The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-12-03
AhNUlL REPORTS REPORTS Of
CABINET OFFICERS
Secretary Long Reviews the Work
Of the Navy 10 the War
With Spain,
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT
Charles Emory Smith Tells of the
Operations of His Depart
ment--Ntilitary Pos.
tai Service.

report of the secretary OF tile navy is
much longer than the usual ANIMAL re-
port. The first sentence explains this,
as follows: For The first time since
It's rehabilitation the navy has been
quito the supreme test of war. Years
Of patient, persistent training and de-
velopment had. brought it to {; point of
efficiency, which resulted in the UNI
paralleled victory at Manila and San-
tiago--victorics which have given the
wide fame and added an additional
page to the glorious naval history of
II country"
The report describes in regular or
der the steps that We're taken to con-
solidate the s%quudrons and put the
navy in readiness for hostilities. SiGs-
bees famous telegram asking u s,is-
pension of public opinion in connec-
ton Will, the blowing UP of the Maine
is quoted, and the secretary says:
This iudicious telegram did much to
ecure in the public mind n dispassion-
ate view of the disaster"
Dewey's Victory.
The story of Dewey's victory at Ma
Mia is told. and of it is said: aside
from the mere fact of having won
without the loss Of ii single life such a
brilliant and electrifSing victory at
the very outset of the war, with all the
confidence which it infused through
out the country and into the personnel
OF every branch of the service, it re-
moved at ono all apprehension for the
Pacific coast" 4
The Aecretary tells how C%ervera's
fleet, having sailed from Cape Verde
islands, April 30, for IN unknown des-
tinution, Sampson sailed east with q
portion OF his fleet for the purpose of
observation. At Cape Haytien, May Z,
the department advised him that the
Spanish squadron vas reported at st.
Thomas.
The following statement explains
officially why the bombardment of San
Juan was not forced to an end:
'.rhe instructions were also given
that the vessels accompanying him
were not to be risked or crippled in
the bombardment of Notifications, as
it was considered unwise to risk any
of the vessels OF our navy until the
Spanish fleet should have been de-
stroyed. The squadron did not arrive
VII u oslul 'itSil nv " viz
18th. n bombardment of hat place
followed, and as there was no land
force to hold it in ease of it's surrender,
and as the Spanish fleet was not there,
it was determined to return to Ha-
vana, where it was possible Cervera
might have gone"
The report then gives Il running ar
rative Of the operations of the flying
squadron after news had been received
that Cervera's squadron had been seen
off Curacao.
One fact disclosed by the history of
the days before the surrender of San
tiago is that Sampson asked to be rep
resented in any conference held in the
arrangement of the terms Of surren-
der of Santiago by virtue of the fact
that he had engaged in the operations.
Shafter replied that he should be glad
to have Sampson represented. but the
surrender took place before his repre-
sentative could reach the camp. Adj
miral's SIMPSONS chief of staff did ar
rive before the final articles were
signed, but Shafter declined to per-
nit him to be one of the signers.
Touching upon the naval militia,
Secretary Long says: Considering
their lack of experience, the services
rendered by them were so valuable
that the country has been amply re-
paid for the money expended in their
instruction aud training" Praise is
also accorded to the officers and men
connected with the auxiliary naval sea
force and the coast signal service.
Estimates FOL 1900.
Estimates for the next fiscal year
aggregate SAT, 09s,251, which is an in
crease of $ 9,s69,173 ove the %appropria-
tions for 1890, and contains new items
aggregating $T,o27, s34. OF these new
items the most important is $4,729, 800
for yards and docks.
The secretary calls attention TO
what he declares TO be the injustice Of
the present system of rewarding off
GERS for conspicuous conduct in bat
tie, and suggests remedial legislation.
Though no names are mentioned it is
recommended that the grades Of adj
temporarily, to be filed by such Off
president to nominate.
The most ~importgnE chapter
report is TINT Il Incrense
Oas.Psrfe navy, Inu TINS neau the
Secretary transmits the report of. the
naval board of bureau chiefs looking
to the increase of the navy by no less
than fifteen ships, some of the most
powerful character.
The naval boards report, already
made public, recommends the follow
ing increase: Three seagoing sheathed
and coppered battleships of about 49,
500 tons trial displacement; three
sheathed and %coppered armored cruis-
ers of about 10000 tons; three
sheathed and coppered protected
cruisers of about 5000 tons; six
sheathed and coppered cruisers of
about $500 tons trial.
In conclusion the report pays a high
compliment to the naval war board,
and acknowledges with gratitude the
able assistance from Assista Secre-
taries Roosevelt and Allen, and the va
rious bureau officers.
PosTOFFIcE DEPARTMENT.