The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-12-07

n II the Further strengthening
OF Uncle Sans Navy.
The Secretary Tells of the Operations az
His Department During the Year,
aud Makes some Important
Recommendation


washington. Dec. 2--Advocatcs OF con-
tinuing the increase In the new navy wiz
End satisfaction In the annual report or
Secretary Herbert 20 the president. The
secretary recommends the construction OF
tSo battleships and at least ~ torpedo
boats. and he prefaccs his recommenda-
ton with the statement that ian tnBpec-
ton OF tho tables herein given. showing
the relative strength or nayies VIII fur-
nish. Il Is believed, all the argument now
needed for the continuation OF the building
programme heretofore indicated by the
action OF congress-. We are not In want or
ordinary unarmored cruisers or Bunbonts,
but we are lamentably deficient In torpedo
boats. and We certainly need more pattie-
ships An inspection OF the building pro-
grnmme OF other nations will demonstrate
that the lessons taught at falu and Wei
Hal Wei have tended 10 conhrm the be-
lief OF naval experts throughout the world
In the efficiency OF these two classes or
vessels"
THAT gunboats and torpedo boats may be
built cheaply. the secretary points out
briefly The gratifying progress MADE py
our manufacturers OF steel anc our snip
builders and the competition among them
has enabled the departmSnt during the
past two years. he says. 10 contract Tor
gunboats and torpedo boats at very
large reduction from former prices
Toward this proposed Increase or the
navy Mr.. Herbert estimates that N.bss'Sos
Is necessary, and. inclusive or thar amount.
his estimates for the complete expenses OF
the naval establishment for the hscal year
ending June 30. 1897. aggregate s2s,xll,ie6.
Out OF the appropriation for the current
fiscal year. amounting TO Na'zlzseoi' there
remains Sgf2.1S6
with the exception OF the appeal for more
ships, the most important topic treated by
- ll...l l. hat af
tenn. He prefaces his suggestion that such
system be established with some com
ment on the necessity for having more en-
listed men. and recommends that the en-
llstment OF 1000 more men be authorized.
Giving figures 10 show how small our en-
listed force Is and how large those OF Hi
ropean countries are, he makes compar
ison OF our l34G0 bluejaekets and marines
villa Germany's E.fS1 Germany's avail
able men. while not all at one time In actual
service on board ships, would, IN case or
war. furnish no lack of trained and drilled
material for the imperial navy. and"
says the secretary. "in case OF a naval
war, readiness. other conditions being
equal, means Victory" In the emergency
OF war coming quickly, what should we do
for men? he asks. All allowed by law are
enlisted. and all enlinted are already or
ships.
We have he says, magnificent squad
ron II armed and manned but. he adds, we
have not man TO put upon one OF them
and no authority OF law TO accept the serv-
Ices OF single one OF the thousands who.
In case OF war. would volunteer TO serve.
Mr.. Herbert says: "All this ought not to
be. IL IL the height OF unroason TO pay
heavy subventions TO swift ships and call
them our auxiliary navy unless we have
the means OF arming them; IL Is folly 10
maintain these ships and procure arms
for them II we are never TO man them. and
certainly Il Is unwise and shortsighted to
defer making any provision by law for
procuring the men who are 10 utilize these
VESSELS until after the emergency of an
always possible war shall have arisen.
There Is no other nation that has so
much OF the material OF war that Is so
little prepared 10 utilize IL that has 30
much OF personnel available and that is so
utterly without authority OF law 20 en-
ploy II. The department needs present
authority to enlist the thousand men
asked for, and this number viii be SUM-
cient, II the policy herein outlined be np-
proved by congress. TO answer all the me-
cessities OF the government while we are
30 fortunate as to be on a peace footing:
Il will certainly suffice for years TO come"
The secretary follows these arguments
with a statement as TO the necessity OF
keeping always a portion or our fleet Ia
reserve. lie shows by tables that OF the
total mum Der OF vessels belonging to Great
Britain, France. Germany and Italy 56.b
per cent are in reserve and 43.5 I'm commits
klon. anu says thai "a f..S ca. Battle
ships. coast defense vessels and torpedo
boats. after they have been broken In"
should be kept largely In reserve. Policing
the seas could be done better and more
economically by cruisers OF lighter draft
carrying smaller crews and by gunDoats
The wonderful efficiency OF the rapid-fire
gun was strikingly illustrated In the battle
of Yalu In 1894 between the Chinese and
Japanese fleets. and a gradual conversion
OF the older six-inch caliber guns to the
rapld-ire princrple win be undertaken. The
secretary asks 100000 10 carry out this and
other suggestions relating to ordnance
matters and emphasizes the necessity for
furnishing armament for the auxiliary
cruisers OF the American line. the 81. Paul
and st. Louis. The department, he says. is
exercising every power vested In II by law
20 secure guns and ordnance material, but
II r. much hampered by want OF specific
authority and necessary appropriations.
congress having failed TO give sos. 900 asked
for the purpose last year
In this connection he Incorporates I'm HIS
report some extracts from his report last
year. one paragraph or which In so inter.
estipg that ~ is herewith given: Under
treaty provisions neither the United States
nor the English can keep more than ono
small naval vessel upon our northern lakes
So far the two countries are matched. In
case, however, war should unfortunately
break out between them, Great Britain
could promptly furnish guns and gun
mounts TO her merchant marine on the
lakes. and, though their marine Is far In
fcrior TO ours In strength. the British
might master those waters and do meal.
culable damage TO our lake cities. II wa
Ind a reserve OF ordnance and ordnance
stores we could dominate those waters
without question"