The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-05

boats; that the premium system updoubt-
eddy had its advantages when adopted.
put the department is now convinced that
the time has come when, with the ex-
perence gained, it may with profit be
abandoned
The report shows the number of torpedo
boats now on hand in foreign countries is
l.2eS, and the number building 1872. Great
Britain has IT'S hand and GA building,
while France is even better off with PA
on hand and Al building. OF II countries
enumerated not one has less than % of
these boats, while the United States, with
more coasts and ports than any nation,
has but six, counting those yet to be built.
The secretary speaks in terms of deep
regret Of
THE Loss OF THE KEARSARGE,
and to prevent the famous name from
lapslng on the naval list he suggests that
battleship be built to perpetuate it. He
also suggests that the renowned old Con-
stitution be put in repair and placed on
exhibition at the Washington navy yard as
an object of interest to patriotic Americans
The secretary has taken a cue from the
battle Of the Yalu, and says he has in
structions that all but the necessary ' cod
work must be removed from ships.
Attention is called to the fact that al
though the government is annually expend-
ing a large subsidy for vessels such as the
Paris and New York, to secure their Use
in time Of war, it has not gun to put en-
them. At present in case of war, Great
Britain could speedily arm her merchant
marine on the great lakes and do us enor-
nous damage, while if we had reserve
supply OF guns, we could dominate these
waters.
On this point, 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
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 NUM-
lions of war; 1t relied upon it's numbers.
Now it is buying discarded guns and dis
carded ammunition, whatever it can get.
to aid it in repelling the assaults of a
people vastly inferior to it in numbers"
The secretary caused experiments to be
made at Newport to determine the proba-
bic effect upon the crew of a submarine
boat Of the explosion of torpedo charges.
Live animals were enclosed in an old lay
torpedo case, which was submerged in 10
feet of water, and charges of 80 pounds of
gun cotton were exploded at various dis
tances, from 431 feet to so feet No dam
age was done to the inmate, and it has
been demonstrated that the crew of a sub
marine boat will be safe so long as the
hull is not ruptured. But it was made APP
parent by the denting of the torpedo case
al 50 feet distance that the danger to sub
marine boats from the detonation of high
explosives must be taken into considera-
ton.
Notice of Secretary Herbert's intention
to create
A NEW NAVAL STATION
the South Pacifc-is found in a paragraph
announcing his purpose, now that nearly
all of our cruisers are ready for service, to
put into operation policy which will keep
a number of cruising vessels sufficient for
the ordinary needs of naval policing and
the protection of our interests abroad on
each of six stations-NCrth Atlantic, South
Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific,
Asiatc and European.
The report states that instructions have
been seat to the admiral commanding in
Asiatic waters which, it is believed, will
secure the utmost protection to American
interests and the collection of valuable in
forma ton relative to the naval battles
fought there.
After again calling attention to the
urgent need Of legislation for the relief of
the personnel of the navy, the secretary
recommends that the enlisted force be in
creased by 1900 men.
In conclusion the secretary submits est-
mates for the next year. aggregatng S27,-
oS5,9l4 exceeding the current appropria-
lions by s., 49, 1913, caused mainly by the
necessity of paying for vessels now under
contract. 1t is stated that after this year
the appropriations on this score will d.
minsh, falling from S13, 259, 1893 next year to
$7o000O in the following year.