The record-union., 1897-11-27

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-Secretary
OF the Navy Long has submitted his
annual report for the current year.
Among other things the report says:
THE present effective fighting force
of the navy consists of four battle
ships of the first class. two battleships
of the second class, two armored cruis
ers, sixteen cruisers, fifteen gunboats,
six double-turreted monitors, one ram,
one dynamite gunboat, one dispatch
boat, one transport steamer and five
torpedo boats There are under con-
struction five battle ships Of the first
class, sixteen torpedo boats and one
submarine boat.
There are sixty-four other naval
vessels. including those used as train
ing, receiving and naval reserve ships
tugs, disused single-turre monitors
and some unserviceable craft.
There is, further, the auxiliary fleet.
This consists, first, of more than TWEEN
ty subsidized steamers which comply
with the requirements of the Postal Act
of March 3, 1891, with regard to their
adapta blity to naval service, and to
an armament of main and secondary
batteries; second, of a very much great
er number of large merchant marine
steamers, which can be availed of at
any time of need.
These auxiliaries, ranging from .
900 to 1900 tons, will, if occasion re-
quire, form a powerful fleet of ocean
cruisers, capable of swift and formid-
able attack upon an enemy's commerce.
Their great coal capacity will also en-
able them to remain a long time at sea
in search of the Whereabouts Of histile
vessels.
The country is to be congratulated
upon the results obtained in the re-
building of the navy. While its ships
are not as maryland il 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.
VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
There are also under construction
five first class battle ships, the Kear
sarge. Kentucky, Illinois, Alabama and
Wisconsin, the gunboat Princeton and
the torpedo boats Rodgers. Winslow,
Rowan, Dahlgren. T. A. NJ. Craven,
Farragut, Davis, Fox, Norris, Talbot,
Givin. Mackenzie, Mckee, Stringham.
Goldsborough and Bailey, and the sub
marine torpedo boat Plunger.
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.
OF the latter the Kearsarge and Ken
tucky 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, were begun subsequent to
the last annual report.
ORDNANCE FOR THE NAVY
Progress has been made under the
Bureau of Ordnance in arming our yes
sells in keeping with their increase in
numbers. 1t appears from its report
that all the guns, 547 in number re-
quired for the main batteries of the
modern ships of the navy have been
compiAted except those for the five bat
tie ships now under construction, and
for the Hartford These guns, how
ever, will be completed far in advance
of the battle ships.
During the past year IS guns of
various calibers. from to 13 inches
for the main batteries of vessels have
been completed at the naval gun fac
tory, and 169 more are now in process
of manufacture.
For secondary batteries for naval
vessels the department has ordered 963
guns. One hundred 3-inch field guns
have been manufactured The manu-
facture of 100 heavy 1-pounder auto
matte quick-firing guns has been un-
dertaken. A number of 6-inch guns
of ordinary type are under conversion
into rapid-firing guns.
Contracts have been made during
the past year for a quantity of COM
mon and armor piercing shells for l.
FOUNDER and 6-pounder guns, and for
guns of from 10 13 inch caliber
Ten thousand 8 nm. Lee straight
pull rifles have been supplied. and near
ly all the vessels in commission, except