The herald., 1896-12-06
ALL OF THE GREAT NATIONS
Possess Fleets Superior to That Of tho
United States
More Ships Commissioned In 1895 Than h
Any Former Year
Recommendations Made to Provide
Means for the Sustaining Of the Ma :.
tional Honor at All Timea
and Everywhere.
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special wire
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 6.-HoM
Hilary A. Herbert, secretary Of the
navy, has submitted his report to the
president. The report first gives Z
statement in considerable detail the
increase Of the naval force Of the coun-
try since 1881, when in his first message
to congress, he said: "AN must admit
the Importance of an effective navy to .
nation like ours, having such an ex-
tended sea coast to protect. And yet
we have not a single vessel OF war that
could keep the seas against first-claso
vessel of any important power" SEQ
retary Herbert emphasizes the import
ance Of real fighting vessels as COM
pared with commerce destroyers. ~ .
means of winning in war
The report includes tables ehowine
| that there have been authorized BY
congress since March 4, 1S93-the date
| Of President Cleveland's second inausu-
| raton-2S new vessels, of an aggregate
| displacement of ,656 tons, including
| five battleships, six gunboats, sixteen
torpedo boats and one submarine tor.
| pedo boat.
The secretary says: Large as the
above increase appears, It yet does. not
suffice to place the United States navy
in a satisfactory condition If we mean
| to be able at all times to defend our long
line of sea coast, afford unquestionable-
protection to our citizens in foreign
lands, render efficient aid to our diplo.
macy and maintain under all circum.
| stances our national honor"
| He adds: During your present ad-
| hA4 al =
in commission three first-class and two
second-class battle ships, two armored
| cruisers four double turreted monitors
and one harbor defense ram, making .
| total of twelve vessels. having an aggHe-
| gate displacement Of S1,517 tons.
I'm addition to the above mentioned
, armored ships eight cruisers and three
gunboats will have received their firs1
commission, making a grand total of %
| vessels, with an aggregate displacement
| of lis. .1S4 tons placed in commission dur
| ing your present term of office. this be.
| ing by far the largest amount Of ton.
mage put in commission during any
presidents administration since 1855"
| table is given showing the number ana
| kind of war vessels of England, France,
| Russia, Italy Germany. United States
| and Spain, the comparative naval
| strength being expressed by the order In
which they are named AS illustrating
the growth of the navy the following
statistics are given:
| On June 30 1893. there were thirty YES
sells in commission. with . tonnage ct
! 60S20 tons.
On June 30, 1894, there were thirty-nve
vessels in commission with a tonnagG
| of 81 1853 tons.
On June 80. 1895, there were thirty-siH
vessels in commission with tonnage
| of 99, 694 tons.
On June go 1896, there were forty YES
sells in commission with a tonnage %
To-, 52S tons.
| Adding the Brooklyn, 9,721 tons, and
the Puritan, $3.50 tons, both to be in com.
mission December 7. the total tonnAgo
in commission will be 1877 $50.
On June so, 1898, there were serving N
the navy 6459 enlisted men and 1915 ap.
prentices; June 80, 1894 $3.50 men and
1144 apprentices; June 80, 1895, 7499 meu
and 1888 apprentices, and June 80, 1885,
S165 men and 1878 apprentices.
OF the enlisted men in 1888 1910 were
serving under continuous service GER
tificates; in 1894 1924; in 1895. 227o ana
in 1886, 2409.
The services of Rear Admiral Benham
during the Brazilian rebellion and Rear
Admiral Carpenter during the Chinese
Japanese war, receive honorable man.
| ton.
The secretary recommends the enact.
ment of laws to enable the president. In
case of necessity, to call into service
such tugs, yachts and other vessels be-
longing to American citizens, as could
be adapted to use as gunboats, trans
ports and the like. and manning them.
The naval militia of the sea coast
states is warmly indorsed The drills
carried out by the various divisions Of
the militia during the year are detailed
ana of the Pacific division the report
says:
In California 1t was not possible to ar
range a cruise on the ships Of the Pa
cific squadron which would suit the ex-
igencies of the service and the possible
tiles of the organizations. They were.
| however, given as much opportunity a.
possible to drill on board, of which they
took advantage with zeal and at much
personal inconvenience.
The report says: For the last yeas
the Naval War college and the offlcersia
! attendance have occupied themSelv&