The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-26

i6 - Mo.e, Haytis Tho department
s se1d coel in,nied aAtely 70 mole. Report
2 sixk Oily situation dt Santiago"
Il efStafy q NAVY: washington.
6, |>S kfn6ston, May Is. 1885, Merrimac's
y 1laVo toWed to Key West Have been un-
a INV nbBolubely to coal tho Texas. Marble
e Md. Vixen, Brooklyn from collier, owing
\ " nosrgh Yea. Bad weather since leaving
y ~ Wet The Brooklyn alone has more
thea enfftc'eat coal 70, proceed to Key
state squadron coal accoun. ln,rosstole
< TO coal lceward Cape ci.uze IN the summer.
owing 10 southwestarly winds. Much to be
rekretted, can not obey orders OF the de-
partunent. Have striven earnestly; forced
Z to proceed for coal 10 Key West by way
or Yircatan passage Can not ascertain
anything respecting enemy's position.
Very difficult to town to get cable hold.
"Schley."
Later in the day the squadron meantime
had again moved westward, the signal
stop was made to the flying squadron,
afbsr which the Texas and Malblehead went
alongside the Mcrrimac and coaled. The
squadron was at that time distant about
fon,y miles to the southwark and west
ward of Santiago. On the 18th signal to
squadron stopped for the night ten miles
off shcrs with the Marblehead scouting
two miles inside. On the next morning
the Spanish squadron was sighted inside. 4
On June 3 the Mcrrimac was sunk and
or this Secretary Long says. ',Tltls Mt
tenrt. although unsuccessful In It's OH
ject was sinringly execiEted. II is now one
Of the we'll known historical marvels OF
naval adventure and enterprise In which
Naval Constructor Hobson and his men
wou undying fame
The reports deals next with the seizure
OF the harbor Of Guantanamo and the gnl-
liant three DAYS fight OF tho marines. with
tho conveying of the Shafter expedition
from Tampa TO Santiago and with the con-
ferences that took place between Shafter
and Sampson in the effort to secure Gu
operation OF the army In tho reduction OF
Santiago. The story OF the operations at
this stage involves the recital of the de-
struction Of the Spanish fleet, which is told
however, In the most concise official form
Ono fact disclosed by the history of the
days before the surrender of Santiago IS
chat Sampson asked to be represented in
any conference held to arrange terms OF
surrender OF Santiago by virtue OF the fact
that lie had engaged In the Joint operations.
Shatter replied that he should be glad to
have Sampson represented, but the sur
render took place before his message
reached camp. SIMPSONS chief OF STAFF did
arrive before the final articles were signed,
but Shafter declined to permit him to be
ono of the signators.
Many devotea officers and crews from tn,
beginning Of the war until the end rem
deFed most valuable and conscientious ser
vice without opportunity for winning dis
tlnctlon IN nattie. High praise Is; awarded
The secretary submits estimates Tor the
next fiscal year aggiegatng 5,U9S .251. an
increase oil SsS6s,lI5 over last ytar. o.
The new items the most important Is
$i,79O,S49, Tor yards and docks. This is
also an increase or $i,B20.oUU ON account
oil The naval academy.
In reference 10 the labor at the navy
yaniis, de secretary says 1t viii now be
the policy to giyo preference 10 the APP
p0intment of veterans of the Spanish
American war He approves number OF
recommendations. These ncluIe q COM
bipatton of examining and retiring boards,
adoption nf a uniform rule Tor classifiea-
ton OF naval yesstls and provision Tor the
use by the government Of patents owned
by the naval Officers.
In his opinion the service should be
placed under tee control of The depart
Inent, and those who serve should be used
10 recruit in time of war and to be main
taiired by Fe1ensl appropriation.
The secretary submits bis providing that
on rewarding one officer injustice should
Lot DO dome 10 another and recommends
THAT the grades OF admiral and vice ad-
IN raj shall be revived temporarily, but
mentions no name,
Tire secretary lnIorses the recommeDda-
ton of the navigation bureau. authorizing
tho increase whenever necessary of the en-
listed force to 10000 men and Of these APP
prentices tn $500. The most important
chapter OF the report Is that relating to
the increase OF ,tahe navy and under this
head the secretary indAges tae report CT
the naval board of bureau chiefs, looking
TO the increase of the navy by no less than
fifteen saips, some of the most powerful
character.
The naval board of construction recon-
mends THE increase. Battleships shall ccst,
exclusive of armor and armament $4,000
COO each; three $4,000 tor armored cruisers
TO cost, exclusive of armor snd armament.
81 900 900 each; three 5000 ton protected
armament, $2,250,000 each. and six cruisers
TO have the highest speed compatible with
cruising qualities, great radius of action
and to carry the most powerful ordinances
suited to vessels of their class. the ar
mored cruisers and battleships to have the
heaviest armcr
With the territorial Acquisitions OF the
present year, IL tho Philippines are an
rexed to the United States its outlaylng
territory possessions would be so great and
SO extended that The Increase Of naval forco
will be necessary and as two or three years
will be required for the construction OF the
ships enumerated, appropriations sutfi-
ctent for making thpm should be made |
now