The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-25
NAVAL MILITIA WEAK.
Asst. See'y Allen Says Government
Should Control 1t.
REPORT OF CONDITION OF DOCKS
AND NAVY YARDS.

Repairs and Changes Needed-Eficient
Work of the Naval War College-How
anxl,iary ships for Navy We're Pur-
chased.
Washington, November 24.-A clear,
concise businesslike statement of SO
much of the operations of the navy de-
nartment during the war as related to the
nroourement and care of ships, and gen.
orally to the material, is provided in the
annual report of Assistant Secretary
Allen, just made public Among other
duties the assistant secretary was charged
9th the procurement of vessels for the
auxiliary navy. He says this work was
managed with the utmost care not only
as to the quality of the ships, but also
to the price raid and he commends the
intelligence and fidelity of the board
headed by Capt. Rodgers, which inspect.
ed the vessels purchased. Says Secretary
Allen: What wish to emphasize is the
fact that no vessel was purchased until
after it had been thoroughly inspected
and had been promo unced thoroughly sat-
isfactory by officers whose professional
training made them experts. !"
He declares that in making the pur-
chases of vessels the same care of the
governments interests on the financial
side was exercised as would be the case
with private case with an effort in
%lr I<,-% E,n i'm f1u-
sible In numerous instances the depart.
ment paid very much less than the price
asked for ships ard in some cases less
than the price recommended by the in
spection board. In the beginning, Mr.
Allen says, it was possible that prices
were higher than could be secured II 1t
had been practical to wait for competi-
tion. But true economy and the best in
terests of the government made 1T the
correct policy to pay higher price Tor
a vessel when her services were vitaiiy
needed rather than suffer the govern
ment's interests to be jeopardized by
waiting for lower price. Not very long
after the purchasing began, the compe-
tition to supply ships became very active
and the department. was then enabled to
Mr.. Allen had declared open to public in
speotiou all the correspondence relating
to the purchase of these vessels and their
price. In leaving this branch of the re-.
hort he refers with pleasure to the gem
erous patriotism of the friends of the
government in its time of need, naming
Mr.. +. August Schermerhorn and MIR.
w. r. Hearst, who had offered to the gov.
ernment their private yachts, Freelance
and Buccaneer, respectively.
Mr.. Allen refers briefly to the charter OF
the four fnp vessels of the American
lire, which, he said, performed valuable
service for both the army and the navy
and he said that in the settlement with
the company he believes ths government
saved considerable sum OF money oy
paving the company lump sum as an
equivalent for the expense of placing the
ships in condition.
The organization OF the auxiliary naval
force as we'll az the purchase Of ships was
conducted by the assistant secretary 6
office and the reports shows that on this
account but S720, ,689 was expended Of the
appropriation Of IS. 000, ,000 It Is said
that the sword of honor which Congress
ordered to be presented to Admiral
Dewey Is now being made In accordance
with TifYany's design, while the commits
sion for the medals of honor to the men
of Dewey's fleet has been given to Daniel
Chester French. A suggestion is made
that a heroic statue Of the late Admiral
Porter be of6Cl6u IN ronkAu O4uoto An
this city at cost of $50, 600.
THE assistant secretary speaks in terms
of highest praise Of the naval war college,
which he said has rendered valuable ser.
vice in stimulating our officers OF higher
rank to professional advancement and
in the collection and arrangement OF
professional information SO as to render
it of the highest value to our officers.
He believes that the institution shonld
nd thing dnna
render it still more efficient and useful.
But he says. the most Important step if
the transfer of the college from its present
location at Newport TO Annapolis. where
it will form a post graduate course for
the naval academy, not in the sense that
the midshipmen after completing their
four years course will at once take up
the studies of the war college, but that
as at present officers of considerable ex-
perience who are prepared TO assimilate
with advantage the course OF instruction
provided may have opportunity for sucn
study. Mr. Allen says that Annapolis
offers many advantages over newport
as location. The university practice ls
to keep together the undergrad uate ana
ia Thoroughly organized and offers basis
for a great naval university. LIZ affords
for the war college full facilities now
lacking in the matter of libraries, labra-
tories and instructors. Many or the
naval academy Instructors and professors
can be utilized in the war college course.
Annapolis is convenient TO Washington,
so that officers stationed here may avail
themselves of the course and, finally, 1ts
climate offers special advantages.
Mr.. Allen says that the naval militia
system revealed the inherent weakness OF
its organic system under the severe stress
OF the wal, and demonstrated the fact that
the country eis absolutely IN nsoa Oh ha
prom pity modified under the call Of tbs
President. Like Capt. Crowinshield, he
thinks that this reserve should bs com
posed of seafaring men and that whose
status should be that of a body directly