Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-12-02
FACTS ABOUT THE NAvv
Secretary Long Gives to the pr,,
His Annual Rcnort


His Annual Report.
Secretary of the Navy Long, in hi, ~
port to the President, declares thot a,
prime need Of the naval service is NAT ro~
ships, but new docks, wharves mmifo,,
men and facilities. He says in part,
Hitherto for more than a dccalo IL,
increase of the navy has very proaI,
been in the line of new ships, md rsoI,
so, as this has hitherto been ibp vital
need. In the opinion of the dcpgrtmmt
the time has now come when that incrcqu
should be on adjunctory lines in order "A
bring our naval facilities up to the Sma
line of advance. The principal need
to-day is that of sufficient docks, Of which
there is Il deplorable lack: of adcomh
supplies Of the munitions of war wbS
should never be at the hand-o.Omh
stage; Of an equipment of our navy yard,
equal to the demand upon them of tbpn
creased number of our ships, and of an
enlarged corps of officers and men ia IA
the work.
Additions to our fleet may be hereafter
necessary to bring it in case of an eme
gency to an extent commensurate viii
the growing necessities Of the country, e.
pecially in view of the development Of
Alaska, which is a continent in Itself, and
of the possible annexation of islands
the Pacific. On the other hand, il Ss
mistake not to recognize that our NaYa
power has more than doubled within th
last few years; that the case of any cDg
gency beyond our present resources Sh
very rare case; that until it comes ship
will be gradually taken ont Of cOmuSaG
and put into reserve in order to REDUCE
running expenses, and that a due legar
is necessary to the relation of the nations
expenditures to the national revenues,
'"The department therefore recommend
that the authorization Of new ships Na
coming Congress be limited to one @l'R
ship for the Pacific coast, where. atGt
five now under construction are cOOIpe
ed, there will be only two, while On
Atlantic coast there will be seven
also to few torpedo boats and oT%
boat destroyers, both of which are @a
paratively of little cost, and more Of WIZ
are desirable in order to bring llN SHa
mobile and handily effective arm
service up to its place i'll the SaH
scheme for coast defense.
'"The present effective lighting iMg
the navy consists of four batIcShP
the first class, two hattcshlpS Of 'nr
ond class. two armorcd cruisers SA
cruisers, fifteen gunboatS, SIX dou''
reted monitors, one ram, one "''""
gunboat, one dispatch boat, one 'I'aq
steamer and five torpedo boa'S
are under construction lYc I'',''"4'
the first class, sixteen torpedo 0o"1
ore submarine boat. There are sA'
other naval vessels, including 'lo''
aus training, receiving and nad1V
sbips. tugs, disuSed single tlTle''
tors and some unscrylceaoie u"-"
"There is, further, the au%I"'I
This consists, first, of more '0a" W.
subsidized steamers when co",F'
the reuuirements of the poStn y
March 3, 1891, with regard 10 '"'' a
liability to naval service, ana 10 , @,g
ment of main and secondary O",
second, of very much gTea'cl "D' ab
large merchant marine Stc,'u''" = IA
can be awaited of at any u'"N yM
These auxiliarics, ranging HOE .,-s ),
$4,000 tons, will, if occasion leq" ,,,
a powerful feet Of ocean c'u ,,',t ,,d b,
Of swift and fornlldable "', .oa, ND
enemy's commerce. Their s''', .o,4 h.
pacity will also enable them " ,,s b % b
lone time ot sea in search Of o'
abouts of hostile yeSSe's' ,.oba co
"The country is to be eoI's!.'~ ,.s Biz
on the results obtained u, 'HF ~, va il
Of the navy While its ships h s@ irC
many--and it is not necessary u,t "a be,
be--as those Of some DINER s ,arpr lis
they are, class for class, III p oJ md her
workmanship and offensive 'D' brn peo
qualities the equal of vesSc' . i
where else in the world l. tba re
The Secretary recommends Mind res
officers who were dischaIs'u ',rry She
net Of 1882 be restored to tne % ,,nia lin
examinations, and that 'l'' ;adae yea
Of enlisted men be larger sc
man the new ships. n,n-1H "a :,
The departmental a lpda %l0I u Il
SIG os4 251. of which T9-"'' s
as a balance. - Fin.