River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-12-06
HERBERT is HEARD.
Recommendation Of the Secretary of the


Navy.
WAsHINGroS. Nov. 2s.-The secre'sry of the
navy In his annual report TO the president rec
| ommends thatcongress be asked to authorize
the construction of three battle ships 81 about
lOOOO tons displacement each. 10 cost exclu-
slve OF armament, not exceeding $1,000 O0D each,
and twelve torpedo boats Of from 100 20 800
tons each, at the discretion Of the secretary OF
he navy TO cost not exceeding an average Of
$4,000 or total expenditure for naval in
crease OF sl40i0000
The naval estimates for the fiscal year end
ed June 80 1896, amount to $50 O20, OF which
slS'2593y2 Is 10 make payments upon work
hitherto authorized. The construction OF
steam machinery, arInor and armame NJ OF the
new vessels now approaching completion
This appropr alton. w.ich is 20 meet an indebt-
edness due before the end Of the fscal year.
will be substantially the last. for with the ex-
penditure of $4,000 in 1867 the existing navy
will be entirely paid for.
lie secretary makes the point that 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 pu' pose OF giving
employment to sny class, from the stand
point OF Il. tion defense IL wiz be unwise to
stop the work OF naval upbuilding.
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 viii keep . number of cruis ng vessels
sufiici Mt for the ordinary needs OF naval
policing on each OF the six stations, North and
South Atlantic. North and South Pacific.
Asiatc and European, the South Pacific being
a new station, now for the first time an
nounced. This policy, 1t Is thought will allow
frequent fleet and squadron evolutlons which
are necessary for the instruction OF officers
ssd men.
The secretary alludes TO Secretary Chan
cler's references to the wastefulness resulting
from many different yards ard 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 congress sional policy which annually
pays such vessels as the Paris and New York
on condition that they hold themselves In
readiness to serve disagreement whenever
demanded. yet - ding armament for
them.
when the 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 Eeglish government had guns
and gun mounts ready to be put upon them at
a moments notice." and. continuing an allu-
sion to the re-, diremeats OF the government in
the matter of reserve Of ordnance and ord
nance stores. Secretary Herbert says:
The latest and one of the most impressive
lessons IN all history is now being taught by
China and Japan. A nation, the most populous
in the world. able 20 put millions of hgnting
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. 10 aid 1t in
repelling the assaults of a people vastly In
ferior 70 IL in numbers.
The recommendation Of last year that the
enlisted force be increased by 1900 men Is re-
newed The number OF vessels which must be
kept in commits ion 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 authorize such increase should
be so worded as to permit the department TO
enlist them whenever needed.
An efficient and economical service cannot
be carried on withous a 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-
Rencies necessitatins the dispatch OF vessels
to foreign waters are causing demands upon
the enlisted force which II 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 ana the value of public property Of
which they become the care-takers and de-
fpngarS