The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-12-10
NAVAL AFFAIRS REPORT
The United States Has Doubled Her
Actual Fighting Strength in
the Past Few Years.
SECRETARY HERBERT REVIEWS
IMPROVEMENTS.


mitted his annual report to the president. |
The report first gives a statement in con-
siderable detail of the increase of the ma
val force OF the country since 1885.
Secretary Herbert emphasizes the Inn
portance of the real fighting vessels as
compared with commerce destroyers as a
means of winning In war The report ir-
cludes tables showing there have been au-
thorized by congress since March 4. 1898.
2S new vessels of an aggregate displace-
ment of G5,SS6 tons, including five battle
ships, six gunboats, 16 torpedo boats and
one submarine torpedo boat.
The secretary says: Large as the in
crease appears, 1t does not suffice to place
the United States navy in a satisfactory
condition If we mean to be able ut all
times to defend our long line of seacoast,
afford unquestionable protection to our
citizens In foreign lands, render efficient
aid to our diplomats and maintain under
all circumstances our national honor"
| He adds: During your present admins
tration there will have been placed in
commission three first-class and two sec
| ond-class battleships, two armored cruis-
| ers, four double turreted monitors and one
| harbor defense RAM making total OF IL
| new armored vessels, having an aggre-
| gate displacement of 1517 tons.
I'm addition to the above mentioned ar
mored ships, eight cruisers and three gun
boats will have received their first com-
mission making a grand total of % YES
| sells. with an aggregate displacement OF
| 1854 tons, placed in commission during
your present term of office, this being by
far the largest amount of tonnage put In
commission during any presidential adj
minlstration since 1865
| n
navy 6459 enlisted men and 1915 apron
tices; June 30, 1894, $3.50 men and 1140 ap-
prentices; June 30, 1895. 1899 men and 1888
apprentices, and June 80, 1896, S165 mon
and 1873 apprentices.
Honorable Mention.
| The services of Rear Admiral Benham
during the Brazilian rebellion and Rear
Admiral Carpenter during the China-Jap-
| anese war received honorable mention.
The secretary recommends the enact
ment of laws to enable the president, in
case of emergency, to call into service
| such tugs, yachts and other vessels be-
longing 70 American citizens as could be
adapted to use gunboats, transports
and the like, and manning them. The ma
val militia of the seacoast states Is warm
| ly Endorsed. The drills carried out by the
various divisions of militia during the
year are detailed and of the Pacific divis-
ion the report says:
, IN California II was not possipie TO ar
range cruise OH inc SHIPS Oh the Iaciie
squadron which would SUIT the exlgenciet
of the service and the possibilities of or
CARNATIONS. They were, however, given
as much opportunity as possible to drll
on board, OF which they took advantage
with zeal ana at much personal inconVen'
ience."
The report says: For the last few years
the naval war college and officers in at
tendance have occupied themselves with e
solution or war problems, which com
prised various portions of our coast ant
frontiers. The means of defense tina
could be improvised have been CAREFUL,
| considered. even to the selection of th'
material ana personnel available. From {
> combination OF these problems scheme
Tor the deiense OF the coast and frontie
= mas been formulated, and by continued In
!. telligent and systematic work this plan o
defense may be perfected, so that at thu
= outbreak of war an auxiliary navy may b.
quickly mobilized along the coasts an'
: farpors, rivers and important strategi
: positions may be fortified by submarine
:. Mines protected by temporary batteries.
Some space Is devoted to the subject o
gunmaking, and the statement Is mad
that the department Is experimenting
@ with methods OF firing by electricity.
l. The subject OF armor plates receive
a much consideration, the contracts TO
h Vesseis peins mentioned, as well as tn
IS results Oh tests. statement is made
l. noweVei' '"at ehe custom OF giving pun
IS iici'y u tests Oh arhor' guns ana othe
l. ho'ai appliances mas peen discontinued
'. on the ground that II furnishes foreis
IS nations ihioi nation that some time ma