Evening star., 1896-12-07
HE NEW NAVY
Recommendations Made in Secretary
Hsrbert's Report.
MORE SHIPS ARE NEED D
Remarks on Coast Defenses and
Fortifications.

Remarks on Coast Defenses and
Fortifications.
ANOTHER NAVY YARD
Secretary Herbert in his annual report
to the President. briefly reviews the opera
tions for the rebuilding of the navy, and
recommends the construction of three more
battle ships and twelve more torpedo boats.
The latest battle ships contracted for are
of lighter draft than those previously de-
signed, and yet, says Secretary Herbert.
while adapted for the defense of the At
lantic and Pacific coasts. they are not well
suited for operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Battle ships" he says, that could enter
the harbors of Savannah. New Brunswick,
Key West Tampa. Pensacola, Mobile and
the mouth of the Mississippi at all times
would have an immense advantage over
the battle ships of foreign nations, few, IL
any. of which could enter these ports.
Light-draft battle ships, if we had them,
could make any of these ports bases of
supply. could sally forth from them or re-
tire into them at will, and could therefore
almost always offer battle on their own
terms. There are also many of our ports
farther north which would give the same
advantage to such ships. 1 therefore rec
ommend the authorization at the coming
session Of Congress of three such battle
ships. The tables of the comparative
strength of the navies of the world clearly
show that we are still quite deficient in tor
pedo boats. Very many of the naval pow
ers of the world. which are in other
spects much weaker than we, have two or
three times as many torpedo boats. l re-
spectfully recommend the authorization Of
twelve torpedo boats at the coming session
Of Congress"
Ships Already Authorized.
Tables arc given. showing that twenty
eight vessels Of different classes have been
authorized since March 4. 1873 Large as
this increase appears" says the Secretary,
1T yet does not suffice to place the United
States navy in a satisfact tory condition If
we mean to be able at all times to defend
our long line of seacoast, afford unuues-
tlonabe protection to our citizens in for
elsn lands, render efficient aid to our di-
plomacy. and maintain under all circum-
stances our national honor.
During your present administration
there will have been placed in commission
3 1lrst-class and . second-class battle ships
armored cruisers. le-turreted mon
itors and harbor-defense ram, making a
total OF II new armored vessels having an
aggregate displacement of 81 ,517 TONS
In addition to the aforementioned ar
mored ships, cruisers and ; gunhoats will
commission. X
ing a grand total of G' vessels, with an ag-
gregate displacement of 11S, 1874 TONS placed
IN commission during your present term of
oihce. this being by far the largest amount
OF tonnage put in commission during any
presidential administration since 1S6;,''
Strength of Foreign Nnyies.
A table is given showing the naval
strength of seven principal navies. to wit,
these of England. France Russia, Italy,
Germany. United States and Spain, rank
ing in the order named. THE results ex-
hibited by this table," says Secretary Her
bert, ARE highly creditable to the country,
hut it is clear that the great powers with
which we are brought into close relation
ship largely exceed not only In the
number of battle ships and torpedo boats
actually in commission. but in their naval
programs 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 contended that we should
attempt to compete in numbers with the
great navieS of England and France, but
We ought surely to move up steadily and
continually into a higher rank than that
we now occupy, and into the place of ma
ticns whose necessities are far less than
ours. There are now, not only in Europe
but in Asia, strong and growing naVies be-
longing TO nations with which we must
always have the most intimate and deli
cate relations. and where our citizens are
to be found in great numbers prosecuting
their legitimate businesses. Our obligations
and duties on this hemisphere are recog-
nlzed by the world, and cannot be met un-
less We are possessed of naval strength
If our merchant marine increases as it
should and no doubt WILL the present
naval strength will be very far from what
1T should be- Nothing will so surely make
for peace and give us weight abroad and
security at home a substantial navy
constructed of the best materials and man.
ned by the highest intelligence and skill.
OF cctN
S4tD.0OO toward the armament of our auxil-
larry 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 contract for and call such YES
seiS into the service: to utilize our naval
militia, to enlist still other men, and to
purchase supplies that may be needed I'm
til Congress shall legisiate upon this sub
5ect and give some such authority as that
herein indicated. 1t cannot be said that our
government is in condition, as 1t should be
at all times to meet emergencies as they
may arise. The subject Is again earnestly
urged upon the consideration of Congress-"
The Naval Militia.
In regard the the naval militia, Secretary
Herbert says. among other things: THE
department continues to watch with in
terest the growth and development of the
naval militia in those states which, by the
acts Of their legislative bodies, recognized
the necessity of the existence of this branch
of citizen soldiery. Since the formation of
the Massachusetts battalion, in $780, 1t has
endeavored by all means in it's power to
encourage and develop these bodies whose
possibilities as powerful auxilaries in case
of need 1t fully recognizes. For the last
few years the Naval War College and the
officers in attendance have occupied them
selves with the solution of war problems,
which comprised various portions of our
coast and frontiers. The means of defense
that could be improvised have been care
fully considered, even to the selection of
material and personnel locally available
From a combination of these problems a
scheme for the defense Of the coast and
frontier has been formulated, and by con-
tinued intelligent and systematic work this
plan Of defense 'may' be perfected, 80 that
at1the outbreak of war an auxiliary navy
may be quickly mobilized -along the coasts.
and harbors, rivers and important: strategic
positions may be fortified. by submarine
nfnes; protected by temporary batteries.
ITO more thoroughly instruct the naval
militia in the duties which will be required
OF them In case Of mobilization or of war.
it is the intention of the department to
communicate to them as soon as prac-
ticable that portion of the plan of general