The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-12-03
WORK OF THE NAVY.
Secretary Long Presents His Repore-
Makes nm Interesting Record
Wants a bigger Navy.

the first time since its rehabilitation the
navy has been put TO the supreme TEST =
war. Years OF patient, persistent training
and development had brought II TO point
OF high efficiency. which resulted In the un-
paralleled victories at Manila and Sah.i-
ago--vietores which have given the nan
OF our naval commanders Worldwide tans
and added an additional page 10 the sio-
rfJus naval history OF our country.
The report describes IN rapid order the
steps that were taken TO consolidate the
squadrons and put the navy In readiness
for hostililies. Slgsbee's famous telegram
asking suspension OF public opinion "a
connection with the blowing up or the
Maine Is quoted. and the secretary says
This Judlcious telegram did much 10 Sc
cure IN the public mind dispassionate
view OF the disaster"
The story OF Dewey's victory at Manila
Is told, and oft the secretary says; ASIDE
from the mere fact OF having won wt'h-
out the loss OF single life such brilliant
and elcctrifying victory at the very ou1-
set OF the war, with all the connoehcc
which Il infused throughout the country
and into the personnel OF every branch or
the service IL removed at once all appre-
henslon for the Pacific coast The Indirect
pecuniary advantage TO the United states
In the way OF saving an Increase OF lnslr-
anee rates and In assuring the country OF
freedom from attack on that coast IL N
calculable."
The secretary tells how Cervera's fleet.
having sailed from Cape Verde Islands April
% for an unknown destination, Sampson
sailed east with portion OF his meet Tor tho
purpose OF observation. At Cape Haitien
May the department was advised that he
Spanish squadron was reported at III.
Thomas. The following statement explains
officially why the bombardment or san
Juan was NOT forced 10 an end: lnsirue-
lions were also received that the vessels
accompanying him were not TO be risked
or crippled In the bombardment of fortihca-
tons, as Al was considered unwlSe 10 risk
any OF the vessels of our navy until the
| Spanish fleets had been met and destroyed.
The squadron did not arrive OF san
Juan until the morning OF the 18th. A bonn
bardment OF that place followed for two
hours and n half but as there was no land
force 20 hold II In case OF its surrender nd
as the Spanish fleet was not there Il was de-
| termined TO return TO Havana. where Il was
possible Cervera might have gone"
The report shows that the flying squadron
under Schley was ordered 10 Cienfuegos
upon notice that Ccrvora's squadron had
been seen off Curacao. Tho report then
gives consldera bic length TO the instr.c-
tons sent TO Sampson and Schley and the
various movements OF the squadron until
the moment the Spanish feet was destroyed
IN Santiago harbor.
| On June % the Merrimac was sunk. and
OF this the secretary says: This attempt.
although unsuccessful In its object, was
daringly executed. IL Is now one OF the
well-known historic marvels OF naval ad-
venture and enterprise In which Naval Con-
structor Hobson and his men won undyi.g
/ fame"
The report deals next with the seizure
OF the harbor OF Guantanamo and the rul-
LIANT three-days' fight OF the marines; with
the conveying OF the Shafter expedition
from Tampa to Santiago and with the con-
ferencos that took place between Shafter
/ and Sampson in the effort 10 secure the CO.
i a. n ho re-
| duction OF Santiago. The story OF the Up
1 erations at this stage involves the recital
OF the destruction OF the Spanish fleet.
i which Is told, however, In the most concise
\ official form.
i The secretary, IN summing up the work
\ inpc5ed upon the department In It's vast
\ ness, says that the country as well as tho
service has cause for congratulations In
the results which have followed and which
! have been 50 generally approved, and In he
Il further fact that no personal feeling mas
i arisen 10 mar the glorious victories ana
\ magnificent work OF the service. The sec
/ rotary compliments the equipment bureau
i for the satisfactory manner IN which, not
withstandng the many difficulties which
i developed. In providing coal for the fleets.
/ The largest single item OF expenditure was
/ for the purchase OF coal-452, col tons being
i bought. at cost OF s2.i22O00.
Tbs secretary includes In his report a
i short and Gnclse statement, unde- sep
arate heads OF the operations OF each OF
4 the bureaus OF the department ard sub
i mlts estimates for the next fiscal year az
/ gregating ST. .2al. which IS an Increase or
/ 81 500 l13 over tho appTopria items for 1899 and
4 contains new Items aggrCgatlng $7,O27, SA.
Il or these new items the most import ant Is
i sl.729Se9 for yards and docks. TLtre Is also
an item OF sl,62O.OOO Oh account OF the naval
academy.
In reference 70 the workings OF the sys-
TEN OF labor employment at navy yards,
/ which Is said 10 have been severely tested
i during the war; the secretary says that In
\ continuation ~ the policy OF giving prefer
ence In appointment TO veterans Of he evil
war, he proposes TO give the preference now
10 the persons who served during the Span
| ish-Amercan war. rating as first those
\ who served In foreign waters or on foreign
soil. and next TO those who served in the
i United States or It's waters, providing they
! have had honorable discharges
The secretary indorces the recommenda-
/ tion OF the navigation bureau uthorizinR
/ the Increase whenever ncce ssary OF the
! enlisted force 10 10000 men and OF the APP
prentces 10 $500. The most important chap
/ ter OF the report is tina, relating TO the IN
/ crease Of the navy, and under this head
/ the secretary transmits and indorsos the
report OF the naval board OF bureau chiefs
! looking TO the Increase OF the navy by no
/ less than 10 ships, some OF the most power
| full character. The secretary says: The
| navy should be Increased. the DEVELOPMENT
/ OF It's various branches should be homo
! genous and the increase IN ships should
be accompanied by a gradual increase In
officers and men and In naval stations, ccalu1
ing stations repair plants. etc. with heS
territorial acquisitions or the present year,
- ,As philippines are also annexed 10 ne
| United States, It's outlying territorial )cs-
| sessions WlI be so great and so extended
that this increase OF naval force will be
I necessary"
In conclusion the report pays a high com
| pliment 10 the naval war boa-d, composed
OF Admiral Sicard, Capt CrowniHshitld and
/ Capt Mahan. saying Il was equal to overy
demand. enabled the department 10 control
movements on the water yet left ammo
discretion 20 commanding officers Charged
| with delicate and important duties. The
department is not aware that the board
| committed n single error.
Nine Were Drowned
London, Nov. 26.--The local steamer
Jitz James. bound from this port for
Swansea, foundercd Thursday N orninQ