The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-14

completion. will constitute feet which u -
believed Is sufficient forordlnary cruising puy-
poses IN time of peace. ~e have nov completed
class battlcshlp and but few sorpcdo
boats IL are TO have y navy
for warliSe operations offensive and de-
leGslve We certainly ought 20 Increase both
the number of hattle~hips aud torpedo boats
recommend that provision be made for the
construction Of additional battle-shlps andtor-
pedo boats.
ORDINANCES ASD oRpSAScg MATERIAL
The secretary recommends the manufacture
not only Of a reserve supply ~ ordnance and
ordnance material for ships ~ the navy but
also a supply for the auxiliary fleet. Guns and
their appurtenanee~ should be provided and
kept on hand Tor both these purposes. We
have not to-day single gun that could be put
upon the shi p> Paris or New York OF the Inter
national Navigation Co, or any other ship of
our reserve navy. The manufacture OF guns al
the Washington navy yard l. proceeding sat
isfactorlly, and none of our new ships viii be
required 10 wait for their guns or ordnance
equipment.
An IMPORTANT ORDER
An important order has been issued by the
secretary OF the navy co-Orciuatlng the duties
~ the several bureaus concerned in the con-
ruction OF ships. This order. II IS believed,
Will secure TO greater extent than has hereto
these several bureaus and make the attain
ment OF the best results more certain
ACTIVE WORK foR THE NAVY.
During the past fiscal year there has been an
UNUSUAL anu ntt>~iuk Htutuu III many AuatttE-
OF the world Tor the presence OF vessels toguard
American Interests. In January last during
the Brazilian in>urrection. large fleet was
concentrated in the harbOr of Rio de JancirO.
The vigorous acton Of Rear-Atmiral Benham
In protecting the personal ani commercial
rights 0f our citizens durin. the disturbed con-
difirns afforded results which will IL is be-
llcvcd, have a iar-reaching and wholesome ia :
fuence whenever in like circumstances Il may
become necessary for our naval comm andcrs to
Interfere on behalf ~ our people in fore gn
parts The war now In progress between China
pedient to dispatch eight vessels 10 those wa
ters.
THE COAST SURVEY.
Both the secretary Of the navy and the
secretary OF the treasury recommend the
transfer OF the work u the coast
survey proper to the navy department
heartily concur in this recommendation
sides. oil the work OF mapping and chartlng
our coasts has been completed. The hydro
graphlc work which must be done over and
over again. by reason OF the shifting and vary -
ing depths OF water consequent upon the ac-
iion Of streams and tides has heretofore been
subordinstion % the superintendent Of the
coast survey There seems TO be no good
reason why the navy should not have entire
charge hereafter of such work.
PERSONNEL AND PRONArIcSs.
feel il my imperative duty TO call attention
to the recon .nendation ~ the secretary IN re-
gard 70 the personnel * the line " the navy
The >tagnat ION Of promotion in this the vital
branch q the service j. 80 great As 10 serious
" impair it, efficiency. | consider IL Of the ut
most Importance that the young and middle
aged officers should before the eve OF retire.
meur be permitted 10 reach grade entltllI =
the n 70 active ana Important duty