New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
A RESERTE FLEET PROPOSED.
SECRETARY HERBERTS PLAN FOR Econ
ONLY IN ADMINISTRATIONS.
HE THINKS THE NAVY WOULD BE EFFICIENT
If FEWER SHIPS WERE IN ACTIVE shN-
yIcE-GENERAL MILEss COAST
DEFENCE PLANS.
[pY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRrBuNE.l

Try TELEGRAPH 70 THE TR1BUNEI
Washington Aug s-The preliminary step has been
taken bv Secretary Herbert toward the laying up al
certain naval stations Of number or vessels no" III
commission board of officers consisting OF Adhra'
Walker Chief Enginer David Smith and Lieutenant
Witsel has been appointed 10 consider ana report
unon the secretarys suggestions. Mr.. Herberts idea
Is that. since the Navy has but limited number OF
men and It is not necessary TO keep large fleet al
u-avs in commission some vessels now IN service
preferably battle-ships monitors, large cruisers ana
torpedo- boats should have their crews greatly re-
duced in size and be kept at certain Navy yards IN
such condition that on shor' houce ''eS 'o"'' ~
called into active service.
His proposition looks to the thorough testing a. sea
of all new ships as soon after their ccmpetion as
practicable When a vessel Is found SATISFACTORY Il"
all respects-hat when Il Is known that she Is luiy
I'm 10 the requirements as to battery, nun ana ma
chinery-she is if of either OF the four classes Named
TO be sent 10 a designated place TO remain subject u
call in case of need Her officers and crew are TO be
skeetonzed 10 an organization Of skilled men, sufi-
cent only in numbers TO for her battery hull ana
machinery Any stores which may not be necessary
for he maintenance are be taken ashore and placed
in a special storehouse
A MEASURE OF ECONOMY.
Such vessel is not to be considered as IN oru1nafs
bu as in commission She IS not TO be under the au-
thority of the commandant Of the station where she
is '''N
was taken In word she will be ship In commission
with skeleton crew saving in men, coal. stores.
etc will result from the PLAN and the elciency OF
the vessel will be such that she can be sent 10 sea IN
from five to ten days from the receipt or an oruer
Secretary Herbert At least once each year 'he
Secretary intends to send the reserve ships OUT on
short cruises putting them full crews before they
sail Such ships the Secretary proposes 10 call YES
sells of the first reserve" Ships which are undergoing
an overhaulng Of hull machinery would be classed
as second reserve" and those of the merchant ma
rine liable TO service witk the Navy 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 rave 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 members report to him whether the propos'-
tion that the United States establish reserve
feet is practicable and advisable n So what class
of vessels shall compose 1t. and the number OF
each: where the vessels designated should lie
when not I'm actual service and what should be
the number OF officers and men TO remain on each
reserve ship. one idea Of Secretary HerDert ~
that ships TO go In the reserve should nave
home port to which they would be ordered
II is expected by naval officers that the Board
will recommend the establishment or reserve
fleet. II is predicted that the first ships to be
so assigned Will he the Indiana. Ampntrite, Co
lumbia Minneapolis. katahdin ana Monterey
Oregon, Monadnock and Terror viii be similarly
assigned.
nendation to the Secretary OF War on the sub
ject OF coast defences The General recently com
peted a tour OF inspection 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 establish eight
new artillery stations. Forts Preble Trumbull.
Hancock and Washington. and the defences on
the Narragansett Bay and at Charleston. $. G..
Savannah and Lime Point. near San Francisco. AT
some OF these modern guns or mor.ars have been
in
There is now such limited number OF artillery
men that II has been thought inadvisable TO carry
out General Mess suggestions. But the latter
has considered this objection. He proposes TO
reduce the strength OF certain unmportant sta
tions and others the infantry.
The artillery barracks. this city Is one post
which should be garrisoned by infantry. General
Miles Is quoted saying This change would
at once provide four batteries for the new de-
fences Two OF these have been suggested for
Fort Washington. the Potomac River Impor-
tance is ,ttached to the station on Sandy Hook
Fort Hancock There General Miles would put
four batteries. few days ago Secretary Lamont
approved plans for quarters and barracks at Sandy
Hook The Secretary has General Miles's recon-
mendatons under advisement.