The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06

nFmOTIHK lhTKe pOTllDuS OF nthNy HID VII
armor from 4 to u inches thick, These shells
will carry large bursting charges through half n
calibre OF armor and explode alter having gone
THE act nppropriating for guns Of the calibres
OF o, g., and 1 men provided that the Secretary.
in his discretion. might have the whole number
Of guns Appropriated for, or a portion OF them.
built by contract. The department., looking
upon this provision OF tho law as an Indication
that Congress thought 1t wise to establish an
other gun plant upon which the Government
could call In case Of Al emerseney' has awarded
the American Ordnance Company. THIS con:
smaller cRlibres used In the naval service, anu
has, therefore,, the necessary skIll ana expert
ence to Insure the proper performance OF its
contracts. The Bethlehem Iron Company hns
completed a large part of an order for 100 guns
OF the large caliore Tor ths army anu tne or,ng,
the field of competition Will insure. IN addition
to the Government plant, two estaolis hments IN
the country capable or manufacturing high
powered guns.
THE supply of ammunition is at present lin
tied to n complete OUTFIT for each vessel in COM
mission, winch is totally insufficient. The last
Congress appropriated $500, 900 ior spare pro-
%tectiles, but this would not be enough to replace
those now on board ship, and in case Of war II
would certainly not he prudent to have on hand
n less supply of ammunition of all kinds than
would be necessary TO duplicate our present
stock. II is very difficult to obtain promptly
satisfactory powder for the larger calibres OF
great guns. and the department, therefore, earn
estly that Ian appropriation be
made for u supply of powder to be available In
"By a recent contract 1000. 900 rounds Of
ammunition for the new small arm are being
manufactured by the two PRINCIPAL cartridge
works of the United states, an Imported gun
cotton powder being used in these cartridges:
An additional supply of this ammunition will
be loaded with powder manufactured at the
ut Is earnestly recommended that an aprro.
priation he made for the Immediate purchase of
powder. either In this country or abroad, as at
the service. With a good supply on hand. all
tI.. Ia t,r.s ttnNydA nj fhA W. nm IN
obtained in this country. but 1t will be criminal
neglect to allow any time TO pass without having
enough on hand tn supply the ships for any
emergency, however great.
Al the beginning uf this Administration no
now 10Y in service which were designed TO carry
torpedoes have been supplied. and II supply Is on
hand sufficient for all vessels In process OF Goa
struction. The excellent practice which. has
been made with this destructive weapon from
the vessels in commission indicates that officers
and men have acquired great skill i'll handling
it."
The Secretary asks Congress to authorize the
building of n dock at Norfolk Of sufficient size
to take In the largest vessel of the navy. This.
he recommend should he constructed of con-
crete, as 1t + more durable. more readily re-
paired. and cheaper than a wooden dock. He
thinks there should be n navy yard at souie
point on the Gulf where vessels cruising in
Southern waters can be repaired. Should the
Caribbean Sea at any time be the theatre OF a
naval war. the repairing of ships at points ac-
cessi6le TO the Gulf OF Mexico would be an ao-
solute necessity.
On the subject OF the increase of the navy the
Secretary says:
when the department undertook In 1892
the task OF laying down battle ships, the drafts
OF the Indiana and bia classes having
been brought to Its attention. the Bureau OF
Construction was directed To prepare plans FOR
the new vessels that should give them two feet
less draft. 1t WAS urged that there were din:
culties In the way. but the order was insisted
upon and was carried ont. The battle ships laid
down during this administration are. therefore.
Of lighter draught than those previously de.
signed proved TO be when completed. being 20
feet at normal and 25 feet at extreme dranght;;
Thia alan Nchirh una 4 n no ion ntTtHtI0n- T.
now appears did not GO far enough. or perhaps
1t would be- fairer to say that the pattle, ships
fence OF the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. are not
as we'll suited for operations in the Gnll OF
Mexico. Attention il called To the following
recommendation from the President of the War
College:
THE close study of the Gulf OF Mexico which has
i Hssn The, Ssf iasS year sa 81 Shows v It % e be- essential TO -the
sueceSs Of defensive naNS u ea am alma t thas, We hsf sna,.
With y TS't nature "a h"s, H]rotid"i. .AitSou& p.ss sslns
D DSss sno or ae Sep tn ' OF water f1t. i'f Tor '" our ri fisns Ing ships to to
enter them y, render them o, but s isnt hen A. I US
ing OF channel, aud entrances is not q good solution
81 asis . HsH na9io Ss,e ea;iis sut SIo sssa.t and S"s ssIy sea s
tive to injuries from an enem, or the element:
narrow channel across the bar seems unwise as FAR
lies lies i In a. tseSHss the dr. draushI Of the war SHIPS % a
Tns sSIIess, tSs + Ts:Pss e suggest. that that
OF 2s feet, and submits that considerations o strategy
essential to successful naval campaigns.
This reasoning is the final result of much
careful study by able officers OF conditions as
they exist on our southern coast. Battle ships
that could enter the harhors OF SAY annsh, New
Brunswick. Key West. Tampa: Pensacola. Mo,
times would have an immense advantage
over the battle ships Of foreign nations. few
Light drauCht battle ships, II we had them:
could make any Of these ports bases of
supply. could sally for forth no fr3m then or retire
always offer battle on their own terms: There
are also many OF our ports further north which
would give the same advantages to such SHIPS.
therefore recommend the authorization at
the coming session Of Congress of three such
THE tables Of the comparative strength Of
the navies OF the world heretofore quoted clear
ny 5nq Soa 1sat vera Te ST many stis' G OF the G nn"ai bowers se s0 Of
the world. which are in other respects. much
weaker han we, have t~" or three times as
| the authorization of twelve torpedo boats at the
coming session OF Congress"
Such satisfactory experiments have been
made with liquid fuel by EEgineer-in-Chief
Melville that the department has ordered that a
tug now being con-truct.d at the Norfolk yard
and one of the smaller torpedo boats being built
by the Herreshofi COMPANY be fitted for using
this Oh, intending thus TO th9rSughiy test is
For the relief Of the overworkcd engineer
corps. it is urged that their number be in
creased until the limit shall reach $50 instead Of
1914 as at present.
II is announced that a training station on the
Pacific coast. on the island Of Yeraa Buena. rs
provided by Congress. Will soon be csta Dlished,
and. that In the mean I me the Adams. now re-
turning from Honolulu, will be lifted for the
duty.
In conclusion the Secretary says:
In sending In this my last animal report. |
car not permit the occasion TO pass without eX-
pressing my warm gratitude to Assistant Sec
rotary McAdoo for the ability, fidelity, and
Promptness with which he has discharged the
duties Of his position. The naval militia, tho
Marine Corps. the repairs to ships. and other
important matters have been. by general order,
especially under his charge. Not only has he
performed the duties pertaining, to these
branches of the service. but he has af-
forded mo much valuable AID and advice
In Other matters, and whenever the duty
OF managing the Navy Department de-
yolyed Upon him he has discharged it
the Secretary and Assistant Secretary
have both been absent. Rear Admiral r. II.
Ramsey. the efficient Chief Of the Bureau OF
Naviration. acted as Secretary, TO the entire sat
tsfaction of the department. ! am also deeply
indebted TO the chiefs OF bureaus and To The
Judge Advocated General or the navy for tile in
valuable services they have rendered TO tho
department since my !ncumbency OF this office.