The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-09-14

Under the present administration the
navy has shown itself worthy Of its best
traditions. The great victories IT Manila
Bay and Santiago were in no sense acct
Of careful training Of officers and men
and the thorough preparation Of the fleets
for the crucial test Of war. For this
preparation, this readiness 10 meet the
supreme moment for which a navy is
constructed and maintained, those who
administer the affairs Of the navy should
have credit The glory goes to our he
roes who are in command afoat, and 10
those officers and men who seize the OPP
portunities of war to render conspicuous
service; but in remembering them one
should not forget those who labor with
out ceasing TO secure the feet in q con-
didon Of high efficiency, and TO place ut
the disposal Of the commanding officers
an abundance Of supplies, without which
the feet is powerless.
As early rs Jan. IL, 1898, mere than
q month before the Maine was destroyed
IN the harbor Of Havana, the Secretary
Of the Navy began TO mobilize the ships
Of the navy and to take such measures
IS would place at the disposal OF the
officers IN command the fun measure Of
our naval force
Immediately upon the passage Of the
bin appropriating $50, 00o, 900 for the ma
tional defense, a board was organized
for the purchase Of auxiliary ships, and
after careful examination 102 ships Of
various types were secured 1T a total
cost OF S17,956, $50. OF these vessels
but TWO, the New Orleans and the Al
bany, were strictly vessels OF war. The
others were merchant ships, pleasure
yachts, tugs, etc, which were rapidly
overhauled at the different navy yards
provided with such light armor protec-
ton as was practical, and suitably
armed
Between March 16 and June 30 al
these vessels were purchased and as rap
idly rs overhauled were placed IN com
mission and put into active service. They
were used not only as auxiliary war yes
sells, but TO supply the fleets with coal
and ammunition and with fresh water
and fresh- provisions For the care--uf
the sick and wounded the Solace was fit
ted out as a complete hospital, and TO
make repairs TO vessels at sea the Vulcan
was fitted out as modern machine shop.
In order TO meet the increased demands
On the navy yards, it was necessary to
practically double the force between Feb.
15 and the middle Of April.
In addition to the ships which were
added TO the navy by purchase, fifteen
revenue cutters and four lighthouse ten
ders were transferred from the Treasury
Department TO the navy, and four Of the
great steamers Of the International Nav
igaton Company and one Of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company were charter
ed. There were in al 12S ships added to
the regular naval establishment, and II
became NJ once necessary to provide Off
GERS and men TO man them For this
purpose % officers on the retired list
were ordered TO active duty, $50 officers
were appointed for temporary service,
and the enlisted force was increased from
1880 to over p, 900 men.
It was an enormous undertaking TO
make al these additional ships ready for
war service, to secure the necessary guns
for them, md to keep the fleets supplied
with coal. ammunition and provisions.
But this was only a part Of the work
which the Navy Department had In
hand For the protection OF the coasts
Of the United States an auxiliary naval
force was created, which was Offered
and manned by the naval militia Of the
United States. A coast signal service
was established, which kept practically
our entire coast line from Maine to Texas
under observation, to give warning Of the
approach Of an enemy's vessel or Of sus-
picious craft Of any kind.
The operations of the fleets Of the Ash
atic and North Atlantic squadrons are so
well known that it is hardly necessary to
speak Of them in any detail. Their work
was SO well done that the power Of Spain
was swept from the sea, and Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines, which she had
misgoFerned for centuries, were taken
from under her dominion.