The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-12-07
|NAVY'S splendid RECORD
Secretary Long Makes Annual Re-
port on Operations of His
Department.
CHINESE CAMPAIGN GIVEN FIRST PLACE.
High Praise for American seamen
and Marines-Increase I'm PERSON.
mel of Navy and Additional ships
Asked of Congress-NationnI Naval
Reserve Is Suggested.

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 nayaf
service.
The work of the navy in Chinese wa
tiers, and the part played by our sailors
and marines in the stirring scenes at
tending the Boxer uprising in that coun-
try, is given first place in the report.
1t is pointed out that because of pre-
cautionary 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 Peklng
a force of marines. consisting of Sc OH
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:
Dramatic Incidents.
THE annals of history present few ex-
amples of more dramatic interest than
the story of the beleaguered legations in
Picking, 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 iega-
lions were assaulted, the American de-
tachment Immediately occupied 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 few minutes from the
wall, they were never permanently dis
lodged, but held this vital position untit
relief came"
Praise for American Seamen.
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 mem
was appreciated abroad as well as at
home Is proven by the following extract
from a letter of Admiral Seymour to the
American naval officer at Taku. which
is made a part of the secretary's report:
81 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 i'm
the advanced guard. where their zeal and
go was praised by all. I regret to state
that Capt. McCalla was wounded in three
places, but considering the gallant way
in which he exposed himself ! am only
equally surprised and thankful that he
is alive %
New Ships Needed.
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 need
ed:
Two battleships and two armoredt
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 irn'
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"
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
it's citizens are safer. than are to be-
found in the navy of the United States..'