The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-06
BATTLESHIPS ARE TOO BULKY.
HERBERT FAVORs A FLEET OF
LIGHTER DRAFT.

Ones Drawing So Little Water That
They Could Enter the Rivers Along
the Coast Would Have a Great Adj
Vantnge-The Increase OF Our Ma
val Strength Not Fast EnOugh-A
Reserve system Recommended.
The Naval Militia.
Washington, Dec 5.-Secretary Herbert,
in his annual report, asks congress at the
coming session to authorize three light
draft battleships and twelve torpedo
boats He recommends that these ships
be planned for an extreme deep load
draught of not more than twenty-three
feet, and suggests that considerations Of
strategy upon our Atlantic and gulf
coasts render this an essential to the sue
cess Of naval campaigns.
This reasoning" he says. sis the final
result of much careful study by able Of
ficers Of conditions as they exist on our
southern coast Battleships that could
enter the harbors of Savannah, Bruns-
wick, Key West. Tampa, Pensacola, Mo-
bile and the mouth of the Mississippi at
all times, would have an immense advan-
AdSC ONNA tue ndllieSHlpS Oh IOfGlBn ma
tons, few II any of which could enter
these ports. Light draft battleships, 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, almost always offer
battle on their own terms. There are also
many of our ports farther north which
would give the same advantages to such
ships"
An interesting feature of the report IA n
resume of the progress of the up-building
OF the new navy from the time of It's inau-
guration under Secretary Chandler Con-
gress has authorized, during the present
administrations. 2S vessels with a total
tonnage OF 1886 tons; of these five ara
first class battleshps and 16 torpedo boats.
Large as the above increase appears"
says the secretary, 'it yet does not suf-
hce to place the United States navy In a
satisfactory condition II we mean to be
able at all times to defend our long line OF
sea coast afford unquestionable protec-
ton TO our citizens in foreign lands, rem
der efficient aid to our diplomacy, and
maintain under all circumstances our ma
tlonal hongf"
The SECRETARY, calling attention to the
comparative naval strength OF the princi-
pal powers, states that while the results
achieved by the United States are highly
| creditable to the country, yet 1t is clear
that the great powers with which we are
brought into close relationship largely ex-
ceed us not only in the number Of battle
ships and torp do boats actually I'm commis-
sion but in their naval programmes for the
! future.
The secretary shows that ION June 30,
1S93 there were thirty vessels in commits
sion with a tonnage of 62S20 tons, while
on Dec. 10 the total tonnage in commits
sion will be 1889 tons"
Attention is again called to the neeas-
eli fa..t III.
VIII enable the department to make use.
In case of an emergency. OF the tugs,
yachts and vessels engaged in the fishing
fleets and coastwise and lake trade and
to call into the service OF the navy the
sailors and officers necessary to command
and N such ships in case of threatened
or actual war. He recommends an addi-
tional appropriation for the purpose Of sup
plying guns and ammunition with which
to arm vessels to be called into service
from our merchant marine.
Reference Is also made to a reserve sys-
tenn, and the secretary sets forth the re-
port Of a board appointed to formulate
general plan for the laying up OF vessels
In reserve, and in this connection, 1t Is
announced that the department expects
| to be able to submit to the congress at
an early day during the coming session
suggestions for such legislation as may
be needed to enable II to provide proper
accommodations for ships, so that 1t may
| establish and maintain reserve system.
with the value and Importance OF which
the department is deeply impressed.
The subject Of the naval militia is dealt
| with at some length, and 1t Is shown that
at the close of the last administration the
number of naval militia lawfully certified
was 1,794, divided among the states OF
Rhode Island, Maryland. South Carolina.
North Carolina, Massachusetts, Califor-
MIA and New York. From the last Official
returns they now number 3,33s, In the
\ states of California, New York, Massa-
! chusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island,
Maryland, South Carolina, Pennsyivanla,
Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan. New Jer-
sey. Georgia and Louisiana, ana
| the department has been In
formed Of the prospective forma-
tion OF an additional battalion
| in New York lat Brookyn) and an organ
| ization in Ohio. During the summer, the
various battallons have been drilled on
vessels Of the navy and have had the ad-
vantages of target prictice and drills with
the batteries Of ships.
The secretary devotes considerable
/ space to reviewing the reports Of chiefs
| Of bureaus, which have already been pub
/ llshed and In this connection asks con-
| gress to authorize the building of dock
at Norfolk Of sufficient size to take In the
/ largest vessel Of the navy. This he re-
4
crete, as 1t is more durable. more readily
repaired and cheaper than wooden dock.
Such satisfactory experiments have been
made with liquid fuel by Englneer-in-
Chief Melville that the department has
ordered that tug now being constructed
at the Norfolk yard, and one of the small
Ter torpedo boats being built by the Herre-
| shon company be fitted for using this oil,
intending thus to thoroughly test its cap
abilities. These boats will be adapted for
| coal II oil fails.
neer corps 1t is urged that their number
be Increased until the Limit shall reach 25e
instead Of 194, as at present.
1t Is announced that a training station
on the Pacific coast on the island OF
Yerba Buena as provided by congress,
will soon be established, and that In the
mean time the Adams, now returning
| from Honolulu, will be fitted for the duty.
---s-<r-s---------