Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-27

been had. the compliments in some
cases being represented by counsel
! This demonstrates, as well perhaps as
anything could. the merit of the pre-
sent system" Il
| The assistant secretary reports that
| he was much pleased with the zeal and
efficiency shown by the various naval
militia organizations he inspected
Owing to small appropriation the sec
rotary says the department is unable to
drill and supervise these organizations
as it would like to do, and they must
be left largely to their own good sense
energy and initiative. In consequence.
there is a great variety in the condition
of efficiency reached by the different
organizations. Three or four. in the
event of a sudden emergency, could be
utilized at once for manning the smaller
national cruisers: but this of course.
| can not be generally the case with most
of them. These must be depended upon
/ primarily as a second line of defence
in which there are two very important
features. One is the placing of mines.
the other the establishment of signal
stations for coast defence"
The department recommends that
there be inserted in the provision for
the maintenance of the naval militia
the words submarine mining outfits"
to admit of training the militia for
this purpose. Plans have been formu-
lated with a view to establishing coast
signal stations for naval defense, and it
is believed that the life saving sta
ticnS-Vritb va Of ba
ury OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES be properly
equipped for this purpose.
while the increase of vessels has
been constant provision has not. been
made for securing a corresponding in
crease of enlisted men. During tie
next two years five battleshps of he
first class and II torpedo boats are to
be placed in commission. Those now IN
commission absorbe all the officers and
men allowed by law. AS vessels UNI
der construction are completed it VIII
be necessary. in order to place them il,
commission, to take other vessels ou-
and put them in reserve. Those in le..
serve can be made ready for service in
few days; but to make the reserve
system of value the secretary of the
navy should be authorized to make ad
ditional enlistments. at least to the ex
tent recommended by the bureau of
navigation. and. should an emergency
arise necessitating the employment of
all the vessels on the navy list, to such
an extent as the emergency requires.
1t is also important that we should be
able to avail ourselves of our resources
in our merchant fleet. :"
to hot fro; ,,;p
the part of the enlisted men of the
navy, and also reserve force, the de-
partment recommends that there be no
definite limit placed to the number of
apprentices, but that additional train
ing vessels be equipped from time to
time and every effort made to obtain
apprentices from all parts of the coun-
try"
Hitherto, for more than a decade
the increase of the navy has very
properly been in the line of new ships
and wisely so, as this has hitherto been
the vital need. In the opinion of the
department, the time has now come
when that increase should be on ad-
junctory lines in order TO bring our
naval facilities up to the same line of
advance. AS heretofore Indicated
the principal need, today, is that Of
sufficient docks, of which there is a
deplorable lack; of adequate supplies
of the munitions of war, which should
never be at the hand to-mouth stage;
of an equipment of our navy yards
equal to the demand upon them of the
increased number Of our ships; and
Of an enlarged corps Of officers and
men to do the work
Additions to our fleet nay be here
after necessary to bring it in case Of
| emergency to an extent commensurate
| with the growing necessities OF the
country, especially in view OF the de-
| velopment OF Alaska, which is con-
tinent in itself, and of the possible at
nexation of islands in the Pacific. On
i the other hand, it is a mistake not %
| recognize that our naval power mas
more than doubled within the last IL"
years; that the case of any emer-
gency beyond our present resources is
| the very rare case; that until 1t comes
ships will be gradually taken out Of
commission and put into reserve in or
| der to reduce the running expenses;
! and that a due regard is necessary TO