The Saint Paul globe., 1899-12-04

n Matter of Great Moment to the
Navy Department-Activi of the
Year Confined Largely to Ofen-
sive Operations Along the Coast
of LuzOn.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The two most
important questions treated in the annual
report of John D. Long. secretary of the
navy, made public today, are the addi-
tions to the navy and the problem of
armor plate.
AS increases to the navy, Secretary
Long recommends the following:
The number of large, swift and power
1ul armored cruisers OF great coal en-
durance in our navy is disproportionate
TO the rest of the naval establishment.
The experience of the last year has also
shown the need of several smaller YES
sells usually clasSed as gunboatS. 1t is
therefore recommended that congress be
requested to authorize the construction of
the following vessels:
First-Three armored cruisers, of about
1900 tons trial displacement, of maxi
mum draft at deep load not to exceed
26 feet, carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance for vessels of
their class, to be sheathed and coppered
and to have the highest practicable speed
and great radius of action.
Second-TWelVe gunboats, of about 800
l.,
and coppered.
And third, as recommended a year ago,
three protected cruisers of about 5000 tons
| trial displacement, carrying the most pow
erful ordnance for vessels of their class,
to be Sheathed and coppered, and to have
| the highest practicable speed and great
radius of action.
The increase in the tonnage of the last
three named vessels from 5000 tons, as
recommended a year ago, to 5000 tons is
suggested by. the naval board on con-
Struction as better adapted to the pres
ent needs of the service. The same board
are also of the opinion that if any of the
foregoing vessels are authorized the law
should provide that in case satisfactory
bids can not be obtained for their con-
struction by contract, the department
shall have authority to construct the
same in the navy yards.
ARMOR PLATE PROBLEM
Treating of the question of armor plate,
the secretary says:
The most important question pertaining
to naval construction at 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 of the act of March 3, 1899, pro-
h1b1tlng the department from contracting
for the vessels therein authorized until
a4S bsn sa made oa fer the
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
armored cruisers authorized by the act
of March g. 1893.
Briefly, the armor situation is as fol-
lows All the armOr for the battleShips
Kearsarge and Kentucky has been con-
tracted for and delivered. All the armor
for the battleships Alabama, Illinois and
Wisconsin has been contracted for. and
deliveries under the contracts will prob-
ably be completed by May, 1900. In Au-
gust and September of the present year
contracts We're made for 2,152 tons of
armor for the four harbor-defense mont-
tors authorized by the act of May T. 1898
At the same time contracts were made
Tor 1868 tons of armor for the battleships
Maine, Ohio and Missouri this latter
small quantity of armor being necessary
In the early stage of interior construc-
tlon; Ihe above armor for monitors and
battleshlps, aggregating 2,26S5S TONS was
April, 1900.
There remains to be contracted for
1853 tons of armOr for the Maine, Ohio
and Missouri. These vessels are now
building. and it is imperative that their
armor should be contracted for early in
the coming year; to delay it beyond that
time will in all probability delay the
completion of the vessels beyond the con-
tract date Of completion. Under existing
laws $4O0 ton may be paid for armor
"of a suitable quality for these vessels ::
but $500 ton will not apparently buy the
best armor, which for such vessels is, of
COuISe, lIie OIl4y suitable armOr.
1t is urgently recommended that in the
early days of its next session congress
enact such special legislation, by Joint
resolution, or otherwise, as may be neces-
sary to enable the department to make
contracts early in the coming year for
1888 tons of armor of the best quality
that can be obtained in this country for
the Maine, Ohio and Missouri, and that
the provision Of the act of March g. 1899
limiting the price of armor to 5000 ner
ton, and the restriction preventing the
hairlo. baHlorea vessels therein authorized from
pelng contracted for until the armor
therefor is contracted for, be removed.
Whatever may be the future action Of
congress regarding the establishment of
government armOr factory, it can hard
" affect the supply of armor for the
Maine, Ohio and Missouri, as it will
under any circumstances be impracticabIe
10 OBTAIN 1t from such a source in rea-
sonable time to complete the vessels
above referred to.
ACTIVE OPERATIONS.
Offensive operations of the wear the
secretary says, have been confined to the
waters of the Philippines, where. bv rea-
son of the insurrection on the island Of
LuZon, it has been necessary to assemble
and maintain a large squadron. The nrin.
plcal duties of the Asiatic squadron have
been to cooperate with the army and tc
MAINTAIN blockade of such extent as
! has been determined by the general nolicy
of campaign laid down by the war de.
| partment Many important expeditions
| nave been carried out involving dI1tv m
! an arduouS character, and few casualties
have occurred. Only passing reference Is
made to the attack upon American
sailors in Samoa, which resulted in the
loss of two officers and one man.
There is no reference in Mr. Longs re-
! port to the Schley-Sampson controversy
1t is stated that Admiral Sampson com
! manded the North Atlantic SQUADRON nm
! TIL Oct. IA, when he was relieved. anf
| that Admiral Schley was, on Oct as
| signed to the South Atlantic souadron
| Speaking of the return of Admiral Dewey
| Secretary Long says:
~ ADMIRAL Dewey. returning, arrived al
! New York Sept. &c, and was receivef
with most enthusiastic welcome FROM
Ine Whole country. On his arrival ir
| Washington the sword voted by congress,
| was presented to him in accordance viii
| the provisions of the act authorizing tha-
| ceremony 1t occurred Oct g. on the stem
| or the capitol, in your presence in I'll.
presence OF many members of the senate
and house of representatives.. of the su
preme courts of the diplomatic corns anf
OF vast assembly of citizens. II wa,
the nations S tribute
Mr.. Long recommends that the practic
of advancing officers as a reward fo
valor be stopped, and that gallantrv b
recognized in other ways
The secretary's reference and recon-
mendation as to these who took part !,
the operations at Santiago are as fol
lows:
While those engaged in the battle o
| Manila have been deservedly rewarded
| and no men ever deserved reward NOR,
| r1ch!y-thoSe who took part in the on
| erafons at Santiago, displaying the sam,
conspicuous conduct and extraordinar,
| whatever for their great services nXcen
the recommendations for promotion nv tn,