Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-27
UNCLE SANS NAVY.
The Annual Report of the
Secretary Of the Navy.
The New Vessels in Good Condition
Equal to Any in World.
Recommendation for More Vessels and Ex
tensive Dry Docks at Once.

Washington, Nov. 26.-The report of
the secretary Of the navy was made
public, today. 1t shows that the pre-
sent effective fighting force of the navy
consists of battleships of the first
class, battleships Of the second class
armored cruisers, 16 cruisers, Is gun
boats. 6 ouble-turreted monitors,
ram, l dynamite gunboat, l dispatch
boat, ! transport steamer, and 5 tor
pedo boats. There are under construc-
ton battleship of the first class, 1(
torpedo boats, and l submarine boat.
There are GA other naval vessels. in
Guiding those used as training, receiV-
ing. and naval-reserve ships, tugs, dis
used sngle-turreted monitors, and
some unserviceable craft
There is. further, the auxiliary fleet.
This consists. first, of more than 20
subsidized steamers which comply with
the requirements of the postal act of
March ), 1891. with regard to their
adaptability to naval service. and to
an armament of main and secondary
batteries; second. of very much
greater number of large merchant ma
rne steamers, which can be awaited of
at any time of need.
These auxiliaries, ranging from 1000
to 1000 tons, will, if occasion require
form a powerful fleet of ocean cruisers
capable of swift and formidable attack
upon an enemy's commerce. Their
great coal capacity will also enable
them to remain a long time at sea in
search Of the Whereabouts of hostile
vessels.
THE country is to be congratulated
upon the results obtained in the re-
building of the navy. While it's ships
are not as maryland it is not neces-
sary they should be-as those of some
other great powers. they are, class for
class, in power, speed, workmanship,
and offensive and defensive qualities,
the equal of vessels built anywhere
else in the world
THE vessels under construction
should be completed during the COM
ing year. except the five battle ships
which will probably not be ready for
service before the latter part of 1899.
lucky are nearly half completed About
three-quarterS of their armor has been
delivered, a part of which has been
secured in place on the ships. The
other three. the Alabama. Illinois. and
Wisconsin, We're begun subsequent to
the last annual report. With the eX-
ception of a small amount of diagonal
casemate armor, which the ship con-
tractors have agreed to furnish at the
price fixed by law. it will be necessary
to preliminarily accept them without
armor, in accordance with the terms of
the contract for their construction.
THE ships are SO designed. how
ever. and the contract SO drawn that
this can be done without much other
embarrassment to the government than
the delay in their final completion. But
this of course. is a great embarrass-
ment. practically making these vessels
useless meantime to the navy. To pre-
vent this. provision should at once be
made for obtaining the armor neces-
sary to their completion. In this con-
nection it may be said that Congress
at its last session appropriated sum
of money for the armor for the battle |
ships Alabama, Illinois and Wisconsin, |
but provided that the price should not |
exceed an average of $500 per ton. In |
response to advertisements, the two |
which now manufacture
such armor replied that they We're I'M
able to furnish it at that 'price. AS a
result. the final completion of these
will be delayed.
''In compliance with the direction of |
Congress. that plans and estimates for
the establishment of an armOr plant |
De prepared, the department appointed
an armor-factory board, composed of
officers selected with especial regard to
heir fitness for this duty. They have
made a careful investigation of the /
problems presented, and have visited
some of the principal steel and iron
points in the country
The result will be transmitted to Con-
sress in special report"
IAN important addition of light-draft
md composite gunbOats to the effec-
i've force of the navy has been made
since the last annual report. At the
present time the three light-draft gun
boats built at Newport News are in
lctive service, as are all the composite
,unboats except the Princeton, which
will probably be completed in Febru-
Try. These vessels are a valuable and
necessary force, and will be especially
Elective in maintaining our interests in
oreign waters, especially in times of
ivil disturbance. The first cost of all
hese gunboats was low, aggregating
bout 100000 for the nine, or not
more than the cost of a single first
lass armored cruiser. The cost of
heir maintenance also, particularly in ;
he case of the composite vessels, :
hould not be excessive, and the reports I
f their trials, as well as the opinion of
Ulcers in command of them, have been
distinctly favorable"
1.-The report of the chief constructor
ives in detail the work of the past .
ear in connection with the repair and ,
reservation of vessels. 1t there ap- !
ears that. as for several years past,
he appropriation has not been enough, |
nd large portion of authorized work ,
Tas therefore necessarily suspended 8
uring the latter part of the fiscal t
ear" s.
1.-THE department has during the past +
ear adopted the practice of placing ,
l reserve such vessels as it deems ad- r
isable for any reason not to retain in
CONTINUED on page 81 S