New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-25
THE NAVY MATERIEJ {.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY ALIENS ANNUAL
REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STONE DRYDoCKs-A
PROPOSITION TO REMOVE THE WAR COL
IEGE TO ANNAPoLIs-A NATIONAL

RECOMMENDATIONS rOh SLIME DNipOChS-A
PROPOSITION TO REMOVE THE WAR COL
LEoE TO ANNAPoLIs-A NATIONAL
NAVAL RESERVE
u..sh,neton. Nov. "a (SpeciaD.-The customary
,ual reports OF the Naval Bureau chiefs, which
have been interesting and important result of
the spanish war, are supplemented this year by
,se novelty OF formal report from the Assistant
SECRETARY Of the Navy. who IS charged In general
with the maerel Of the feet. and who in the
b,,ef period since May II. when he succeeded Mr..
roosevelt has raised his Office to dignity far
above that which It had hitherto attained. The
ooofdence 50 notably reposod in Mr. Allen by Sec
,,arv Long mas. In the opinion OF the naval per-
sonnel resulted in broad benefits to the entire
vice and the recommendations he makes after
careful examination ard study OF the subjects
touched upon are expected to have great influence
upon Congress. as they have met with the
tbusiastic approval OF the entire naval adminisra-
ton.
Mr Allen visited the navy Yards from Norfolk TO
Portsmouth. inclusive. in October and thoroughly
inspected the establishments. attended by technical
experts who pointed on, to him the most urgent
needs Of the Navy in the way Of plant and fac!li'
ties 20. maintaining the efficiency OF the fleet.
ROTTING WOODEN DRYDOCKs.
Nothing was apparently more conspicuous in this
category than the wooden drydoCks Regarding
tia, at Norfolk the Assistant Secretary writes:
Much Of tho woodwork OF TIE wooden drydock
,5Hroscblv rotten ana needs extensive repairs
TINS S6ck is only nine wears DID, and is an listra-
,nr ~ ne iradvisabii.y of building wooden docks
The stone drydock near 10y is over sixty years old
az the simpson dock Al The New-York Navy
Ycrd. tuiit eight years ago the following state
Tae 80 wooden dock IS rotting away Ike the
ono ~ NoJ oh nus eTig SSS9'% eS 4rci',r 9
which should lie absolutely permanent
Mr. Allen indorses he recommendations Of the
Bureau chiefs for improvements ~ the NcT-Notk
Norfolk and League Island navy yards. urges that
the excellent facilities Of the Boston yard should
10 M, - more use hereafter. and shows where a
,,vohe~ Of improvements may be made in various
directions
The repor, treats fully Of the purchases made for
the auxiliary navy. and emphasizes the fact that
~ vessel was purchased until after II had been
thoroughly inspected and had been pronounced
thoroughly satisfactory by officers whose profess
s.onal training made them experts
THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE.
Mr.. Allen. who is in charge OF the Naval War
College presents strong argument for the trans
fer OF that important institution from Newport 20
Annapolis where il Will form postgraduate
course for the Naval Academy. not IL the sense
that the midshipmen after completing their four
years course Will at take up the studies OF
the War College but that. al present. officers Of
considerable experience who are prepared TO assim-
late with advantage the course Of instruction pro-
vided may have opportunity for such study. An
Newport the location.
In the first place It will bring our naval educa-
tonal Institutions into line with what the expert
ence Of great universities has shown 10 be the
best plan In Of them has the idea ever been
entertained that the advanced courses should he
located in place entirely apart from the under
graduate work.
The Naval Academy is already thoroughly organ
tied and. with the traditions Of great educational
institution. offers basis which great naval
cal ilH- he 8
The War College needs. as we'll as the Naval
@cademy a well-equipped library, Laboratories. a
Of complete educational Institution. The Naval
ASademy ALREADY has these and Il me ar se Of
the existing facilities Of the Naval AcadeIny, 70
gether with those which it VIII bring with it when
Many Of the professors and instructors at the
nstruction in the War COLES and if the objection
be made that any OF them are not competent ior
IS entirely in the Departments hands. and that II
The central location Of Annapolis and the ease
VIII which II can be reached from points where
4 speoianv des.rabie as the seat Of the War Col
lege The officers the Naval Academy ana those
Themselves Of the course Of lectures when they
could readily attend them and mere mere WoQ!o , "a
a,ors ana members Of Congress could afford to
would be helpful in their work. so far as ii con-
The climate OF Annapolis also offers special ad-
vantaces as tactical exercises can be earned on
Is ajresdy provided with the outfit necessary for
these exercises. which are given TO tne mash p
These would at the same time furnish the officers
Of the War College lessons IN 'As more ADVANCED
Mr. Allen has given the subject OF the removal OF
has conferred with number of officers who have
fh best interests Of the service at heart ana these
ofcers have assured him that in their judgment this
plan is the best for enabling the college to do its
finest work.