The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-06
LAST TEN YEARS REVIEWED
TIeN HAS BECOME MARINE
POWER.
STILL WEAK IN SOME SPOTS
Provision for Three BattIeshfps and
at Least Twelve Torpedo Boats
Urged ON Congress-.

public today. The report reviews the
steps taken ten years ago to provide
the United States with modern navy
and traces the progress briefly during
the two Cleveland and the Harrison ad-
ministrations. A detailed list is given
Of the vessels constructed and put into
service during that time, and in a
series of compact tables the growth of
the power of the United States on the
sea is shown Concluding this portion
Of his report, Secretary Herbert says:
At the beginning of this administration the
United States navy was exceedingly weak in
battle ships and torpedo boats. but its con-
dition has greatly improved. The results are
highly ereditable to the country, but it is
clear that the great powers with which we
are brought into close relationship largely
exceed us, not only in the number of battle
ships and torpedo boats actually in commits
sion, but in their naval programmes for the
future The work of adding to their strength
in battle ships and torpedo boats goes on
steadily from year to year. 1t Is not con-
tended that should attempt to compete in
numbers with the great nayies of England
and France but ought surely to move up
steadily and continually into higher rank
| than that we now occupy, and into the place
of nations whose necessities are far less than
| ours. There are now, not only in Europe,
| but in Asia, strong and growing navfes be-
/ longing to nations with which we must al
! ways have the most intimate and delicate re-
| latiens and where our scitizens are to be
| found in great numbers prosecuting their
legitimate business. Our obligations and
| duties on this hemisphere are recognized by
/ the world and cannot be met unless we are
| possessed of naval strength. II our mer-
chant marine increases as it should, and no
| doubt will the present naval strength will
| be very far from what it should be. Nothing
will so surely make for peace and give us
| weight abroad and security at home as a
! substantial navy, constructed of the best ma
| terials and manned by the highest intelli-
gence and skill
On June &c. 1893, there were thirty
vessels in commission. with a tonnage
of 81, S20 tons. On June 80, 1884. there
were thirty-five vessels in commission,
with a tonnage OF. 1,46S tons. On June
| so, 1895. there were. thirty-six vessels in
commission, with a tonnage of 1854
! tons. On June 80, 1896, there were forty
vessels in commission, with a tom
mage of 122, 52s tons. Adding the Brook
! lyn, 9,271 tons, andA the Puritan, 5000
/ tons. both to be in commission Dec Z,
| the total tonnage in commission will
be 1889. June 80, 1893, there were
serving in the navy 6,459 enlisted men
| and 1.215 apprentices; June 80, 1894,
$3.50 men and l, IA apprentices; June
80. 1895, 7499 men and 1928 apprentices;
and June 3d. 1895. 8,165 men and 1878
apprentices. Of the enlisted men in 1893
1.640 were serving under continuous
| service certificates; in 1894, 1924; in
1895. 2,270; and in 1896, 2,409.
The records Of the department afford
! no information regarding the citizen
| ship of the enlisted men prior to April
l, 1890, at which date only So per cent
of~the whole enlisted force G, SIG men
and apprentices) were Amerfpam sciti-
zens. Until July, 1884, when congress,
at the instance of the department
! passed an act affording the necessary
facilities. there was no law under which
/ an enlisted man could become a citi-
/ zen of the United States without leav-
ing the navy for that purpose, thus for
| feiting his continuous service and the
| benefits to accrue therefrom. Since the
passage of the act referred to many
| enlisted men have become citizens The
| department has been using all its eff
| forts to Americanize the enlisted force
and of the enlisted men 70 per cent
are citizens. while 80 per cent Of the
apprentices are American born.
FLEETS KEPT BUSY.
During this administration there
have been unusual demands for fleets
and single vessels to protect the rights
of our citizens abroad. Revolutionary
| troubles have at different times i'm
periled our commerce in Guatemala
Peru Nicaragua ton the east and west
coasts, Colombia Costa Rica, Hon
duras. Argentina Turkey, China, ia
pan, Hawaii and elsewhere
/ The United States is now paving
| subsidies to a number of fine. swift
sailing vessels which are capable OF
being promptly converted into useful
men-of.war. Secretary Herbert, on
! TINS point, says:
We have many 1other naval resources
tugs, yachts and other vsssels-that could he
htted as torpedo boats 3 many vessels that
transports, coal shibs ana regular s5ips and
we have thousands gof hardy and brave mon
accustomed to seafapinE life in our fishing
fleets, eoastwise trade and lake trade: hut
we have no law on the statute books that
would enable us to- utilize, in case Of en-
Urgency, single one of any class of these
seor foU tho cal INTO The service single
and above the number allowed to our regular
/ navy in case of threatened or actual war
IN Ine OPINION OF the department, such con-
oltlons should not be allowed to continue
Naval wars hereafter will be short sharn
and decisive. Whoever may be called unon
10 CONSIDER the possibility of a sudden out
oreak OF war by the United States, any part
or which is to be waged upon the high seas.
Will be deeply impressed with the utter in
AFFINITY OF any administration under present
laws to utilize promptly and efficiently. as
We should be able to do, our naval resources
congress, at its last session appropriat fed
S4O0,OVo toward the armament of our auxiliary
cruisers. This sum has been used but it is
totally insufficient. Other sums are needed
TO supply guns and ammunition with which
to arm. vessels to be called into service from
our merchant marine, and laws are necessary
TO give authority to the president to con-
tract for and call such vessels into the sary-
Ice, to utilize our naval militia to enlist still
other men, and 70 purchase supplies that
may be needed. Until congress shall leeislate
upon this subject and give some such an
thority as that herein indicated, it cannot be
said tnat our government is in condition as
1t should be at all times, to meet emergencies
as tEAy may arise.
The department continues to watch
with interest the growth and develop
N of oil
states which, by the acts of their leg.
islative bodies, recognized the neces-
sity of the existence Of this branch ri
citizen soldiery. Since the Formation
of the Massachusetts, battalion in 1890
it has endeavored by all means in its
power to encourage and develop these
bodies, whose possibilities as powerful
auxiliaries in case of need it fully rec
ognizes. 1t has loaned them such yes
sells as could be spared from the navy
for receiving ships or armories. It has
from time to time, whenever possible
offered them the advantage of actua
experience on board the men-of-War in
commission for service by quarterins
them on board, drilling them at the
batteries and in the boats, and by ex.
ercising them at the batteries in tar
get practice under the service condi
tons. It has loaned them such mate
rial for their exercise and instructions
.
ular service within the limitations 81
the existing laws. 1t has detailed OF.
fcers of the navy to assist at stated
drills and inspections, and to advise
and encourage them in their efforts
toward further efficiency, and indeed Ii
has been it's constant endeavor to foste,
and aid them in every way that seemed
possible under the laws.
NAVAL MILITIA
At the close of the last administra