Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-12-11
SECRETARY HERBERT REVIEWS
IMPROVEMENTS.


Herbert. secretary Of the navy, has sub
mitted his annual report to the president
! The report first gives statement in con-
siderable detail of the increase of the ma
val force OF the country since 1885.
Secretary Herbert emphasizes the I'm
portance of the real fighting vessels as
compared with commerce destroyers as
means of winning in war. The report ir-
| cludes tables showing there have been au-
thorized by congress since March 4, 1898,
Is new vessels of an aggregate displace-
ment of 65,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
| cond1t1on IL we mean to De able at 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 f1rst-class and two sec
ond-class battleships, two armored cruis-
| ers, four double turreted monitors and one
| harbor defense ram, making a total Of IL
] new armored vessels, having an aggre-
| gate displacement of 1857 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 20 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 ad-
ministration since 1866
June 30, 1885, there were serving in the
navy 6459 enlisted men and 1915 appren-
tees; June 80, 1894, $3.50 men and 114O ap-
prentices; June 80, 1895, 7499 men and 1888
apprentices, and June 80, 1896, S165 mcn
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 10 American citizens as could be
adapted to use as gunboats, transports
ana 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 divls-
ion the report says:
IN California 1t was not possible to ar
range a cruise on the ships Of the Pacific
squadron which would suit the exigencies
of the service and the possibilities of Or
CARNATIONS. Tney were, however, given
as much opportunity as possible to drill
on board, of which they took advantage
with zeal and at much personal inconven-
ience."
Inc report says: For the last few years
the naVal' war college and officers In at
'enuaice nave occupied themselves with a |
soiulloh OF war problems, which COM
prised various portions of our coast and
frontiers The means of defense that
could be improvised have been carefully
considered, even to the selection of the |
material and personnel available. From a |
combination of these problems a scbanoe |
lot the defense of the coast and frontier
has been formulated, and nv continued In
telligent and systematic work this nlan Of |
defense may be perfected, SO that at the
outbreak of war an auxiliary navy NAV ba
quickly modified along the coasts and
i'arpors, rivers and important strategic
positions may be fortified by submarine
mines, protected by temporary batteries "
some space is devoted to the subject or
SUMMARIZING, and the statement Is made
mat the department Is experimenting
viii nfeehods or firing by electricity.
Inc SUBJECT or armor plates receivas |
niuch consideration, the contracts for
vessels being" mentioned, as well as the
iesults OF tests. A statement is mado |
however, that the custom of giving NH.
hclty TO tests of armor, guns and other
naval appliances has been discontinued
on the ground that IT furnishes foreign
hatlons information that some time NAV
be detrimental to this country.
me supply of powder for large puns
IS said to be entirely insufficient to meet
any sudden call of war, and its manu-
Iacture being process recurring time
L Is recommended that congress make an
appropriation for a liberal supply to he /,
sept on hand.
Mention Is made of improvements made
'lnce 1893 at Mare island, Norfolk and :
brooklyn navy yards, and more work In
ne same line Is recommended.
Inc report says: 1.-THE timber dry
'och at Fort orchard. Puget sound, was
on.racteo Tor with Byron Barlow 6 Co. 5
december 1882, and completed In Sep ,
~' AAhOu6A d tlfnD6r DOCK If | ~
as masonry abutments, the entrance be-
ng an inverted arch with the same
urves as the greatest cross section of a
attleship.''
me present navy yards the Secretary
avs, are sufficient for the work reouired
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. but ba
ecommends that one be established on a
ne Gulf of Mexico, where ships cruising y,
southern waters could be repaired. ir
IL is recommended that the law regulat- SC
lg the retirement of army officers he
aoe TO apply to those of the navy.
considerable stress is laid upon the i'm pr
'rtance of astronomical work done by lch
lie nautical almanac Office and an extra tn
preparation is asked for Immediate com
elton OF certain work on hand The SAN 10 10
ary condition of the Washington navy lial
Ird and marine headquarters is strongly QS
ndemned, 1t being stated that nearly lkcdd
e-fourth of the cases of malartal dis Is {
Sc occurring in the navy are found s..
ere.
continuing, the report says: Eat the hi
IT session of congress an act was pass T
providing for the establishment Of a ~
lining station on the island of Yerba lste
ena, near San Francisco, and that a S
ard of two officers OF the navy and one trif
Ger OF the army and navy should selact Il