The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-12-08
Wants MORE SHIPS.
crease of Our Navy and Makes
Other Suggestions.

lie, is a document of unusual interest, deal
ing not only with the work Of the navy
during the past year and important recon-
mendations for the future, but also dis
cussing the more important questions re-
lating to the navy, including the authors
cation of IS new warships, the imperative
need of special legislation In the early
days of congress for armor of the best
quality that can be obtained and the prop
osition that the thanks Of congress be
given to the commander-in-chief of the
North Atlantic squadron and to the OFF,
GERS and men under his command for the
part they took in the naval operations at
Santiago. asN ~ 70
The secretary urges President Mckinley
to call congress- attention to the valorous
deeds of the North Atlantic squadron to
the end that Rear Admiral Sampson and
| the men under him may have at least equal
honor with Admiral Dewey and his sup
porters at the battle of Manila. He sug-
gests presentation Of medals Of honor to
| the brave men.
| These larger items of the report receive
extended attention at the hands Of Sec
rotary Long. AS to the increase Of the
navy he says:
THE number of large, swift and power
ful armored cruisers of great coal endur-
| ance In our navy is largely disproportionate
to the rest Of the naval establishment.
| Inc experience of the last year has also
| SHOWN the need of several smaller vessels
usually classed as gunboats. 1t Is there
fore recommended that congress be re-
quested to authorize the construction Of the
| following vessels:
| First. Three armored cruisers Of about
!5'VoV tons displacement, of maximum
| oraught OF deep load not to exceed 26 feet,
| CARRYING the heaviest armor and most pow
erIul ordnance for vessels of their class,
to be so sheathed and coppered as to have
the highest practicable speed and greatest
| radius of action
| Second. Twelve gunboats of about 900
tons trial displacement, to be sheathed and
coppered.
| 'And. third, as recommended year ago,
three protected cruisers of about 5000
| tons trial displacement, carrying the most
powerful ordnance for vessels of this class,
to be sheathed and coppered and to have
the highest possible speed and great radius
| Of action"
| The secretary adds in this connection that
the S,000-ton protected cruisers are consid-
| cred better adapted to the present needs
of the navy than the 600O-ton ships rec
commended last year. He also asks that if
| satisfactory bids cannot be obtained for
| the new ships authority be given to build
them at the United States navy yards.
| concerning armor for warships the Sec
rotary says: 1.-The most important ques-
| ton pertaining to naval construction al the
present time, and one that demands prompt
attention, is that of the armor for vessels
now building and for others authorized but
not yet contracted for on account of the
| provision in the act Of March 3, 1899, pro-
| hibiting the department from contracting
for the vessels therein authorized until
contract has been made for the armor
| therefor within $500 ton. The price fixed
Is one for which even inferior armor can
not be obtained, and the department has
therefore been unable to invite proposals
for the three battleships and the three
| q rnd NTH
March g. $780," The secretary then shows
| that 1858 tons of armor are needed for the
| battleships Maine, Ohio and Missouri
about 5000 tons for the new battleships not
yet begun and about 800 tons for the ar.
mored cruisers already authorized, total
OF about 21,45S tons. He says that $500 a.
ton probably will buy armor made by the
ordinary process of face hardening, which,
| though good, Is not the best and the de-
partment does not therefore consider it
suitable for vessels of the Maine class
After pointing out the features of the new
| by leading maritime nations except the
United States, the secretary says: 1.-THE
department desires to make use of such
armor for the vessels now building which
are yet unsupplied with armor, and for the
armored vessels authorized and not yet
| contracted for"
His recommendation is as follows; 1T Is
urgently recommended that in the early
| days Of It's next session congress enact such
special legislation, by joint resolution or
| otherwise, as may be necessary to enable
the department to make contracts early in
the coming year for 1883 tons Of armor of
the best quality that can be obtained in
this country for the Maine, Ohio and Mis-
souri,, and that the provision Of the act of
| March 3. 1899, limiting the price of armor
to $500 per ton, and the restriction prevent
Ing the armored vessels therein authorized
from being contracted for until the armor
| therefor Is contracted for, be removed.
Whatever may be the future action Of con-
gress regarding the establishment of a gov
| eminent armor factory, it can hardly affect
the supply of armor for the Maine, Ohio
and Missouri, as it will under any circum-
stances be impracticable to obtain 1t from
| such a source in reasonable time to COM
plete the vessels above referred to-"
Secretary Long refers to the return Of
Admiral Dewey and his enthusiastic wei
| come from the whole country. After speak,
ing Of the New York reception and the
sword presentation in Washington the Sec
rotary sums up by saying it was the ma
| tons tribute.
| Among the many other topics treated Is
that for fostering the naval reserve, the
| consolidation of the naval bureaus Of con-
| struction. engineering and equipment in
| the interest of more harmonious action; the
| construction of barracks for enlisted men.
and review of the various bureau recon-
| mendations, the desirability of changing
| the material Of the League Island and the
Mare Island dry docks from timber to stone
and concrete. The warships claiming
bounty and prize money from their cap
lures and engagements during the
war are set forth in detail. He says
the survey Of the trans-Pacifc cable
| route indicates that it will be en-
| tirely practicable. 1t is intended also to
| survey a cable route from Guam to Yoko-
hama. 1t is proposed to supply all new
| ships with smokeless powder. The 12-inch
gun has been so greatly developed that it
has been designated as the heaviest gun
| for the latest battleships, instead of the
1S-inch gun. Many Improvements in naval
ordnance are under way, including uniform
caltber for small arms and machine guns
Work on the design of gunboat No. is to
| replace the Michigan on the great lakes
! has been suspended pending negotiations
with Great Britain for q modification of
the treaty. Secretary Long reviews also
| the various naval incidents of the last
year.
The secretary gives table showing naval
construction going on abroad, as compared
with that in the United States. From this
1t appears that only Italy and Japan laid
| down less tonnage than this country during
the present year, and that Italy alone had
less tonnage under construction. The total
tonnage under construction L.: England,
531, $50; France. 2s5.599 Germany. 1925;
Italy, 120.540; Japan, 100, 900; Russia, 222, 97e
United States. 123, 23s.
Appeal Dismissed.
nv