The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-10-21
MGR AsE IHE NAVY Am ARlly'
scctetary Long tn Crxeon FCOagrrss.slsI
Observation-Disclosures Made ~

Washington, Oct 19.s-In hts forth
coming annual report Secretary Lon4
proposes q adopt the recommenda.
ton Of Captain A. s. CroWninshield,
sshief Of the bureau of navigation, for
increase In the force of enlisted
men. The secretary will also strongly
Urge the passage of the Roosevelt per-
sonnet bill, which will increase the
number of engineer and line officers
5toSthe number demanded hy the needs
of the service.
It was reported yesterday that Com
motlore Higginson, chief Of the light
house board, had been instructed to
prepare recommendations as to the
naval policy which should be followed
by the United States. The secretary
says there is no truth in the report.
Ihe need of n recognized policy is app
preciated by Mr.. Long and he has been
Garefullyg reading papers dealing with
the policies of European governments.
sItis expected thatEhe wiM enupciate
s~uchxlsoiicy for ne unitsd states il
his sfeport.
Captain Growniishield,s recorn-
mendation regaraihgsthesenHst meE
provides TINT the number shall be In
creased 10 10000 men and 2 $500 appren-
tees.
i!nil.i Vessels in Classrs.
Secretary Long proposes, as soon as
the treaty of pence is ratified, to lay
up some of the armored vessels in re
serve in order to reduce
When this is done a skeleton crew will
have to be maintained on each ship,
and to supply all of the vessels it will
be necessary to get authority from
congress to enlist more men.
Besides urging the passage of the
personnel bill. the secretary proposes
to better the condition of the enlisted
men of the engineering branch Of the
service, if 1t is possible to do so.
He will also approve the recon-
mendation of Engineer in Chief Mel
vile that vessels be built in classes.
The engineer in chief believes that tho
highest efficiency would be secured by
building our ships us far as possible
in classes and make them alike in ev-
cry particular, SO that men trained on
n ship would feel equally ut home
and be as efficient on the five or six
Others Of the class.
The bureau of ordnance has been
notified.of the shipment by the Car
neg..e company of a fifteen inch plate,
representing the barbette armor for
the battleship Wisconsin.
Interest In Batiieship Construction
Much interest is being manifested
in naval circles in the race between
the Cramps and the Newport News
companies in the completion OF battle
ships. The construction of the Kear-
sarge and Kentucky was awarded to
the Newport News company March 2,
1895, while that for the construction
of the Alabama was awarded to the
Cramps June 10, 1896. The Kearsarge
and Kentucky are 6s and Sc per cent
respectively completed, and the Ala
bnma 63 per cent. The construction
of the last named vessel has been
somewhat delayed by the failure OF
congress to make provision before the
last session for her armor
The Kearsarge and Kentucky
should, under the terms of the orig
inal contract, be delivered to the gov
eminent on January 2, 1899, but there
have been some notifications which
will delay the date until spring. The
contract date of the completion of the
Alabama is September "a, 1899.
Commander Richardson Clover, who
commanded the gunboat Bancroft
during the blockade Of Cuba, has as
sumed the duties of chief officer Of the
Office of naval intelligence, relieving
Captain j. X. Bartlett.
Commander +. NJ. Barber, retired,
naval attache at Berlin, Rome and VI
emma, will be relieved within a short
time and an officer on the active list
will be ordered to succeed: him.