Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-11-26

lAe Ioflh at the entrance or the harDOr,
which were heavily bombarded. espe-
ciaily the Punta Gorda battery. by the
Oregon and Indiana.
"A report OF this bombardment was
sent TO General shafter. and Admiral
Sampson stated that It was impossible
60 force an entrance to the harbor I'M
til the channel could be cleared OF
mines, which could only be done after
the forts at the entrance Of the harbor
were taken by our troops.
General Shafter replied that It was
not possible to say when he could take
the batteries at the harbor's mouth and
urged that an effort be Immediately
made by the navy 10 force an entrance
Admiral Sampson wrote to General
Shafter that the forts which had been
bombarded by the squadron could not
Inconvenience the army in capturing
the city as they could not fire except
90 seaward that. as the channel to the
harbor was strewn with observation
mines, an effort TO force an entrance
would result in the sinking of one or
more naval vessels and in closing the
entrance to the harbor, but that IL il
was desired the navy should attempt to
force the entrance he would at once
prepare to undertake II, although he
had hoped that an attack by the army
on the shore batteries from the rear
would leave the navy at liberty to drag
the channel for torpedoes."
The naval battle of July is covered
briefly. The report contains nothing un-
der this head which is not already well
known. It states that at the time Ger
vera came out Of the harbor the New
York was about four miles east of her
blockading station and about seven
miles from the MORO"
The secretary next mentions briefly
the wrecking operations that resulted
IN the raising Of the Maria Teresa. The
abandonment at sea and the wreck OF
the vessel on Cat island are mentioned.
Contracts for the wrecking Of other
ships have been cancelled, Mr. Long
says. but that il is probable a contract
viii be made with a wrecking company
u raise the Rena Mercedes. OF the
blockade he says
"The blockade was of an extremely
arduous character, generally unreliev-
ed by the exhilaration Of combat. Many
devoted officers and crews from the be-
ginning of the war TO the end rendered
most valuable and conscientious service
without opportunity for winning dis
rinction in battle"
Mr. Long gives a summary Of the
many incidents of the blockage Of Gu
ban ports and the several engagements
with land batteries and the capture Of
vessels.
He compliments the marine corps for
its excellent work." particularly while
IN camp at Guantanamo repelling Span
ish attacks. In considering the work of
the naval militia he concludes thus:
"These organizations were largely re-
cruited outside of the seafaring class
and lacked the experience in gunnery.
navigation and the habits of the sea
which are essential to immediate eff
Client service in the navy. on the other
hand, they were men of a high stand
ard of education and Intelligence and
rapidly acquired while on shipboard the
knowledge necessary for their ehicien-
cy Considering their lack Of experience.
the services rendered by them were so
valuable that the country has been am
ply repaid for the money expended in
their instruction and training"
The secretary commends the officers
and nen of the auxiliary naval force
that patroled the coast and the work
or the coast signal service. He gives a
list OF auxiliary vessels bought for the
government, the former owners and the
prices paid. The force OF enlisted men
allowed by law prior to the outbreak Of
the war was 1880. Aug. TO- when the
enlisted force reached it's maximum,
there were 24123 in the service. OF the
armament of new vessels he says:
In the armament of the three battle
ships recently authorized the depart
ment has determined TO substitute a
now type of high power II inch gun for
tor 70 no the uf1 rI In, 1.a
Illinois and sister ships. The main bat
) teries Of the new ships will consist of
four II inch rifles in two turrets and OF
l6 improved 6 inch quick firing guns in
classmates in place of four 10 inch and
fourteen 6 inch guns in the Illinois
= class. The maximum thickness Of ar
NOR TO be employed in the new vessels
VIII be IL inches for the main belt. in
place of 1917 inches heretofore used. inn
provements in the manufacture of ar
NOR warranting this reduction"
} A list OF all the vessels under con-
structon is given. The battleships will
= probably be completed on the following
dates
Kearsarge August. 1897 Kentucky
August. 1897 Illinois. April, 190O Ala
= bama, Sept "a 1892 Wisconsin. Sept. l.
1893: Maine. June 1, 1901; Missouri, June
H. i9ulf ONO, June D. lSOl.
"With the exception Of the three bat
b tleships and four monitors last author
i2ed.' the secretary says. every vessel
in the list OF those under construction
z should be completed by the end of the
J year 1900"
: The naval board of construction, Mr.
= Long says, recommends the construc-
ton Of three more battleships, three
first class cruisers. three protected
p cruisers OF 5000 tons and six cruisers
! Of $500 tons.
The secretary makes the following
, recommendations for increasing the ef-
s fciency Of the navy
The amalgamation of the officers oil
E the line and engineer corps.
An increase of 80 officers in the new
! line.
Naval academy course TO be four in.
e stead Of six years
] Revival Of the grades Of admiral and
. vice admiral and resurrection Of the
Z "midshipman' in place of the MAYA
= cadet"
b Increase OF pay Of naval officers {,
= equal that in the army and marine