The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-04

just made public. Is document OF un-
usual Interest, dealing not only with
the work OF the navy during the past
year and Important recommendations
for the future, but discussing the ini-
portant questions relating TO the navy,
Including the authorization Of eighteen
new warshipH. the Imperative need of
special legislation in the early days OF
Congress for arn0r Of the best quality
that can be obtained, and the proposl-
ton that the thanks Of Congress be
given to the commander in chief OF the
Atlantic squadron, and to the officers
and men under his command, for the
part they took In the naval operations
at Santiago.
The secretary's reference and recon-
mendation as to those who took part
In the operations at Santiago are US
follows:
"While those engaged in the battle
OF Manila have been deservedly re-
warded-and no men ever deserved re-
ward more rlchly--those who took part
in the operations at Santiago. display,
ing the same conspicuous conduct ana
extraordinary herolsm, have received
no recognition whatever for their great
services except the recommedatlohs ZOE
promotion by the President, which nave
lapsed, not having been acted upon by
the senate.
THE department believes 1t due 70
these gallant men to suggest to you
that their services be recognized and
equal Justice done them, and that IN
accordance with the statute In such
cases, made and provided. you recon-
mend that the thanks Of Congress be
given to the commander in chief OF the
North Atlantic squadron and to the Of
flcers and men under his command, as
they were given in the case Of the COM
mander in chief and officers and men oil
the AsIattc squadron. The North At
lantiC squadron was charged with great
and exactIng duties. Including tne
blockade OF Cuba, cooperation with the
army and the pursuit, blockade ana
captilre or destruction of the Spanish
squadron under Admiral Cervera, all
OF which II discharged with signal eitt--
cheney. 1t was campaign OF great
scope and enormous responsibilities.
and was brought to a successful and
glorious consummatiOn. which termin-
1ted the war by the destruction OF the
Spanish sea power. II was marked by
unsurpassed precision. brilllancy and
vigor. That the men who, by such
achievements. earned their country's .
gratitude and have received no regard
from Its government, Is an omission
which 1t cannot be doubted Will be cor
daily and generously repaired.
IF reward by the present system OF
promOtion is abandoned. the depart.
Ipent renews Its suggestion, embodied
In senate bill 500b. introduced at the
last session OF Congress. which provides
for medals OF three classes-One for
conspicuous conduct In war. one for ex'
trnordlnary lleroism and one for gem
eral meritorious service-the first to
carry with II n percentage of Increase
OF nay, based upon the rank of the re-
cipient, and calculated to take the place
of the increase which would be the re.
suit of promotion were that form OF
reward continued II Ia believed that
such u medal, worn during lie ana
transmitted As an Inheritance. VIII pc
far more grateful to deserving officer
than u promotion In rank at the eXs
pense Of a cOmrade.
Concerning nrInOr for warships, the
secretary's recommendntion Is as fol
lows: ut is urgently recommended
that in the early days of its next ses-
sion Congress enact such special legls-
latIon. by Just resolution or otherwise.
as may be necessary to enable the de-
partment to make contracts easily In
the coming year for 1853 tons OF armor
OF the best quality that can be OBJ
tained in this country for the Maine,
Ohio and Missouri, and that the pro-
vision of the act of March 3, 1899. linz
ting the price Of armor TO $500 per ton
and the restriction preventing the ar
morcd vessels therein authorized from
being contracted for until the nrmor
therefor Is contracted for. be removed.
"Whatever may be the future action
of Congress regarding the establish
ment Of government Hrmor factory,
II can hardly affect the supply OF ar
NOR for the Maine Ohio and Missouri,
as II viii, under any circumstances. be
Impractlcable to obtain 1t from such
n source in reasonable time to complete
the vessels above referred to.
Secretary Long refers to the return
OF Admiral Dewey and his enthusiastic
welcome from the whole country. After
and the sword presentation In WASH
ington. the secretary sums up By say
Ing II wns the nations tribute,
Among the many topics treated Is
that for fostering the naval reserve,
the consolidation Of the nnVnl bureaus
Of construction. engineering and equip
ment in the interest Of more hHrmOni-
nug nctlon; the construction OF bar
racks for enlisted men and review OF
the various bureau recommendntions;
the deslrabllty Of changing the m1ter-
Ial of the League Island and the Mare
Island dry docks from timber to stone
and concrete. The warshipS claiming
bounty ard prize money from the many
c1nitIrea and engagements during the
wNr. are set forth in detail. The secre-
tnry SAYS the survey OF the trans-Pa-
cItIc cable route indicates that 1t VIII
be entirely practicable II Is Intended
also TO survey a cable route from Guam
TO Yokohama. II II proposed to sup
My ali new ships with smokefGss pow
dor. The tweVe-lnch gun has been so
grentlV developed that II has been deS-
ignnted az the heaviest gun for the
latest battleships. Instead OF the thlr-
teen-lnCh gun Many improvements IN
naval ordnance nre under way includ..
ing uniform Calibre for small arms anu
machine guns. work on thc uesiGnS
OF gunboat No 10. to replace the Mich
igon on the great lakes. has been sus-
pended pending negotiations With Great
Britain for modification Of the treaty.
Secretary Long reviews, also, the vari-
ous naval incidents Of the last year
The secretary gives table showing
The naval construction going on abroad.
MS compared with that in the United
states. From this It appears that only
Italv and Japan laid down less tonnage
thnn thls country during the present
venr. and that Italy alone had less tom
nnue under construction. The tonnage
intol under construction Is: England
XII gsO France, 255,b3a; Germnny, lAS,-
g9b Italy, i9O.6iO: Japan. 10000: Kus-
sIn. 222.076 United States, l23'2JG
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Charged with Larceny.