The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-04
SECRETARY LONGS REPORT.
INCREASE OF TIE NApT DURING
TEE PlsT FISCAL YEAR.

ErOKroHa
tborired By tho Last Congress Owing TO
the Armor Dispute-The Programme OF
Increase for CONSOLES alton OF Bu-
reaus Recommended-Also an Early
settlement OF the Armor Question-Plan
to Reward Omcers in the Santiago Battle.
WARRINGTON. Dec. 3.-The report OF Secretary
Long SAYS that since his last annual report one
battleship, the Kearsaree. SIX torpedo boats.
the practice ship Chesapeake. and two tugs
have been all built under contract nndhave been
condItionally or finally accepted. In addition
TO these the cruiser Reina Mercedes and the
punboats Don Juan do Austria. Isla de Cuba
and Isla do Luzon. which were sunk by our
ships during the war with Spain. have been
recovered and added TO the Navy. These. with
the exception OF the Reina Mercedes. are at
Hong Kong for tho repairs and chanees neces-
sary TO At them for service on the Asiatlo sta
tIon. and Il 10 estimated that the total cost OF
raising and repairing will be about s3Oo.OOO.
while their value when completed will be
double that amount. In addition to these,
considerable Increase In the small craft on the
Asiatic station has been made through the
purchase or capture OF fourteen gunboats and
three tugs
The Kearssrge had her ofloial trip on Sept.
25. and attained Q speed OF 1855 knots. She
was prsliminarily accepted Nov. 8, 1899. Her
oath OF this month. The contracts for these
ships we're made In the early part Of 1895, and
require a speed OF sixteen knots. They are
the frat ships OF their class completed without
N premium for excess OF speed over tho con-
tract requirements.
Some delay has occurred on vessels under
construction through the Inability OF the oon-
tractors to procure armor and other material.
and the lack OF experience on the part OF some
OF them In building torpedo craft: and the
dates OF completion In soms cases have been
somewhat postponed from those given In tho
last report But. the report says. four battle
ships should be finished early next year and
one In October. The three others under con-
struction should be available. one in 1901 and
the other two early In 1902. The cruiser
Albany, now building In England. and most OF
the thirty-thres torpedo craft. should be avail
able during the coming year. and the four
monitors In 1901.
Little progress has been made with the de-
signs for the three battieships and three
armored cruisers authorized under the act OF
March 3. 1899. owing to the provision prohibit
ing the Department from contracting for the
hull OF any vessel authorized therein until a
contract has been made for the armor within
tho limit OF a cost OF $500 per ton. Work on
the design OF gunboat No. IL. to replace the
pended awaiting the notifications OF the treaty
with Great Britain. which are now under con-
slderation.
In order to show the amount expended on
the new Navy the Department has had prepared
IN the Bureau OF Supplies and Accounts a ia bic
which shows In detail the cost OF each finished
ship since the rebuilding OF the feet began In
1888 and the amount expended on those under
construction. This table shows that the In
tshed vessels have cost $500. Sill. and that
the estimated cost Of vessels now In course OF
construction will be si2.57O,dl0.
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
The Secretary says that the number OF large.
swift and powerful armored cruisers OF great
coal endurance in our Navy is largely dspro-
portionate to the rest OF tho naval establish
ment The experience OF the last year has
also shown the need OF several smaller vessels
usually classed a. gunboats. 1t is therefore
recommended that Congress be requested to
authorize the construction OF the following
vessels:
First. Three armored cruisers. OF about 49,
600 tons trial displacement OF a maximum
carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful
ordnance for vessels OF their class. TO be
sheathed and eoPpered and to have ne highest
Second. Twelve gunboats, OF about 300 tons
trial displacement. To be sheathed and cop
And third. rs recon. mended a year ago three
protected cruisers OF about 5000 tons trial
ordnsSes eh fnr vesseIs Of ,heir class T te be-
sheathed and coppered. and to have the highest
practicable speed and great radius Of action.
named vessels from 5000 tons. as recon;
pended a year ago, TO 5000 tons is suggested
by the Naval Board on Construction rs better
adapted TO the present needs of the service
The same board are also Of the opinion that II
any oil the foregoing vessels are authorized. the
law should provide that in case satisfactory
bids cannot be obtained for their construction
ity TO construct the same IN the navy yards
:, The Secretary refers to the trial Of the Ho-
oil the requirements were fulfilled. He adds:
The Department at present has a submarine
Works. at Baltimore. which was reported on
Nov. as ~ per cent. com pieted. 1t In believed
ported. are indicative Of the very important
possibilities OF this type otnaval war vessel"
ENLISTED FORCE or THE NAVY.
:. On June 30. 1899, the report says. the en-
listed force OF the Navy numbered 1870 petty
total Of i4.5oI. Or this number s.5oG t'v were .
serving under continuous-seryice certificates.
ment in the enlisted force and the increase OF
the percentage Of American citizenship. Eighty
sFh cent g, the PS, e are, ozss
remainder have declared their intention OF
becoming citizens. Seyenty-five per cent. OF
OF che remainder have delared their Intentions
OF becoming citizens.
In the case Of the apprentices over 81 per
cent. are native born. The total number OF
apprentices In the service on June 30 was
2.22l. IL is from the apprentice system that
the Department has hoped To gradually build
up the tone OF the enlisted force OF the Navy,
and 10 finally MAKE IL entirely American. The
apprentices are enlisted between the ages OF
IA and II, and are sent to the training sta
tlons at Newport and San Francisco. whers
their education Ia continued and where they
are carefully instructed before they, are sent
TO sea. They are then put on board training
ships until they become efficient man of-war's
men.
The Department has also taken steps during
the past year to increase the number OF man.
of-wars men by enliatlnR several hundred
native born men, from 81 to ~ years OF age. as
Ian dsmen. and sending them to sea on board
cruising training ships In order that they may
learn how to care for themselves and their
clothing on board IA ship OF war and to become
familiar with naval discipline and proficient In
handling boats and In the use OF great and
small guns and small arms. The Hartford on
tho Pacific Coast. and the Lancaster, on the
Atlantic Coast have been selected for this pur-
pose, and It Ia hoped in this way TO train a
number OF men,, who. when transferred to
regular vessels OF war. will be proficient for
any service which may by required OF them.
The Secretary recommends that barracks be
substituted for receiving ships for Quartering
such OF the enlisted force as are not on board