The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-10
RESERVE FLEET
~ IS PROPOSED
Another Plan to Throw . Lot Of Mei
Out Of Employment.
SECRETARY nERBERT's SCHEME
He Thinks the Navy Would he Eff.
cient ifFewer ships Were in Active
Service..General Miles Coast De.
fence Plans.

Washington, Aug 9.-The preliminary
step has been taken by Secretary Her
bert toward the laying up at certain ma
val stations of a number of vessels now
in commission. A board Of officers con-
sisting of Admiral Walker, Chief En-
gineer David Smith and Lieutenant
Witsel has been appointed to consider
and report upon the secretary's sugges-
tions. Mr.. Herbert's idea is that, since
the navy has but limited number Of
men, and it Is not necessary to keep a
large fleet always in commission. some
vessels now in service, preferably bat
tle-ships, monitors, large cruisers and
torpedo boats. should have their crews
greatly reduced in size and be kept at
certain navy yards in such condition
that on short notice they could be called
into active service.
His proposition looks to the thorough
testing at sea of all new ships as soon
after their completion as practicable.
When a vessel is found satisfactory In
all respects-that is. when 1t Is Known
that she is fully up to the requirements
as to battery, hull and machinery-she
is, If Of either of the four classes named,
to be sent to a designated place to re-
main subject to call in case Of need.
Her officers and crew are to be sKele-
tonized to an organization Of skilled
men, sufficient only In numbers to care
for her battery. hull and machinery.
Any stores which may not be necessary
for - maintenance are to be taken
ashore and placed in a special store
house.
a MEASURE OF ECONOMY.
Such a vessel Is not to be considered
as in ordinary. but as in commission.
She is not to be under the authority Of
the commandant of the station where
she is lying, but Of the admiral Of the
fleet from which she was taken. In a
word, she will be a ship in commission
with a skeleton crew. a saving in
men, coal, stores. etc, will result from
the plan, and the efficiency of the ves-
sci will be such that she can be sent
to sea in from five to ten days from the
receipt Of an order. Secretary Herbert
says. At least once each year the Sec
crews before they sail. Such ships the
secretary proposes to call vessels Of
the first reserve" Ships which are un.
dergoing an overhauling Of hull or ma
chinery would be classed as second re-
serve" and those of the merchant ma
rine liable to service with the Navy
as the auxiliary Navy"
This, in brief, is what Mr.. Herbert
has suggested. In support of the idea
he has pointed out that the important
naval Powers of Europe have a reserve
fleet divided into different classes, and
that the system has many advantages
In his orders to the Walker Board, the
Secretary has directed that the menu
bers report to him whether the pro.
position that the United States estab-
lish a reserve fleet is practicable and
advisable; If SO. what class of vessels
shall compose it, and the number Of
each; where, the vessels designated
should lie when not in actual service.
and what should be the number Of
officers and men to remain on each
reserve ship. One idea of Secretary
Herbert is that ships to go In the re-
serve should have home" port to
whlch they would be ordered when not
actively on DUTY.
IL Is expected by naval officers that
the board will recommend the establish
ment OF reserve fleet. 1t Is predicted
that the first ships to be so assigned VIII
be the Indiana, Amphitrite, Columbia
Minneapolis. katahdin and Monterey
AFTER, perhaps, years $ test the Massa-
chusetts, oregon, Monadnock and Ter
ror VIII be similarly assigned.
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"hN' "'ir'" r'ooN' !" r'i~ LA iot>"
General Miles has made an important
recommendation to the secretary of wal
on the subject of coats defences. The
general recently completed tour of in
spection of the eastern posts of the
army. Earlier in the year he visited
certain military stations In the south
He has advised Secretary Lamont to es.
tablish as eight new artillery stations
Fort Preble, Trumbull, Hancock and
Washington and the, defences on the
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