New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-02

the merchant marine liable TO naval service nnaer
acts OF Congress wiz be CONSIDERED ihe anN'''
navy
The natural distribution. geographicahy' OF
these ships it is stated. would be station
each to New-England, New-york Hareor the
Central Atlantic Coast. the Gulf of Mexico ana
the Pacific Coast, several vessels being kept
at each station.
THE CASE OF THE KATAHDIN.
The question of the acceptance OF the ram
Katahdn which failed to make the required
speed of seventeen knots. is practically referred
by the Secretary TO Congress
DELAYS in the construction of the war YES
sells built at Government navy yards nave oeeh
due the Secretary thinks. to the system tor-
merry prevailing there of taking worKmeh from
these ships to- do other work. This manner OF
things has been remeded, and the Department
is now also vigorously pushing the work upon
all vessels building at private establishments
In this connection he praises American ship
building, and incidentally the American me-
chanic
An item of 100000 is asked by the Secretary
for refittng the cruiser Chicago with new Doll
ers and engines sufficient to give her an IN
creased speed OF three knots an hour An APP
propriation of 100000 is also requested Tor CIV
ing new compound engines for Farraguts Ola
flagship Hartford. Rapid-hrng guns VIII also
be placed on the vessel. The machinery of the
Atlanta has also become worn out ana the
Secretary proposes TO replace II WIN "e"'
water-tube boilers being used.
The wonderful efficacy of rapid-nre guns was
strikingly illustrated in the battle Of Yaloo
In 1894 between the Chinese and japanese
fleets and gradual conversion of the oldef
six-inch calibre guns to the rapid-fire principle
will be undertaken. The Secretary asks sooo'-
600 10 carry out this and other suggestions re-
lating to ordnance matters, and emphasizes
the necessity for furnishing armament for the
new auxiliary cruisers OF the American Line
the ST. Paul and the st Louis. The Depart
ment. he says is exerc wing every power vested
In IL by law to secure guns and ordnance ma
terial but is much hampered by want OF spe-
cifc authority and necessary APPROXIMATIONS
Congress having failed to give 100000 asked
for the purpose last year He incorporates an
his report some extracts from his report of
last year. paragraph which is so interest
ing that ii is herewith given
Under treaty provisions neither the United States
nor the English keep more than one small
naval vessel on our Northern lakes. SO far the
Two Countries are matched In case however, a
war should unfortnnatey break out between them
Great Britain could promptly furnish guns ana gun
though their marine Is far Inferior to in
strength the British might master those waters
ana do incalculabe damage TO our lake cities. If
wa had a reserve OF ordnance and ordnance stores
we could dominate those waters without question.
GUNS. POWDER AND DRYDOCKs.
The Department has fixed upon the 13-inch
calibre for the main battery guns of the new
battle-shps. the tests at the naval proving
grounds on the side armor of the Iowa having
concusivey demonstrated the superiority or
this cabre over the i2-nch.
The Secretary mentions that satisfactory
smokeess powder is now manufactured at the
Government torpedo station. He also SAYS
that il is gr .tifying that during the year both
the Bethlehem Iron Company and the Carne-
gle Steel Company have received large orders
for arrnor from foreign country, and this is
convincing proof of the excellence o: thelr
product. -,
much TO say. When the dock at the New
York Navy Yard is completed, we shall have
upon the Atlantic Coast two docks-the other
at Port Royal S. C.-of sufficient size to ac-
commodate our largest vessels. The Secretary
says there should be a dock yard and repair
Ing station on or near the Gulf of Mexico, but
the condition of the Treasury prevents him
from asking for appropriation for It's con-
struction. He thinks that ii would be extraVa-
gance to construct and maintain. as has been
urged. new docks Norfolk. Portsmouth.
N H.. Boston, League Island Penn. and Mare
Island, Cal.
The Reorganization OF the Navy a better ba-
sis, so that officers may obtain command rank
before they get too old. is urged, but the secre-
tary shows that he believes no system that can
be devised will be absolutely perfect.
The recent attempt 10 do away with marine
guards on vessels is mentioned. and the
Secretary. commenting this. holds that
marines are necessary on board ship.
mends that the limits II age for admission should
be from fourteen TO sixteen years. or from fifteen
l TO seventeen instead Of from sixteen to twenty
y now. and that the course be reduced 10 four
years.
Commentator is given the Naval War Col
lege. and special praise 10 the naval plilitia, OF
which. he says. IL would be hard to find finer
class Of physically and mentally developed young
men. who will also he of great value In aiding
60 fight on our ships In the regular Navy as well
as manning our reserve and auxiliary Navy.
TESTIMONY OF CIVILIAN WITNESSES.
In discussing nTval courts aud the inability Of
the Department 10 compel civilian witnesses to
testify. the Secretary says;
The ends of justice frequently defeated from
the lack of power in naval courts TO compel a
civilian witness 10 appear and TESTIFY. The ten
dency Of modern times is to bring persons in the
naval service INTO Closer touch with the outside
world thar ever before. and as a consequence the
testimony of civilian witnesses r. oftener needed in
naval courts than formerly
IL sometimes happens that without such testimony
the conviction OF those guilty Of serious offences
cannot b. had nor the innocence OF persons unjusty
accused established There can be no good reason
why courts authorized to hear and determine mat
tiers Of importance should longer be deprived OF the
ordinary compulsory process allowed civil tribunals
for arriving at the Truth q issues coming before
them. and renew my former recommendation that
Congress remedy by legislation this defect In the
procedure before naval courts