The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-12
OUR NAVY.
Report OF Secretary Herbert and His
Recommendations.

tuenls Wullo hUoFNlfA niuCu Efouud TOT coh-
graduation. IL from beginning 10 end
warning TO the country OF the insufiiicency
OF Its navy for the requirements OF war
To show, however. the vast progress that
has been made OF late years. the report be-
gins by quoting from the presidents mes
sage In December. issS. the following
words. I'VE have not n single vessel OF
war that could keep the seas against a
first-class vessel OF any important power"
IL quotes also from a former report OF the
secretary In which he pointed out tho dan
ger or relying on commerce-destroying
cruisers as protection In time OF war.
The French revolution and the recent civil
war are cited as illustrations OF the, fact
that preying on nations commercial
marine has no effect on the course nor the
results o. n war;
The secretary's report shows that con-
gress has authorized the building OF IS
vessels since this administration began.
There were ave battle ships. six light-draft
gunboats. is torpedo boats and one sub
marine torpedo boat. with total displace-
ment OF 65,SCG tons. During the admins
tration there Will have been placed I'm COM
mission three flrst-class and two second
class battle ships. two armored cruisers.
four double-turrctcd monitors and one
harbor defense ram. total OF ~ armorcd
vessels. with a displacement OF 81. 5i7 tons.
In addition TO these armorcd ships, eight
cruisers and three gunboats viii have re-
ceived their first commission. making a
displacement OF llS.lA tons. During the
year eight vessels have been finished and
accepted.
But the report intimates that notwith-
standing this increase the navy OF this
country Is stu inadequate to cope with the
naval force OF the leading powers In the
world In proof of this II furnishes a table
or the present and prospective strength OF
the seven principal navies-Great Britain.
France. Russia. Italy. Germany. Spain and
"a HHa nfar
1t IL clear that the great powers with
which we are brought into close relationship
largely exceed us not only In the number
OF battle ships and torpedo boats actually
In commission. but In their naval pro-
grammes for The future. The work OF add
Ing 10 their strength In battle ships and
torpedo boats goes on steadily from year
TO year. IL 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
lions whose necessities are far less than
ours. There are now not only In Europe
but In Asia strong and growing navies
belonging to nations with which we must
always have the most intimate and dell.
cate relations. and where our citizens are
TO DO found In great numbers prosecuting
their legitimate business. our obligations
and duties on this hemisphere are rccog-
mixed by the world, and cannot be met UNI
less VIC arc possessed OF naval strength.
II our merchant marine increases as Il
should. and no doubt Will, the present naval
strength will be very far from what IL
should be. Nothing Will so surely make for
peace and give us weight abroad and Sc
curity at home as a substantial navy con-
structed of the best materials and manned
by the highest intelligence and skill"
The report shows a vessels. including
seven torpedo boats and one steam tug.
under construction. The tug Is 10 be com
pleted this month. and IA others are TO be
finished during 1897. There are ~ vessels
in commission, with total tonnage OF
l27, S5y tons. June 80 there were S,lb5 enlist
ed men and ISIS apprentices in the navy.
or the enlisted men " per cent are citizens,
and 81 per cent OF the apprentices are
American born. The secretary urges an
appropriation 10 enable the department %
convert boats In the merchant marine into
war vessels In case OF need. On this point
he says;
'"rhe United States is now paying subsI-
dies TO a number OF swift-saillng vessels
which are capable OF being converted into
useful mcn-of-war. We have many other
naval resources-tugs yachts and other
yessels-that could be fitted as torpedo
boats. many vessels that could be adapted
and used as gunboats, transports, coal
ships and repair ships, and we have thou
sands OF hardy and brave men accustomed
10 q seafaring life IN our fishing fleets,
coastwise trade and lake trade. but We
have no law on the statute books that
would enable MS TO utilize In case OF emer-
gency a single one OF any class OF these
vessels or TO call into the service a single
sailor for the defense OF the country over
and above the number allowed our regular
navy in case OF threatened or actual war.
In the opinion OF the department such con-
ditions should not be allowed TO continue.
Naval wars hereafter viii BIO short. sharp
and decisive. Whoever may be called upon
to consider the possibility OF n sudden OUT
hreak OF war by tho United States, any
bart OF which 10 TO be wagod upon the high
seas. will be deeply impressed with the
utter inability OF any administration under
the prosont laws TO utilize promptly aud
efficiently. as we should be able TO do. our
naval resources.
Considerable space is given 20 n favora hlo
report on tho naval militia. which has 1880
members In 10 states. Naval officers agree
that the naval militia Will be "A powerful
adjunct for coast defense In case OF war.
An extensive system OF mobilization and
defense has been prepared and VIII be com
municated to the militia.
lie reports that tho department expend-
ed. exclusive or money for public works
for the year ended June 30. the sum OF
$3.50 ,G25.4i. The appropriations for the
current year are S5OJOO.VOO. ana no estl-
mates tho expenditures at s2s.sil. 600 The
grand total OF his estimates for 1898 foot up
g34. 2l5. 600
Mr.. Herbert recommends the construc-
tion OF three light-draft battle ships and
says In relation thereto: Battle ships
that could enter tho harbors OF Savannah.
New Brunswick. Key West. Tampa, PEN
sacoln. Mobile and the mouth OF the Mis-
sissippi at all times would have an Inn
mense advantage over the battle ships OF
foreign nations. few. II any. OF which
could enter these ports. Light-draft battle
ships, II we had them. could make any or
these ports bases OF supply. could sally
forth from them or retire into them at
viii. and could therefore almost always
offer battle on their own terms. There arc
also many or our ports farther north which
would give the same advantages TO such
ships"
More Massacres.
Chicago, Dec. 5.-Iev. Judson Smith,
secretary of the American board OF for
eign missions. who has been In this city
lecturing n; the Union Park Thcolog-
ical seminary. has received a copy of