The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-02
REPORT OF THE NAVY
The Secretary Refers to the Warships
Recently Commissioned.
SHORT ON TORPEDO BOATS
There Are I'm the Service 20 Ar
mored and ~ Unarmored ves-
sells = Regarding the Pro-
motion of OFFICERS.

Washington. Dec. THE annual re
port OF the secretary OF the navy Is a
very exhaustive document OF $4,000
words. with numerous tables. After re-
citing the fact of the completion and
commissioning OF the new warships
Olympia Minneapolis and Indiana
built by contract. and the Maine. Tex
as and Amphitrite. built at the gov
ernment navy yard. the secretary calls
attention to the failure OF the ram
Katahadin to make the rate Of speed
named In the contract for her construc-
ton, and refers the matter to congress.
He says the department expects the
Terror and Monadnock TO be in COM
mission Feb. 1. 1896. and the Puritan
about July !. 1896.
The secretary pays a high compii-
ment to the excellence OF the construc-
ton of the new vessels. OF the vessels
now In course OF construction. he pre-
diets that the frst-class battleship To-
wa will be completed about October.
1897. The frst-class battleship Massa-
chusetts Is practically completed ex-
cept as regards her armor. The first
class battleship Oregon is as far ad
vanced as Is practicable before the de-
livery of her armor and gun mounts.
in less than one year.
The report says that by une 1. 1896.
the government Will have a dock on
the Atlantic coast. Port Royal. $. c..
and Brooklyn. large enough for dock
ing the largest vessels. but recommends
that another be built at Norfolk and
one on the Gulf OF Mexico. For the
Pacific coast. the opinion Is expressed
that the dock now being built on Pu-
get sound is sufficient for the near fu-
ture. In this connection the secretary
says: in my opinion. u would be wise
to invest whatever moneys are 10 be
expended upon the navy. beyond Its
current needs and necessities of exist
ing repair plants. in the construction
OF new ships. and not In building
docks"
The report shows that the United
States has In service of the armored
class three battleships. 16 coast defense
vessels. one cruiser and OF the unarmor-
ed. IS protected cruisers. 20 unprotected
cruisers. eight yunboats. one dynamite
cruiser and two torpedo boats, making
a total OF 20 armored and AZ unarmored
vessels, exclusive of torpedo boats.
There are now authorised and building
FIVE battleshlps. four coast defense YES
sels one cruiser. an arm0red. nine un-
armored gunboats and seven torpedo
bcats. The present status OF the prin-
cipal foreign navies Is shown IN ia
bles, giving the number OF vessels. ar
mored and unarmored. by classes. m
service. or authorized. or building.
The secretary urges legislation touch
ing the personnel Of the navy. saying:
ITO reorganize tho line OF the navy 20
as to bring about the promotion OF on
~x-kN.a
still young enough to learn and Wig
orous enough 20 be self-assertive.
would seem TO be all important. The
majority OF our officers now approach
ting command rank are more than 80
years OF age. The1e officers come now
first into command at a period of hfe
when the habit OF relying ON others has
become a second nature"
The secretary recommends that the
age OF admission to the naval academy
be reduced 10 either IA TO 16. or 10 to II.
instead OF IS TO 20. as now. Consider
able spnce Is devoted to the recently
established naval war college which
the secretary regards as a very i'm
portaut institution. as putting before
the officers OF the navy practical ques-
tons OF actual war TO be solved. thus
verslng them In the principles OF STRAIT
egy and tactics
The report says: The increasing In
terest IN the naval militia movement
IN the lake seaboard states gives such
promise that the department recon-
mends that steps now be taken to es-
tabllsh this arm OF the national de-
fense on a definite footing. Active
steps are being taken by the Depart
ment toward securing uniformity In the
methods OF organization and IN the
character OF duty performed. IN order
that the militia and regular navy may
cooperate effectively and help fully In
any scheme OF national defense.
The Recommendation OF last year n
renewed that the work OF coast ana
geodetic survey be transferred. a part
20 the photographic Office OF the navy
department and the rest to the geo
logical survey OF the intertor depart
ment. The estimate OF the expenses
for the year 1896 are given as follows.
For running expenses. s17.692. 704; in
crease OF the navy. s13.25s. .3s2. This
Is about 81. SOC. 900 more than the appro-
priation. For 1887. the estimates are:
For running expenses. s19.672. 7S3. IN
crease OF the navy s9.63s. .3S3.
In conclusion the secretary says:
AN inspection OF the tables given.
showing the relative strength OF the
navies OF the world. Will furnish. II Is
believed. all the argument needed for
the continuation OF the building pro-
gramme heretofore indicated by the ae-
tion OF congress. We are lamentably
deficient In torpedo boats. and we GER
tainly need more battle ships The
lesson taught at Yalu and Wei-Hai-
Wei have tended 10 confirm the belief
OF naval experts throughout the world
the ineficacy Cf these two classss OF
vessels. l respectfully recommend the
construction OF two battle ships and