The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-06

Washington, Dec. 5.-Secretary of
the Navy Herbert. in his annual re-
port, asks congress at the coming ses-
sion to authorize the building of three
light-draft battleshiDs and y torpedo
boats. He recommends that these ships
be planned for an extreme deep load
draught of not more than % feet, and
suggests that considerations of strategy
upon our Atlantic and gulf coasts rem
der this essential to the success Of
the naval campaigns.
This reasoning" he says, lis the
final result of much careful study by
able officers of conditions as they eX-
list on our southern coast. Battleships
that could enter the harbors OF Sa-
vannah. 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, if any.
of which could enter these ports Light
draught battleshiDs, if we had them.
could make any of these ports bases
of supply; could sally forth from them
or retire into them at will. and could,
therefore, most always offer battle
on their own terms.
There are also many of our ports
further north which would give the
same advantages to such ships
NAVAL PROGRESS.
An interesting feature of the report
is a resume of the progress of the up
building of the new navy from the
time of its inauguration under Secre-
tary Chandler. Congress has authorized
during the present administration 2S
vessels with a total tonnage of 1886
tons; of these five are first-class bat
tleships and is torpedo boats.
Large as the above increase aD-
pears" says the secretary, 1T is not
sufficient to place the United States
navy in a satisfactory condition. We
mean to be able at all times to defend
our long line of seacoast, and afford
unquestiOnable protection to our citi-
zens in foreign lands. render efficient
aid to our diplomacy and maintain I'M
der all circumstances our national
honor"
The secretary, calling attention to
the comparative naval strength of the
principal powers, states that while the
results achieved by the United States
are highly creditable to the country. vet
1t is clear that the great powers with
which we are brought into close rela-
tionship largely exceed us, not only in
the number of battleshiDs and torpedo
boats actually in commission, but in
their naval programmes for the flu
ture.
The secretary shows that on June
30, 1893. there were 80 vessels in ccm-
mission with tonnage of GO, $50 tons
while on December 10 the total tonnage
IN commission will be 137,S $50 tons
NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION.
Attention is again called to the neces-
sity for some legislation by congress
which Will enable the department to
make use, in case OF emergency, of the
tugs. yachts and vessels engaged in
the fishing fleet and coastwise and lake
trade, and to call into the service OF
the navy the sailors and officers neces-
sary to command and fit such ships
in case of threatened or actual war. He
recommends an additional appropria-
ton for the purpose of supplying guns
and ammunition with which to arm
vessels to be called into service from
our merchant marine.
Reference is also made to a reserve
system, and the secretary sets forth
the report of a board appointed to for
mulate general plan for the laying
up of vessels in reserve, and in this
connection it is announced that the de-
partment expects to be able to submit
to congress, at an early day during the
coming session, suggestions for such
legislation as may be needed to en-
able it to provide proper accommoda-
tiOns for ships, so that it may estab-
lish and maintain a reserve system
with the value and Importance of
which the department is deeply i'm
pressed.
The subject of the naval militia is
dealt with at some length, and it is
shown that at the close of the last
year the number of naval military
lawfully certified was 1874. divided
among the states of Rhode Island.
Maryland, South Carolina North Caro-
lima. Massachusetts. California and
New York From the last official re-
turns they now number 1889 in the
states of California, New York. Massa-
chusetts, North Carolina Rhode Is
land. Maryland, South Carolina, Penn
sylvania, Illinois, Connecticut. Michi-
gan, New Jersey, Georgia and Louisi-
ana, and the department has been in
formed of the prospective formation of
an additional battalion in New York
Cat Brooklyn and an organization in
Ohio.
NAVAL DRILLS.
During the summer the various bat
talions have been drilled on vessels OF
the navy and have had the advantages
OF target practice and drills with the
batteries of the ships. The secretary
devotes considerable space to review
ing the reports of the chiefs of bu-
reaus, which have already been pub
lished, and in this connection asks con-
gress to authorize the building of a
dock at Norfolk of sufficient size to
take in the largest vessel of the navy.
This, he recommends, should be con-
structed of concrete, as it is more
readily repaired and cheaper than
wooden dock.
Such satisfactory results have been
made with liquid fuel by Engineer-in-
Chief Melville that the department has
ordered that a tug now being con-
structed at the Norfolk yards, and one
of the smaller torpedo boats being
built by the Herreschoff company. be
fitted for using this oil, intending thus
to thoroughly test its capabilities.
These boats will be made for coal if oil
fails.
For the relief of the overworked en-
gineer corps it is urged that their
number be increased until the limit
shall reach $50. instead of 1874, as at
present.
It is announced that a training sta
ton on the Pacific coast, on the island
of Yerba Buena, as provided for by
congress, will soon be established, and
that in the meantime the Adams. now
returning from Honolulu, Will be fitted
for the duty.