Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-01
conspicuous and gallant service was rend-

eral efficiency displayed by this corps, it
should be increased to at least 5000 men
and necessary officers, and attention Is
called to the report on this subject of its
colonel commandant
rho number of enlisted men allowed by
law prior to the outbreak of hostilites was
12 500. on August Is, when the enlisted
fOrCo reached its maximum, there were
2i123 men in the service: This great in
crease was made necessary by the addi-
ton of 10 auxiliary ships to the navy
The maximum fighting force of tho navy,
separated into classes, was as follows:
Battle ships tlirst class)..................
Battle ships (sccond class .............. |
ArmOred cruisers ...........................
Coast-defcuCG monitors ....................
Armored ram .......................... l
Protected cruiser s...............,.........12
Unprotected cruisers Observation-Disclosures.
GunDoats ...,,. ......'..'''..''...'..''
Dynamite cruiser Observation-Disclosures. l
Torpedo boats Observation-Disclosures.
Vessels of old navy, including monitors. IA
Auxiliary navy:
Auxiliary cruisers ........................11
Converted yachts ....,...............,....2S
Revenue cutters NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 10
Lighthouse tenders NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. I
converter tugs .......... ..................21
Converted golfers .......................l9
Miscellaneous ...... 80. ..................19
IN GENERAL.
Fleet and squadron commanders and the
captains of individual vessels serving far
away from their bases of supply and in
formation were kept i'm touch with the de-
partment by means of cable CommuniCa-
ton and despatch boat service, and were
furnished promptly with information coli
lcctcd from the many sources at the dis
posal of the department. Arrangements
we're made to supply the fleet in Cuban
Ia N hp
pines with coal and fresh provisions. and
the North Atlantic fleet had at its dis
posal thoroughly equipped hospital ship
distiling ships. and a repair vessel cap
able of making any but the largest re-
pairs.
The department feels, i'm contemplating
the vast amount of work necessary to
the successful operations of the navy dur
ing the past year, that the country AZ well
az the service has cause for COngratula-
ton in the results which have followed
and which have been - generally APPROX
I'd, and i'm me further fact that no per-
sonal feeling has arisen to mar the goi'-
ious victories and magnificent work Of the
service.
LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED
The department desires to call attention
to the recommendations in the report of
the judge advocate general of the navy
for certain legislation which in the inter
est of the service should be enacted.
CIVILIAN WITNESSES.
! That authority be given naval courts
martial and courts OF inquiry 10
summon and obtain the testimony of civ
ilian witnesses. The Senate at the last
session of Congress passed an act giving
this power to naval courts and providing
in case of contempt, that the president OF
gttnh al 10 ,,ftnp IN.
to the nearest United States Court for its
action. in like manner as If the offence
had been committed in proceeding be-
fore that court. This bill only awaits the
action of the House of Repre- sentati ves
The enactment of this measure into law
will enable offenders to be punished in
many instances where conviction is nov
impossible.
THIRTY YEARS SERVICE.
| That enlisted men in the navy who
have served for thirty years he givei
the benefits of retirement. as now allow
cd to the enlisted men in the army ant
marine corps. a bin having this object
in view passed the Senate at the first SEES
sion of the present Congress and low
awaits the acton Of the House of Repre-
sentatives. This matter is fully dealt with
In the report of the department under the
head of personnel"
EXAMINING AND RETIRING BOARDS
That the provisions of the act of Aug
ust |, 1880, relating to the examination
of officers of the army for promotion
should be- made applicable TO the navy. /
provides that an examining board shall
resolve itself at once into "a lct..inG boar,
in cases whore the candidate for promo
ton is found physically disqualified.
PATENTS BY OFFICERS
That provision be made for the US,
by the government OF improvement
patented by officers of the navy, leaving
the question of compensation to the de
termination of the courts. The Senate "A
its last session passed measure havln;
this object in view, but it failed in th
House.
NAVAL SUPPLY FUND.
The pyompIneSs and economy will
which supplies were furnished In the rusl
incident to the war were largely due L
the naval supply fund. This fund has nov
been in operation for five years, and it
value and utility have been thorough.
b demonstrated. 1t has been increased frcn
time to time, upon the recOmncndltiu
> of the bureaus and of thc department
and Is now $l.jo0,0O0. 1t is believed that
IN the interest of economy and efficiency
this fund should be stil further enlarged
. 50 as To enable the bureau of supplies an,
accounts to carry such large and va
ried stock of ordinary commercial article
, as the needs of a growing navy demand
ii Is therefore recommended that author
ity be granted 10 increase the naval sup
ply fund to S25OO,oOO.
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
In view of the difficulties which hay
been encountered in the transportation o