The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-06
STATE OF THE NAVY
Secretary Herbert Submits His Report
TO the President
MANY SUGGESTIONS MADE
Twenty-Three New Vessels Put
Into Commlssion-coast Defense
Problems Discussed-The Gulf
Should Fave a Dry Dock.

Washington. Dec. 5.-Hon. Hilary
A. Herbert, secretary of the navy, has
submitted his annual report to the
president. The report first gives a
statement. In considerable detail, of
the Increase of the naval force of the
country since 1885. Secretary Herbert
emphasizes the Importance of the real
lighting vessels as compared with COM
merce destroyers as a means of win
ming In war. The report includes ta-
bles showing there have been author
lied by congress since March 4. 1893.
2S new vessels of an aggregate dis
placement Of 65,S66 tons, including five
battleships. six gunboats, l6 torpedo
beats and one submarine torpedo boat.
The secretary says. Large as the
aove increase appears. 1t yet does not
suffice to place the United States navy
In satisfactory condition If we mean
to be able at all times to defend cur
hong line OF sea coast, afford unQues-
tiopable protection to our citizens in
foreign lands. render efficient aid 10
our diplomatic corps and maintain,
under all circumstances. aur national
honor" He adds: During your pres
ent administration there will have
been placed In commission three first
Grass and two second class battleShips,
TWO arnsored cruisers. four double
turreted monitors and one harbor de-
fense ram, making total of II new
armored vessels, having an aggregate
displacement of S1517 tons. In addi-
ton to the above mentioned armored
ships, eight cruisers and three gun
boats VIII have received their first
commission. making a grand total OF
~ vessels with an aggregate displace-
ment OF 11s.1S4 tons. placed in commits
sion during your present term of office,
this being by far the largest amount
of tonnage put in commission during
any presidential administration since
1865"
June 30. 1893, there were serving in
the navy 6,459 enlisted men ard 2l5
apprentices; June 30. 1894. $3.50 men
and 1,144 apprentices: June 30, 1895,
7.499 men and 1.2Ss apprentices. and
June 90. 1896. S.l65 men and 1.37S ap-
prentices. The services of Rear Ad-
miral Benham during the BRAZILIAN
rebellion and Rear Admiral Carpenter
during the China-Japan war. received
honorable mention.
The secretary recommends the en-
eeNshteht ~ f6Nb w tndDit tHt DTtSl-
dent. In case Of emergency. to call into
service such tugs. yachts and other
vessels belonging to American citizens
as could be adapted to Use as gun
boats, transports. and the like, and for
manning them. The naval militia of
the seacoast states is warmly en-
dorsed. The drills carried out by the
various divisions of the militia during
the year are detailed, and of the Paci-
iic division the report says: I'm Cali
fornia Ii was not possible to arrange
cruises on the ships of the Pacific
squadron which would suit the exi-
genc,es OF the service and the possibil-
tiles Of organization. They were, how
ever. gwen as much opportunity as
possible to drill on board, of which
they took advantage with zeal and
much personal inconvenience"
The report says: For the last few
years the naval war college and Off
GERS In attendance have occupied them
selves with solutions of war problems.
which concerned various portions of
our coast and frontiers. The means
Of defense that could be improvsed
have been carefully considered. even
to the selection Of the material end
personnel available. From a combina-
tion OF these problems scheme for
the defense Of the coast and the FROM
tier has been formulated and by com
tinued intelligent and systematic work
this plan Of defense may be perfected.
so that at the outbreak of a war an
auxiliary navy may be quickly mobl-
lized along the coasts and harbors.
rivers. and important strategic posi-
tions may be fortified by marine
mines. protected by temporary bate
ries."
Some space Is devoted 10 the subject
OF gun making and the statement Is
made that the department Is eyperi-
menting with methods OF firing by cleo
tricity. The subject of armor plates re-
ceives much consideration. the con-
tracts for vessels being mentioned as
well as the results of the tests. The
statement is made. however. that the
custom of giving publicity to the tests
on armor guns and other naval appii-
ances has been discontinued on the
ground that IL furnishes foreign ma
tions information that some time may
be detrimental to this country The
supply Of powder for large guns is said
to he entirely insufficient to meet any
sudden call of war. and It's manufac-
turc being a process requiring time, IL
Is recommended that congress make an
appropriation for liberal supply to
be kept on hand.
Mention is made of improvements
since 1898 at Mare Island. Norfolk and
Brooklyn navy yards and more work
in the same line lis recommended. The
report says: THE timber for the dry
dock at Port Orchard the Puget sound
station, was contracted for with Byron.
Barlow & Co, in December, 1892. and
was completed in September, 1896.
Though timber dock. II has masonry
abutments. the entrance being an in
verted arch with the same curves as
the greatest cross section of a battle
ship" The present navy yards, the
secretary says, are sufficient for the
work required on the Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts. but he recommends that
one he established on the Gulf of Mex
leo. where ships cruising In southern
waters could be repaiTSd.
1t Is recommended that he law regu-
lating the retirement Of army officers
he made To apply to those I'm the navy.
Considerable stress is laid upon the i'm
rortance OF astronomical work done
by the nautical almanac office and an
extra appropriation is asked for the
immediate completion ~ certain work
now on hand. The sanitary condition
OF the Washington navy yard and ma .
rine headquarters is strongly con-
demned. Vt being stated that nearly
one-fourth of the cases of malaral dis