The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-25
SHIPS IN AUXILIARY FLEETS.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY ALLEN RE-
PORTS ON THEIR PURCHASE.

Prices Paid in Some Instances Less
Than the Price Recommended by
the board of Inspection - He
speaks in the Highest Praise OF
,ommends Naval Reserve of
5000 Men which Can BE MObiI-
lied at the Presidents Call.
Washington, Nov. PA clear and con-
rise business-li1e statement of so much
nj the operations of the navy department
during the war, as related to the procure
nent and care of ships and generally TO
the material, is provided in the annual re-
mort of Assistant Secretary Allen. just
made public.
Among other duties, the assistant Sec
y.tary was charged with the procurement
of vessels for the auxiliary navy. He says
that the work was managed with the ut
most care, not only as to the quality of
,be ships. but also to the price paid, and
he commends the intelligence and fidelity
If the board headed by Capt. Rodgers,
which inspected the vessels purchased. In
numerous instances the department paid
very much less than the price asked for
shins. and in some cases less the price
recommended by The inspection board.
MIR. Allen mas declared open to public
inspection all the correspondence relating
to the purchase of these vessels and their
price In leaving this branch of his re-
mort he refers with pleasure to the gem
erous patriotism of the friends of the
government in its time of need, naming
Mr.. F. August Schermerhorn and Mr.. w.
Hearst. who had offered to the govern
ment their private yachts. Free Lance and
Buccanneer, respectively.
Mr.. Allen refers briefly to the charter
of the four fine vessels of the American
Line. which he said performed valuable
service for the army and the navy, end
he said that in the settlement with tie
company he believes the government saved
g considerable amount of money by pay
ing the company a lump sum as an equi-
valent. for the expense of placing the ships
in condition.
The organization of the auxiliary naval
force as well as the purchase of the ships
was conducted by the assistant score
tary's office and the report shows that on
this account but $72O, $50 was expended in
appropriation of 100000
The assistant secretary speaks an terms
nj highest praise of the naval war col
leqe which he says has rendered valuable
service in stimulating our officers OF hgn
rank to professional Advancement and IN
the collection and arrangement OF profess
sional Information so as TO render 1t OF
the highest value to our officers lie be-
Beves that the institute should be en-
Outraged and everything done to render
If still more efficient and useful To this
end he saws che most important step is
the transfer OF the college from its pres
emf location at Newport to Annapolis,
where it will form a postgraduate course
for the naval academy.
MIR. Alien says that the naval militia
system revealed the inherent weakness OF
ITS organic system under the severe stress
of the demonstrated fact that the country
is absolutely in need OF a proper naval re-
serve which can be promptly modified I'M
der the call of the President. Under capt.
Crowninshield he thinks that this reserve
should be composed of seafaring men ana
whose status should be that OF BODY di-
rectiv under control of the federal govern
ment.
About 5000. in addition to those now in
service would be required to completely
man our navy when the ships under con-
struction are completed, and even at pres
ent provision should be made for one-haf
of that number These 1900 reserve men
could be enrolled from the naval militia
men who saw service in the Spanish war,
supplemented by enrolment from the sea-
faring places to whom the amount of pay
during service. the transportation to and
from their practice stations, and the uni
forms furnished would be a sufficient in
ducement The cost to the government
would be $4,000, and Mr.. Alien submits
the drafts of a bill to carry out his views
On this point.
Between Oct and IS, the assistant sec
rotary made visit of inspection to all the
navy yards on the eastern coast from Nor
folk 10 Portsmouth, n. H., and his obser-
vatons on this occasion were made the
subject of a special report to the Secretary
Of the Navy. Speaking generally OF his
conclusions, Mr.. Allen suggests that I'M
form system of auditing be adopted for
the yards in the interest of both the de-
parJment and the employees. He also sug-
gests a consolidation of certain ships do
ing similar work under different depart
merts.
The result of Mr.. Aliens inspection of
the Norfolk yard was as follows: There
are no modern automatic appliances for
eXtinguishing fire in the buildings of this
yard. The commandant strongly recon-
mends the alienation Of the timber basin
into deep basin for shipping. If this
change were made there would be an addi-
ton of 1900 feet to the water front of the
yard.
Changes are recommended an the shops
Of the steam engineering and the construc-
uon departments to enable the plants to
be enlarged 20 meet existing needs, and
70 allow better arrangements.
Much of the woodwork of the wooden
ury dock is thoroughly rotten and needs
extensive repairs This dock is only nine
years old, and is an Illustration of the in
adVlsability of building wooden docks.
The stone dry dock near by is over sixty
years old, and is in perfect condition.
CONDITIONS INTOLERABLE.
Great Britain to Negotiate with