The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-27
Contract Trlal

EOOte, lOfpeuO DOdI Z412 E4o6
The. coast defense monitor Puritan was
completed at the navy yard, New York, and
placed in commission Dec. 10, 1896 The
vessels under construction are the Kear-
sarge, Kentucky, Illinois, Alabama and
Wisconsin, all first-class battle ships, the
gunboat Princeton and seventeen torpedo
boats. The secretary here incorporates the
reports of the various bureaus, much of
which has already been printed He says
the final completion of the battle ships win
be delayed on account of lack of armcr
plate, In compliance with the direction OF
Congress that plans and estimates for the
establishment of an armor plant be pre-
factory board, composed of officers selected
with especial regard to their fitness for this
duty. They have made a careful investiga-
tion of the problems presented, and have
visited some of the principal steel and iron
manufacturing points in the country. The
result will be transmitted to Congress in a
special report.
Secretary Long urges that needed dock
ing facilities be furnished at the earliest
possible moment. Boston, New York. Nor-
folk Port Royal, New Orleans and Mare
island are suggested as sites for constructs
irg docks that will accommodate battle
ships
The total appropriation for the fiscal year
ending June 30 was $l69S4, ,251.17. and the
available balance Nov. / was S8,927, ,707. IL
The total appropriation for 1898 was SS4.-
113,234l9 and the estimate for 1899 is $780,
6T3,00l.55.
INCREASE IN THE NAVY.
Regarding the increase of the navy the
secretary says: "Our remoteness from for-
eign powers, the genius of our institutions
and the devotion of our people to educationy
commerce and industry, rather than to any
policy that involves military entanglements,
make war to be thought of only as a last
resort in defense of our rights and our mill
itary and naval establishments as a police
force for 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 wisdom and
the economy, to the same end, of an ef-
fective navy in view of the vast extent OF
our coast and the possibility of attack from
the sea upon our great Cities where the
concentration of population and property IL
enormous.
This country is committed to the Increase
of the navy by the declarations of our peo-
pie and the action of ,neir representatives.
The very fact that we are capable OF man
ufacturing armor and guns. powder and
projectiles, and to construct ships which are
the equals of those built anywhere else, is
in itself source of great naval power, and
our present resources in this respect should
not be impaired. We should preserve and
maintain these resources and the ability nor
only to continue the work already so well
advanced but TO improve upon 1t, the
science of naval construction. as it lis sure
to do, develops the new models and meth
ods which at this age of progress SO rap
idly replace the best Of to-day with the bet
ter of tomorrow.
Hitherto for more than & decade the in-
crease of the navy has very properly been
In the line of new ships, and wisely so, za
this has hitherto been the vital need. In
the opinion of the department, the time has
now come when that increase should be on
adiunctory lines in order to bring our naval
facilities up TO the same line of advance.
AS heretofore Indicated the principal neefz
to-day is that of sufficient docks. of which
there is a deplorable lack; OF adequate sup-
plies 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 nunl-
ber OF our ships, and of an enlarged corps
of officers and men 10 do the work.
Additions to our feet may be hereafter
necessary TO bring 1t in case OF emergency
to an extent commensurate with the Sow
ing necessities of the country. especially In
view of the development of Alaska, which
is a continent in itself and OF the possible
annexation OF islands in the Pacllc. On the
other hand, IL Is mistake not lN -ognize
that our naval power has more raan dopoled
within the last few years; that the casc of
emergency beyond our present resources IS
the very rare case; that until u cQlnk& ships
will be gradually taken out cf commission
and put into reserve in order - Eesauce f0as