Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-12-03
ANNUAL REPORTS OF
CABINET OFFICERS
Secretary Long Reviews the Work
Of the Navy in the War
With Spain.
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT
Charles Emory Smith Tells of the
Operations OF His Depart
ment.-MiIitary Pos
tai Service.

Washington, Nov. 2S.-Tbe annual
report of the secretary OF the navy is
much longer than the usual annual re.
pert. The first sentence explains this,
as follows: "For the first time since
it's rehabilitation the navy has been
put TO the supreme test OF war. Years
Of patient, persistent training and de-
velopment had brought IL TO u point OF
efficiency, which resulted in the I'M
paralleled victory at Manila and San-
~tiago-victorics which have given the
names of our naval commanders world
wide fame and added an additional
page TO the glorious naval history OF
our country"
The report describes in regular or
der the steps that were taken TO n
solidate the squadrOns and put the
navy i'm readiness for hostilities. Sigs'
bees famous telegram asking n sus-
pension Of public opinion in connec-
tion with the blowing up Of the Maine
is quoted, and the secretary says;
This iudicious telegram did much to
secure in the public mind n dispassion-
ate view OF the disaster"
Dewey's Victory.
The story of Dewcy's victory at Ma
Mia is told, and Of it is said: Aside
from the mere fact Of having won
without the loss Of n single life such n
brilliant and clectrifying victory Mt
the very outset Of the war, with all the
confidence which il infused through
out the country and into the personnel
OF every branch Of the service, ii re-
,,,,H.l "a ,,n. all npTahnnginn fnr thn
Pacific coast"
The secretary tells how Cervera's
fleet. having sailed from Cape Verde
islands, April 20, for an unknown dcs-
tination, Sampson sailed east with n
portion of his fleet for the purpose OF
observation, At Cape Haytien, May Z,
the department advised him that the
Spanish squadron was reported ut 81.
Thomas.
The following statement explains
officially why the bombardment OF san
Juan was not forced TO an end:
"Thc instructions were also given
hat the vessels accompanying him
were not to be Tisked or crippled in
the b~ombardmcnt OF Notifications, rs
il was considered mwise to risk any
Of the vessels Of our navy until the
Spanish fleet should have been de-
stroyed. The squadron did not arrive
of San Juan until the morning OF h
18th. \ bombardmcnt of that place
followed, and MS there was no land
force TO hold il i'm case of its surrender,
aud as the Spanish feet was not there,
ii was determined TO return To Ha-
yana, where il was possible CcrNcra
might have gone"
The report then gives a running mar
rativc of the operations of the lying
squadron after news had been received
that Ceryera's squadron had been seen
of Curacao.
One fact disclosed by the history OF
the days before the surrender Of San
tiago is that Sampson asked to be rep
resented in any conference held in the
arrangement Of the terms of surrcn-
der of Santiago by virtue Of the fact
that he had engaged in the operations.
Shafter replied that he should be glad
TO have Sampson represented, but the
surrender took place before his repre-
sentative could reach the camp. Adj
miral's SIMPSONS chief Of STAFF did ar
rive before the final articles were
signed, but Shafter declined TO per-
nit him to be one of the signcrs.
Touching upon the naval militia,
Secretary Long says: considering
their lack of experience, the services
rendered by them were so valuable
that the country has been amply re-
paid for the money expended in their
instruction and training" Praise is
also accorded TO the officers and men
connected with the auxiliary naval sea
force and the coast signal service.
Estimates for 1900.
Estimates for the next fiscal year
aggregate SAT, COS, 251, which is an in
crease of 50, S60.1r3 over the %appropria-
tions for 1899. and contains new items
a%ggregating $7,027, S34. Of these new
items the most important is Si,190,S99
for yards and docks.
The secretary calls attention 10
he declares to be the injustice Of
the present system of rewarding Off
GERS for conspicuous conduct in bat
tie, and suggests remedial legislation.
Though no names are mentioned il is
recommended that the grades of adj
miral and vice admiral shall he revived
temporarily. to he filled by such Off
GERS as it may be the pleasure Of the
president to nominate.
TIE most important chapter of the
is that relating To the increase
If the navy, and under this head the
secretary transmits the report of the
naval board of bureau chiefs looking
TO the increase of the navy by no less
than fifteen ships, some of the most
powerful character.
The naval boards report, already
made public, recommends the follow
ing increase: Three seagoing sheathed
md coppered battleships of about 49,
500 tons trial displacement; three
,heathed and coppered armored cruis-
FRS of about 10000 tons: three
and ]connered nrOteptp1