The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-25
THE AUXILIARY NAVY
BUSINESS-LIExE STATEMENT FROM
ASSISTANT SECRETARY ALLEN.
Work of the Inspection BOnrd-Re-
form of the Naval Militia system
Necessary-Dewey'sS Sword.

WASHINGTON, Nov PA clear, con-
else and business like statement of so much
sof the operations Of the Navy Department
during the war as related to the procure
ment and care of ships and generally to the
material is provided in the annual report of
Assistant Secretary Allen just made public.
Among other duties the assistant secretary
was charged with the procurement of YES
sells for the auxiliary navy. He says this
work was managed with the utmost care
not only as to the quality of ships, but also
as to the price paid, and he commends the
intelligence of the board headed by Capt
Rogers, which inspected the vessels pur-
chased. He declares that in making the
purchase of vessels the same care for the
governments interest in the financial side
was exercised as would be the case with a
private firm with an effort in every case to
make the best bargains possible. In num-
erous cases the department paid very much
less than the price asked for the ships and
in some cases less than the price recon-
mended by the inspection board. In the be-
ginning Mr.. Allen says it was possible that
prices were higher than could have been Sc
cured if it had been practicable to wait for
competition but true economy and the best
interests of the government made it the
correct policy to pay a higher price for a
vessel when her services were vitality needed
rather than suffer the governments inter-
ests to be jeopardized by waiting for lower
price. In leaving this branch Of his report
he refers with pleasure to the generous
patriotism of the friends of the government
in it's time of need. naming Mr. F. August
Schermerhorn and Mr.. w. r. Hearst who
had offered to the government their private
W 0hf rs nv,1
lively.
The organizat ton of the auxiliary naval
force as well as the purchase of the ships
was conducted by the assistant secretary's
office, and the report shows that on this
account but $720,6S9 was expended out of an
appropriation of $3000,OOO
1t is said that the sword of honor which
Congress directed to be presented to Ad-
mral Dewey is now being made in accord
ance with Ttffanys design while the COM
mission for the medals of honor to the men
OF DeWeys fleet has been given to Daniel
Chester French
The assistant secretary speaks in terms of
highest praise of the naval war college
which, he says, has rendered valuable service
in stimulating our officers of high rank to
professional advancement and in the collec-
ton and arrangement of professional in
formation. To this end he says the most
important step is the transfer of the college
from its present location at Newport to
ate course for the Naval Academy.
Mr.. Allen says that the naval militia syS-
tenn reveals the inherent weakness of it's
organic system under the severe stress of
the demonstrated fact that the country
is absolutely in need of proper naval re-
serve which can be promptly modified I'M
der the call of the President Like Captain
CrOwninshield, he thinks that this reserve
should be composed of Seararing men and
whose status should be that of a body d.
rectly under control of the federal govern
ment. Such/a force should be no divided
those now in service, would be required to
completely man our navy when the ships
under construction are completed, and even
at present provision should be made for one
half of that number of 1000 men, These
1900 reserve men could be enrolled from the
Spanish war, supplemented by enrolment
from the seafaring, places to Whom the
amount of pay during service, the transport
tation to and from their practice stations
and the uniforms furnished would be a suf-
fcient inducement. The cost to the gov
eminent would be $144 600 and Mr.. Allen sub
mits the drafts of bill to carry out his
views this point.
Between Oct. and Oct. Is the assistant
secretary made a visit of inspection to all
the navy yards on the Eastern coast from
Norfolk Va. to Portsmouth, N. H., and
the subject of special report to the secre-
tary of the navy Speaking generally of
his conclusions, Mr.. Allen suggests that a
uniform system of auditing be adopted for
the yards in the interest of both the depart
ment and the employees. He also suggests a
work under different departments, seeing no
reason for INSTANCE, why each of the several
departments should have a separate black
smith shop.