Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1897-12-02


tends to repeat this action in the southern
states. believing that similar enlistments
can be secured on the gulf coast. The rec
ords Of the bureau show that Of the 2,S45
petty on1cers in general service June 30.
1897. 4S per cent. were native born and So per
cent. were citizens Of the United States;
and OF the $40 other men in general serv-5
Ice IS per cent. were native born ana 70
per cent. werecitizeIs OF the United States.
The department has paid much attention
to the development CT the naval militia.
The appropriation of $500 for this pur-
pose. after deducting s. 600 for books Of in
struction. was allotted among Is states
Massachusetts, Rhode Island. Connecticut.
New York. New Jersey. Pennsylvania,
Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia. Louisiana. California, Illinois.
Michigan and Ohio. The state Of Ohio or
ganized naval militia during the past
year. and: was included for the first time
In the naval allotment. Illinois has mus
tered In four divisions and will share in
the next allotment. Virginia has organized
one division, burt 1t has not yet been formal
~ mustered In. This makes a total at the
present time Of II states having naval
militia organizations. During. the past
summer the assistant secretary Of the navy
personally visited and inspected the naval
militia of Ohio. Michigan, Illinois and New
York IN: their annual encampments, and
in his report to the department states that
he was greatly pleased with the zeal and ef-
ficiency shown by the, different organiza-
tons. The different battalions all had a
tour Of duty on board the vessels Of the
navy during the past summer except those
OF North Carolina and South Carolina. 71s'st
Our remoteness from foreign powers,
the genius of our institutions and the de-
votion Of our people to education, COM
rnerce and Industry. rather, than to any
policy that Involves military entangle-
ments, make war to be thought Of only as
q. last resort#in defense 81 our rights, and
our military and naval establishments as
a police force in the preservation Of order
and never for aggression. While all this
Is, therefore, an earnest of peace as the
normal condition of our national life, there
Is no question of the necessity, the wis
dom and the economy, to the same end, OF
an effective navy. in view of the vast ex-
tent of our coast and the possibility OF
attack from the sea upon our great cities.
where the concentration of population and
property is enormous. $ ~, 81 - Y
The principal need of to-day is that OF
sufficient docks, of which there IS a de.
plorable lack; of adequate supplies of the
munitions of war. which should never be
at the hand-to-mouth stage; Of an equip
ment OF our navy yards equal to the de-
maad upon them Of the increased number.
OF our ships, and OF an enlarged corps Of Of
f1cers and men to do the work. -
a The department recommends that the
authorization Of new ships by the COM
Ing congress be limited to one battle ship
for the Pacific coast, where, after the five
now under construction are completed.
there will be only two. while on the At
lantic there will be seven: and also to few
torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers.
both OF which are comparatively Of little
cost. and more OF which are desirable in
order to bring this swift, mobile and handi-
~ effective arm OF the service up to It's
4 nro1 =
tense. TN s:54sa 1>s tx n Z q;5fa a2s3v-..
According to the reports Of the paymas-
ter-general the total cost Of maintaining
the navy during the fiscal year ended June
80, 1886. exclusive OF its increase and Of per-
manent improvements at yards and sta
tons specially appropriated for, was S15.-
49a.SGe03. and for the fiscal year ended
June 3o. 1851 81. 5l4. 231. 49, It appears. there
Tore. that the expense OF maintaining the
navy IS g. growing one. as distinguished
from Its increase and permanent improve
,ments. the cost Of which varies from year
gress assto the desirability Of tifeselatter.
items. Attention 10 called to this fact be-
cause the country should be under no mis-.
apprehension as to the increasing cost 81
maintenance. The building Of 4 Ship Is 4
definite fixed expense, incurred once for all.
But to maintain It, to provide it with docks.
naval stations and other necessary fa-3
ctiitfes. to man and equip It, to keep It In
repair-in short, to run the naval estab.
lishment-is and must continue to be .
large charge on the public treasury. ana.
for time. certainly, an Increasing one.
Economy is necessary at large and In de-
tail, not merely as good theory to bro
form. With the best exercise Of this virtue.
expenses will be large In this, as in every
other department of q government which
represents the interests OF q country SO
vast as ours But It Is believed that the
people. whose arm the navy Is, and who
evidently appreciate its potential useful
ness, desire to maintain It at the point
OF highest efficiency. and will do SO the
more cordially the more frankly they are
Informed Of 1ts real and deserving reeds
and demands and Of tho justiflable cost
they necessitate. JOHN 8. LONG, 9
I s#s q Secret re Of the Navy : M