The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-12-01
The WORK OF THE NAVY.
Secretary Long Reports on the Sue.
cessfuI Operations Of the War.
MORE SHIPS ARE RECOMMENDED.
The Naval Militia is Praised-A Change in
the Reward System Ursed-Improve-
ments in che Service Adyised-S36,-
1OO,3OO Wanted For the Construction
OF More Warships.

OF More warships.
WASHINGTON, D. C. (SpeciaD John D.
Long, Secretary OF the Navy, has made
public his annual report. He briefly
sketches the events leading up to the
declaration Of war-the efforts OF the navy
to prevent violation OF the laws OF
neutrality, the ordering OF the Maine to
Havana, the loss OF the ship, Captain
Sigsbee's ''iudicious telegram" asking the
people to suspend judgment and the re-
suit Of the investigation by the Board of
Inquiry.
Then the operations OF the North At
lantic Squadron under Admiral Sampson,
in its efforts to destroy Admiral Cervera's
| feet. are detailed. after the victory OF Ad-
miral Dewey had been mentioned with the
highest praise.
The incidents before the "bottling up"
OF Cervera at Santiago are related and
some Of the correspondence given to the
public for the first time.
Secretary Long gives in detail the Samp-
son-Shafter correspondence, and states
that it was because OF the necessity OF CO.
operation between the army and navy that
Shafter on July 5. thereby missing the OPP
portunitv to personally direct the attack
on Ceryera's fleet, though the battle was
fought in accordance with his standing
orders. The Secretary gives q brief ac-
count Of "the famous victory, with its
splendid credit to officers and men," and
says:
1.-The casualties on our side were one
man killed and ten wounded, most OF
a. If N1,1 l. -,
cussion caused by the guns. Our ships
suffered no injury OF any account. Ad-
miral Cervera, about seventy officers and
1900 men were made prisoners while about
$50 Spanierds We're killed or drowned and
100 wounded. These estimates are prob
ably considerably below the actual num-
bers. Many OF the enemy were rescued
from their sinking ships by our men,"
Light on the question of who was in actu-
al command OF the army at Santiagois shed
bythe Secretary in SIMPSONS correspon-
dence relative to cooperation. The frst
kilograms are between Shafter and Samp-
son-after Miles's arrival, between Miles
and Sampson the first announcement OF
surrender being by Miles to the admiral.
The operations at Santiago are concluded
with q statement Of the raising Of the
Maria Teresa and her loss on Cat Island,
and the mention OF the probability OF a
DtlUR IutuS luo vi LU0
Reina Mercedes.
Then comes the details OF the blockading
squadron, Ensign Bagley being mentioned
for his gallant action, and the other brill
liant achievements Of the officers and men
on their arduous duty being spoken of In
the highest terms. The marine corps and
naval militia are not forgotten in this Of
fetal account OF the meritorious deeds Of
the men Of the navy.
rha De, md ntriS nf 10 ms
lean line, were chartered at S2500 a day,
and the New York (Haryard) and the Paris
(Yale) at $4,000 day.
Supplementary reports OF bureau chiefs
give the following facts: Expenditures at
yards and docks for 1898, II, ,TI2, 155; Equip
ment of vessels. So 975, 900; National de-
feuse, 81, ,031, ,933; 452. sol tons OF coal, 52,-
1000; 225 retired officers on duty for per-
iod OF war; 80 retired officers still on duty;
S56 officers appointed for temporary SER
vice: Naval Academy (new buildings)
$500, 900: Is auxiliary torpedo boats fitted
, out: 12l auxiliary vessels fitted out;
smokeless powder adopted II warships Of
all classes completed during til last year;
contracts for 8 battleships, 4 monitors, 16
torpedo-boat destroYers and IL torpedo
boats entered into; fifty-iive warships OF
all classes now under construction; total
credits for fiscal year ending June 80, 1898,
F-lOi .UiZ,COJ, lOlul ACDiS IL ouIAtO yObA, |cO,
743. .929; balance June 80, ISIS, 298, $40;
casualities-killed, II; wounded, 81; dis
charged to return to duty, 81; miscel-
laneous, Is.
or the $50 900. 600 appropriation 'for
national defense" S29, ,97S, ,274 was allotted
to the navy, OF which 361S,4F viii be re-
turned to the Treasury. or $4,000, 900 in
two special appropriations OF June and
July $21 ,423, ,5O3 remains. Total special
oil rn GST 0To D7l Nnf
obligated "a 4316,ISS. Total to revert to
Treasury, including $685. received from
the army, 5,056, 1S1. Estimates for 1899
S45, ,53S, 1892. Estimates for 1900, t547, ,oS9,-
251.
The Secretary makes many recommends
tions for new legislation, the most import
ant being for the control OF the transport
service by the navy; the establishment OF
q national naval reserve corps to be re-
cruited from men who served in the Span
ish war, the temporary revival or the
grades of admiral and vice-ad;niral; the
enactment Of the naval personnel bill, and
provision whereby nen in tho hanks may
rise to official grade.
A special Flea is made for n change in
the system for rewarding officers for con-
spicuous service, so that one officer may
not benefit to the injustice of others.
An increase in the enlisted force to 90
900 men and $500 apprentices is asked for.
Secretary Long recommends the build
ing of fifteen warships at an estimated
cost Of $50, 100, 800, exclusive of armor and
armament. These warships, with their es-
timated cost, exclusive Of armor and arm
ament, which of themselves cost millions
Of dollars, are as follows:
Three battle ships, 13, 500 tons, SO, 600
each; three armored cruisers, 1900 tons,
"a. OO0, 900 each: three protected cruisers,
$500 tons, 900 each, six coppered
cruisers, $500 tons, 81, 14l 900 each.