The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-04
MORE BATTLESHIPS
Secretary Herbert Will Recommend Con-
St.uc!on of Three Mere in His Report.
WE ARE FOURTH AMONG NAVAL POWERS
Report Evidences mn Intention 10
Place the United state. in "A CON.
dHi"" Tor Any Emergency 1t
Ais" Recommends, that a. sum ID
Kept Ready to Purchase Powder.

washington. ID. c.. Dec. 3.-Secretary
herbert, III his forthcoming annual re-
port. Will recommend that the comma
session authorize the construction Of
three battleships ana twelve torpedo
boats.
The report will be published on sun
day next. and will show what the prrs.
ent administration has done fnr Tie
naval service. 1t ranks the United
states as No. among the naval Powers
vi the world, It's superiors being Great
BrIta'n. France and Russia. The in
crease IN the naval strength of this
country has been caused by the letting
OF contracts for the construction of men.
OF war authorized during the sessions of
Congress held in this administration.
lhere lis an evident intention on the
part OF the administration to place the
',.n,.,,,. states IN condition for any
warlike emergency. This has been
SHOWN by preparation which the Navy
department. has now been making for
more then year. and ii Is further en-.
phasized by the Secretarys recommen.
dations. For instance. the three battle
SHIPS That he urges Congress to author
lie are intended 10 be of light draurht
The explanation of this recunlmcnda.
ton is that ii Is desired that tile craft
may Put into harbOrs for supplies where
vessels of the Indiana class could not
enter. 1t is supposed that This RECON-
mendation Is due to the Administrations
desire to have first rate men war
that can enter Southern harbors with
out difficulty.
"EMERGENCY" SUGGESTION.
Another recommendation the Secre-
| tary makes-onc that will be considered
rather significant, in view of the "cmcr-
sehcy' preparations already made-is
mat which asks Congress to place nj
| the disposal of the department n urnp
sum of money for the immediate pur-
| chase OF powder. either here or abroa d
The Secretary points out that It Is the
part OF wisdom for this Government TO
have supply OF explosives on hand for
issuance To the ships should the occa.
sion demand. Under the present con.
diuons the department has no means OF
issuing TO vessels OF the Government
service quantity more than sufficient
for ordinary need.
1t is desired 10 purchase n supply
from firms located In this country or in
Europe. which can be employed should
an emergency arise for its use. OF
course this powder will be used from
time to time, but that which may be
lssued VIII he replaced by an explosive
Ui domestic manufacture.
Secretary Herbert denied this after.
noon the report that any orders had
been issued to Rear Admiral Runcc di-
rcctinE the departure of the feet under
ms command for Southern waters on
800 i'I'i' ifIc SttItNdEN tpI0 me
he had given no orders to Admiral
i'unce having in view the sailing of the
squadron.
NAVAL ORDERS.
Capt. ]. r. Bartlett has been detached
from the Lighthouse Board and order
ed to command the Puritan; Lieuten-
ant-Commander j. Il. Selrridge from
The New York Navy-yard, and ordered
20 the Puritan as executive officer;
i'ieuts. y. NJ. Wr.gh, and Simon Cook.
from the Castinc. and ordered to the
Puritan; Lieut. w. y. Whittlescy. from
the Essex, and ordered to the Puritan:
Ensign II. G.. MacFarland, from the
Columbia. and ordered to the Compass
Office, shingion. y. c.: Ensign X. II
Jackson. from the Gushing. ana ordered
"a the Puritan: Ensign j. Il. Edie from
the liydrographic Office. and ordered to
the Columbia; Ensign 6. l.. Il. stone.
from the New York. and ordered to the
'ur.tan; Ensign Charles Webster. from
the Texas. and ordered to the Brook
lvn; Passed Assistant Surgeon II. u.
wilson, from the Bache. ana ordered To-
the CaStine; Assistant Surgeon S. II.
'alNer from the Vermont. and ordered
TO The Texas Chaplain 4. y. McAlis;er.
from the Mare Island Navy-yard. and
ordered TO the Broaklyn Assistant Sur
econ y. r. Morgan has been ordered to
the Naval Laboratory. New York: Pay.
master Reah Frazer. to the Puritan.
December 10.