Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-12-05
REPORTS ON THE NAVY.

N11VNA0 VN LIE .NAvxs
Secretary Long Praises Work Of
American seamen-Makes Some
Important Recommendations.
washington, Nov. 27-The annual re-
port of Secretary of the Navy Long con-
tains many interesting comments on the
work of our sailors and marines during
the past year, and many important rec
concentrations for changes in the naval
service.
The work of the navy in Chinese wa
ters, and the part played by our sailors
and marines in the stirring scenes at
tending the Boxer uprising in that coun-
II is pointed out that because of pre-
cautlonary measures taken by the de-
partment before the beginning of the
trouble in Picking this government had an
adequate naval force at the nearest sea-
port town from which assistance could
be offered when the trouble came, and
that before the closing of communication
between the Chinese coast and Picking
a force of marines, consisting of Sc off,
GERS and men, had been sent to Picking to
serve as legation guard. OF the part
which this guard took in the stirring
scenes which followed Secretary Long
says:
THE annals of history present few .ex-
amples of more dramatic interest than
the story of the beleaguered LEGATIONS in
Peklng, from June 20, 1900, the date on
which the German minister was killed
and the siege began, until August IA,
When the allied forces entered the Chi
nese capital. Official and unofficial re-
ports, and particularly the dispatches of
our minister. show that the American
marines bore their full share in the bur-
dens of defense during this memorable
siege. The United States legation was
situated just inside of and near to the
wall of the Tartar city. When the lega-
tons were assaulted, the American de-
tachment Immediately occupied a posi-
ton on the city wall, strategic point
OF great Importance: established an I'M
provised sandbag fort there, which en-
abled them to defend the section of wall
Immediately commanding the legations.
and, although repeatedly attacked by
overwhelming numbers. and on two occa-
sions driven for a few minutes from the
wall, they were never permanently dis
lodged, but held this vital position until
relief came"
He also praises highly the force of
American seamen and marines which,
under Capt. McCalla, participated in the
attempt led by Admiral Seymour, of the
English navy, to relieve the legations at
Picking. That the heroism of these men
was appreciated abroad as we'll as at
home is proven by the following extract
from a letter of Admiral Seymour to the
American naval officer at Taxu, which
Is made part of the secretary's report:
Il cannot conclude my letter without
expressing to you, sir, the high admira-
ton have for Capt B. H. McCalla, who
accompanied US In command of your off,
GERS and men. Their post was usually in
the advanced guard, where their zeal and
go was praised by all. I regret to state
hat T-N- Iol
places, but considering the gallant way
in which he exposed himself am only
equally surprised and thankful that he
is alive"
Referring to the action at Tientsin in
which we had q officers and 326 men en-
gagged under Col. R. L. Mead of the ma
rine corps, Secretary Long says:
ITO record the instances of. gallantry
displayed by our officers and men at the
capture of Tientsi1 would almost be
equivalent to publication of the entire
roster"
The report says the navy on the Asiatic
station has cooperated with the army in
the Philippines transporting and convoy
ing troops. patrolling wide area of
badly charted waters sending out land
ing parties and keeping the coast clear
of the enemy. The small gunboats have
been of great value in preventing the
landing of arms for the insurgents and
cutting off illicit trade with and among
the islands.
Of the recommendations probably the
most important are those relating to an
increase in the personnel of the navy and
for additional ships. Of the former. after
referring to the steady increase in the
demand for officers for sea duty, the sec
rotary says:
This need will be still greater when
vessels authorized or building are COM
1fyoiC
report of the bureau of navigation repre-
sents that it would be impossible at the
present time to man our available fleet
were an emergency to occur demanding
such action. Attention is earnestly in
vited to the detailed suggestions of this
report and to the statement that with
the completion of vessels now under con-
struction an immediate increase will be
needed in the enlisted force of not less
than 5000 men,"
OF the increase in ships the general
board, of which Admiral Dewey is pres
ident, could not agree. but from their
various recommendations Secretary Long
selects the following as especially needed:
1.-Two battleships and two armored
cruisers, all of the maximum displace-
ment specified; that at least six light
draft gunboats and some small craft for
river service are especially desirable in
connection with our insular service, and
that the Golfers, training ships, trans
port and repair ship are the necessary ac-
compartment of the general recent in
crease of the navy, both in its fighting
force and in the enlarged range Of its
operations"
The report praises the naval militia Of
the various states, but recommends a
form of national naval reserve, to be I'M
der the control and support of the ma
tional government.
Other fnv S11ch
legislation as will give to naval officers
serving on shore duty in our island pos
sessions the same increase In pay as Is
granted officers of the army: decrease
in the term of enlistment in the marine
corps from five to four years, and the
consolidation of the navy departments
of construction and repair and steam en-
cheering and equipment
The report closes with the following
tribute to the officers and men of the
navy:
: There is no finer type of the public
servant trained to high sense of his off,
cial obligations, and no hand in which
the honor of his country and the rights of
its citizens are safer, than are to be
found in the navy of the United States"
PlunEes Into the River.
Pittsburgh Pa, Nov. 20, 3 a. NJ
At 1:15 this morning the night ex-
press for Cleveland on the Cleveland
& Pittsburgh railroad was thrown
into the river two miles below Beaver
The information at hand says one
man was drowned and four others
were badly hurt. The man who lost
his life was the Adams Express mes
senger, and his name was Casey. He
lived at Cleveland
Rromiuenf Inflianian naad