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

now being built at the yard OF the Columbian
Iron Works and Dry Dock Company. Baltimore,
for several months. The problems involved in
the sal. sfactory fulhllment of the requirements
laid down by the department are numerous and
difficult. hut the CONTRACTORS have guaranteed
their satisfactory SOLUTION. and II the contract
addition to its fighting strength.
The following shows the progress In the mp
ministration:
On June 80. 1893. there were 30 vessels In
commission, with q tonnage of $500 tons.
commission. With a tonnage Of ii 400 tons.
On June 80. 1895. there were 80 vessels In
commiSsion, ~, With q tonnage Of 90 gs4 sOn., IN
commission, with II tonnage OF l22,52S tons.
pAdains ' bso l, r k " e;21hl I. to tons rom and m ., tao
Dec. I the total tonnage In commission VIII DO
On June 10. 1893, there were serving in the
navy 6.+5o enlisted men and l.2l5 apprentices;
June 80. 1894, $3.50 men and Liza appren-
prentircs; and june 30, 1895, s,l65 men and
1873 apprentices. OF the enlisted men In 1893,
a a;gtGS wsTS is isSG. I I ,ssa; i G01 issS. s,s7 sS!S and
In 1896, 2,4O9.
fo rns TsSHFq rss at Inns 't tRs oisiHsn nsHGa OF thu
enlisted men prior To April !, 1870, at which
date only 90 per cent. OF the whols enlisted
lean citizens. Until July. 1894. when Congress.
at the instance Of the departnent, passed AN
man could become u citizen of the
for that purpose. thus FORGETTING his con-
tiauous service and the benefits to accrue there
many enlisted men have become citizens. The
department has heen using all Its efforts to.
listed mon - per cent. are citizens. while 80
per cent. OF the apprentices are American born.
,o A,sG ,ar,s!a Il %s BY c tarfe 70 which ine hv viii enable be
the department. to make use. In case OF an
s sasGS nc ;S of i ssS SSsi iis yssh sna a soa. .ss, ,ss a end
lake trade. and to call into the service of the
navy the sailors and officers necessary to COM
mand and tit such ships In case of threatened or
actual war. He recommends an additional APP
preparation for the purpose of supplying guns
called into service from our merchant marine.
Reference is also made to u reserve system,
Board appointed to formulate a general plan
for the laying up OF vessels In reserve. The
poets to be able 10 submit TO Congress at an early
day during the coming session, suggestions for
snG nro ,yEdis'a nroms as sr may nod p HIiops for y e shIps' 40 10
that 1t may establish aud maintain a reserve
system. with the value and Importance of which
the department is deeply IMPRESSED.
The subject of the naval militia is dealt with
at ONE length. 1t is shown that at the close OF
among the states of Rhode Island. Maryland,
Cslitornia. a"d New York. From the last
official returns they now number $3.50 In the
North Carolina. Rhode Island, Maryland.
South Carolina. Pennsylvania, Illinois. Con-
and Louisiana, aud the Department has been IN
formed of the prospective formation OF an add;
an organization In Ohio. during the summer
the various battalions have been drilled on the
vessels OF the navy and have had the ad,an-
tages OF target practice and drills with the bat
terles OF the ships. As to the value of the naval
militia in time OF war the Secretary sage:
lit has often been questioned whether the
class of men who form tic majority of the naval
militia is that which would be needed to re-
fleet in case OF threatensd Invasion. For the
last few years the Naval War College and the
with the solution of war problems. which COM
prised various portions OF our coast aud frontiers:
The means OF defense that could be impro, Used
have been carefully considered, even 10 the selec-
ton of material aud personnel locally available.
for the defense Of the coast aud frontier has
been formulated, and by continued Intelligent
S Ss s sys.emdat sc w sSst at .h IL, pt oa,b Tt det Of var % any
auxiliary navy may be quickly modified along
the coasts. and harbors. rivers. and important
"The standing navy will have al, i can do to
for the large ships of the auxiliary feet. and
assist in much of the work to be done as the
naval, militia, even with their present linn
emergency arise necessitatinx' the hasty
mobilization of the entire naval. strength of
oficers and gnnners will also be required to hl
tho compliments Of the auxiliary and mosquito
1 Hss.s, s of , sve T.t to iSnDp psySs W shs l,F are on ,n ,ss
officers and men to be obtained? Those avail
able IRON the o, merchant ns C ron marine ana arc o laHki9 4na in
have the important habit OF the sea- but 1t
would require time to make them efficient in
the use OF naval weapons. They may be de-
pended upon ,o to al nj the ne 6s%equi msnS s,s Of tine
highly Ii Intelligent, personnel OF tho naval
militia, many will present themselves who.
can be more quickly qualined for Junior Officers
and gunners than those coming from any other
the navy who have been Officially connected
with them has, as appears from the reports
unanimous that the naval militia as at present
organized will form a powerful adjunct to tho
regular navy Of duties Which would greatly
lessen its power by dividing its force all OF
"To more thoroughly instruct the naval mill
tia in the duties which Will be required OF them
IN case Of mobilization or of war y is tho inten-
ton Of the department 20 communicate TO them
as soon a. practicable that portion OF the plan
OF general mobil! cation and defence which re-
lates 10 tho several states TO which they belong,
what vessels are TO be used. what positions not
embraced in tho military detences must be-
mined and protected by batteries, what signal
stntion. must be maintained, and, in general.
everything that must be done to utilize all
possible resources for the local defence. This
will be the work OF years. but 1t is believed that
by intelligent cooperation between the officers
OF the department aud the naval militia a
thoroughly diaested pan OF mobilization and
subsequent operations may be gradually per-
fected, which will bs OF inestimabiev value to The
country. With this plan in view. the depart
ment has granted authority for officers OF the
naval militia to attend the courhes at tho
Naval War College and Torpedo School at
Newport. X. l.. and during the past summer
six naval militia officers have followed a por-
tion Of the course Mt the former and nineteen
have taken the prescribed course at the latter
school. In this way an acquaintance with the
methods found best for the defence OF localities
and with the practical operation of torpedoes
will be disseminated among their organiza-
tons"
Under the heading OF ordnance the report
says:
been manufactured or all calibres. Ms follows:
Seventy 4-inch, sevenly-one 5-!nch, six 6-iDch.
forty-tive S-incb. one l0-inch. eight l2-inch.
twelve l3-inch. lncludingthe 20 sets Of. 4-inch,
30 sets of 6-inch. 90 sets OF 6-inch, and 2 sets
of S-inch gun %fOrglngs, for which contracts have
been awarded, we have In course OF manufacture
at this date 1913 guns of all calibres
from 4-inch to l3-inch. or these. SO guns
arc for the auxiliary naval cruisers, Tor
which an appropriation was made At the lat
session OF Congress, In addition 20 tho above.
100 tliree-inch field guns. for landing and boat
service. are in hand and will be COMPLETED in