Connecticut western news., 1898-12-01
LONGS STATEMENT.
The Secretary of the Navy Eiic. Hts
 Annual Report.

Annual Report.
 The annual report to the president of the secretary of the navy, John D. Long, was made public Saturday. The report contains a compact narrative of the operations of the navy during the war with Spain. abstracts of the reports of bureau chiefs and the sec- retary's recommendations for the in- crease and the improvement of the navy. Mir. Long begins:
 Since my last annual report the navy has. for the first time since its rehabilita- ton. been put to the supreme test of war. Years of patient, persistent training and development had brought it to a point of high efficiency, which resulted in the un- paralleled victories at Manila and SRnti- Rgo-victories which have given the names of our naval commanders worldwide fame and added an additional page to the glo. rious naval history of our country.
 After referring at length to the prep arations for the war with Spain, the victory of Admiral Dewey at Manila. the blockading of Cuban ports, the voy- age of the oregon and other now hiss toric naval incidents. Secretary Long gives in detail the naval movements which resulted in the destruction of Admiral Cervera's fleet. The language is that of the candid historian, giving without establishment or comment the facts regarding the great naval cam paign and dispels the mists in which some of the movements of the ships were shrouded at the time of the loca- ton of Cervera's fleet in Santiago har- bor. No discrimination is made be- tween the commanders of our ships but all are given full mead of praise
 In conclusion he says:
 The department feels. fin contemplating the vast amount of work necessary to the successful operations of the navy during the last year, that the country. as well as the service. has cause for congratula- ton in the results which have followed and which have been so generally ap. proved and in the further fact that nc personal feeling has arisen to mar the glorious victories and magnificent work of the service.
 The report contains the following in- teresting figures:
 Battleships now being constructed. ...... ( Additional battleships recommended.... Cruisers now being constructed ,.,....,.. l Additional cruisers recommended.......E Cost of new battleships recom-
 mended ..................s....s...s 6o0,O0 .Cost of new cruisers recom-
 mended ........................s.. h,S00,Sh Estimates for the fiscal year 1899. 45 53S, ,a9. Appropriations for the fiscal year
 1Ags .lls bz3,1p Estimates for the fiscal year 1900. ~ o9S, 25l
 
 Excluding cost of armor and armament
 The report makes the following rec. concentrations:
 The amalgamation of the officers of the line and engineer corps.
 An increase of % officers in the new line
 Naval academy course to be four in' stead of six years.
 Revival of the grades of admiral and vice admiral and resurrection of the mid. shipman" in place of the naval cadet"
 Increase of pay of naval officers to equal that in the army and marine corps.
 Enlistment up to 10000 men and 2,5o0 ap. prentices. Transfer of the transport fleet from tho army to the navy department
 A national naval reserve, an increase In the marine corps to 5000 men and n new system of rewardlng officers for bravery.