Of sta
bility In some Of our new ships. and says
that no further difficulty Is expected on
this score. The Secretary has taken a cue
from the battle Of the Yalu, and says that
he has given Instructions that all but the
most necessary woodwork must be re-
moved from our ships. AS all the guns for
ly An
ished the report states that the work Of
constructing a sufficient reserve store
should be commenced at once, and a
proper estimate Is submitted to that end.
Attention is called I'm this connection to
the fact that. although the government is
annually expanding a large subsidy for
vessels such as the Paris and New York.
to secure their use in time of war, 1t has
not gun to put on them. At present I'm
case of war. Great Britain could speedily
arm her merchant marine on the great
II we had a reserve supply of guns, We
could dominate these waters.
A Significant Comment.
On this polnt-of preparation for war
in time of peace-the Secretary makes this
very significant comment:
The latest and one of the most impress
sive 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 in the field, is
now. after suffering many disasters. scour-
Ing Europe and America for munitions Of
war. 1t relied upon it's numbers. Now it
is buying discarded guns and discarded
ammunition, whatever IL can get, to aid
IT in repelling the assaults of a people vast
ly inferior to IL in numbers"
or naval armor Secretary Herbert says
We have the best In the world, and the
progress of our manufacturers has been
remarkable, as they. have led all European
- III
tention to create a new naval station Is
found in paragraph, announcing his pur-
pose, now that nearly all Of our cruisers
are ready for service. to put into operation
policy which Will keep number Of cruis
ing vessels sufficient for the ordinary needs
of naval policing and the protection of our
interests abroad on each of the six naval
stations
The Secretary recommends that the en-
listed force be increased by 1900 men, and
he cites strong reasons for this increase.
The naval militia numbers $40 men, Mas
sachusetts leading with 44S; it's efficiency
Is said 20 have materially increased and
the interest in 1t continues undated
Praise of the Civil Service System.
The Secretary speaks in terms Of high
praise of the workings Of the civil service
system I'm navy yards, and he says the
labor has so increased In proficiency as
to mako 1t possible for the government
to fairly compete with the private con-
Germs In ship construction. The Secretary
emphatically discountenances all PROPOSE
lions 10 Increase the number of yards,
which, he says. would be In defiance Of all
business principles.
To Protect American Interests.
Instructions have been issued to the ad-
miral commanding In Asiatic waters which,
1t is believed. will secure the utmost pos
sible protection to American interests and
eXDliCit directions both 70
the commanding officer of the feet and to
the intelligence officers on board the sew
eral vessels there. as to the manner in
which they are expected to collect all such
Information IS can be derived from the re-
suits of naval battles fought In those
waters. Valuable reports from these Of
fcers are already beginning to arrive.
The Secretary again calls attention to the
great and pressing need for congressional
action in reference to the personnel of the
line of the navy. The evils presented in
his last report are even greater today than
then, and will increase until the situation
becomes so serious that only the most
stringent, far-reachlng and harsh meas
ures will suffice to remove them. He joins
the Secretary OF the Treasury in support
OF the movement for the transfer OF the
coast survey to the Navy Department.
The Naval Observatory.
In reporting the recent reorganization Of
the naval observatory. with Prof Hardness
In control, he says:
prof. Hardness is an officer Of scientific
Attachments and long experience Under
existing laws he will be retired on the 18th
day of December. 1899. Whether Congress
shall give to the Secretary of the Navy or
the President the power to appoint a d.
rector of astronomy at the end of Prof.
Hardness term, or even now, is a question
for that body to consider. Prof. Hardness
Is believed to be fully competent to dis
charge the duties Of the high position to
which he has been assigned. Whatever
Congress may do, however, in so far as
regards comforting the right to appoint q
director from civil life. the department is
firmly convinced that no law ought to be
passed going further than this.
'sThe three divisions OF the naval OBJ
servatory considered as a station. and the
nav al observatory plant. taken as an entity
should always be under the control of a
naval officer. II the observatory. as n
whole. were to be placed under the control
Of a civilian. the navy would need other
buildings and other plant for its purely
nautical work now carried on there, and
past experience shows that civilian insti-
buttons established under the government
are apt to grow without limit