The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-04
ADMIRAL BROWN IN CITY
HE is IN THE BEST OF HEALTH AND
HAS COME HOME TO STAY.
Doubts Whether the Nations Great
Navy Will Ever See Active Warfare
Glass of Men Enlisted.

Rear Admiral George Brown, who, until
he retired from active service last Tuesday,
stood at the head of the United States
navy, has returned to the city with Mrs.
Brown and their two sons, George and
Hugh, to take up their permanent resi-
dence They have taken very comforta-
bly, furnished fiat at the Blacherne for the
summer while their home in Woodruff
Place is being remodeled.
Admiral Brown is in the best of health,
and his rugged strength gives no indication
of the age that has entitled him to retire
ment I'VE have come to stay" he said
with a laugh, when reporter found him at
their temporary home last evening, though
we have not yet determined just where we
shall stay. We were fortunate in finding a
furnished home for the summer, while we
are repairing the house at Woodruff, but
we don't yet know whether we shall oc-
cupy it.
Il can hardly express he continued. the
relief 1 feel at the release from responsible
ity. Though things ran very smoothly at
the navy yard, yet, in a large establishment
like that, there is always plenty to think
about and look after and it is a relief to
feel that there IS nothing to worry over to-
morrow. And yet" he unused. as he glanced
fondly at a stack of resolutions from vari-
Gus organizations representing about every
thing iii and around Norfolk, expressing re-
greet at his departure, Il had many regrets
at leaving the post where ] had spent eight
of the pleasantest years of my life. There
are no better people on earth than those of
Portsmouth and Norfolk, and l believe their
affection for is as genuine as they are in
all their relations of life
No he said, in reply to a question, Il
doubt very much whether we shall ever see
in active service the magnificent fighting
machines of our modern navy l know of
none of the South American republics that
is dreaming of war since Chile subsidized
from her belligerent attitude and no Euro
pean power is ever likely to modest US, not
even Spain. Her credit is gone and / see
by this mornings dispatches that what
might have been expected has happened in
the resignation of the Spanish Ministry.
Even were Spain in good financial shape,
the possibility of war with herwould not be
terrifying. While she has a formidable
erS atioat, though on shore they can stand
up and not know when they are whipped
But in naval battle, with ships evenly
matched, everything depends upon the cool
ness and skill of the commander and the
character of the men he has. But Spain
will not go to war about Cuba I think
Cuba has been robbed OF about all that is
worth carrying away and that is her only
value to Spain. And yet l am forced to
II they We're victorious and left to govern
themselves. All their men of brains are in
the United States in the background and
those who had stood the brunt CT the fight
ing would hardly copSent to have these
men step in and take up the reins of gov
eminent.
Yes" continued the admiral, when it
was suggested that in his long career he
had seen something of a change in the
methods of naval warfare, "one could not
Imagine more complete revolution than
the change from the old wooden sailing
ships to the modern cruisers, armored bat
tie ships and fast torpedo boats that go to
make up modern navy, with their de-
structive guns. And the Improvement in
personnel and morale of our navy has been
quite as marked as in its construction and
equipment. A dozen or more years ago
scarcely 20 per cent. of our men were Amer
lean born. The rest were foreigners who
tives, but because the pay was better and
their hearts were not in it. Now fully 50
per cent of them are native Americans
Then the percentage of illiteracy was very
large; now nearly all the men are educated
and carry on an active correspondence with
the men used to be light, many of them re-
ceiVing none at ALL now when one of our
ships reaches port it takes several bags to
hold the mail. | attribute this Improvement
largely TO the naval apprentice system Men
going through 1T are promoted to be nettv
officers and make $40 month and board,
with the assurance of a permanent thing
Civil life does not offer anything better for
the average man who must earn his living
a workman. These men can fight wit \
intelligence and the courage horn of patriot
ism. Our American navy is in magnificent
fighting trim. both in it's men and its shins
and is our best assurance of long-continued
wit