The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-27
ANNUAL REPORT OF
SECRET AIRY LONG Il:
Behavior Of Officers and Men at.
Pekin Siege Praised.
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE.
Need of Increasing Force OF Navy
Pointed Outlook in Philippine
Islands a Necessity - Rewards
for Mcritorions Conduct.

The annual report of the Secretary OF
tte Navy for the year 1900 has just nesl
made public The report recounts ..o
mart borne by the Navy in the draiha. ~
events OF the siege of The feSat!ous =.
I,ekin and their subsequent feiet ,.,,
praises the bravery and prudence OF not =,
the officers and men Who pa'ic'i'a' eo
the operation. ,,,,o-.
The salient features OF the Tepoi =;
The need of officers for sea dul! %
steadily growing. and at times Inc De
Yar,Ipcnt is seriously embarrassed by iaeA
of necessary officers to properly man VS.
sells required for immediate service.
This need will be still greater when yes
cells authorized or building are compieleu
and ready for commission. Inc report u
the Bureau of Navigation represents mat
IL would be impossible at the present utne
~ man our available fleet were an emer-
cencv to occur demanding such action.
Attention Is earnestly invited to the de-
tailed suggestions Of this report and to
the statement that with the completion Oh
vessels now under construction an imme-
date increase viii be needed in the en-
listed force Of not less than 5000 men.
TRAINING SEAAEN.
For many years it has been found dill
ficult 10 enlist sufficient number OF the
SeayneN class 10 Supply
obvia.e this difficulty the Department de-
cided to train its own seamen from raw
material. and during the past year has
assigned five vessels to the special duty
of fitting landsmen between the ages OF
q and &c for the higher naval ratings.
This method differs from that Of the ap-
prentice system, in that 1t opens the door
TO the enlistment and immediate training
of young men who possess little or no
nautical knowledge or sea experience. and
gives them an opportunity TO acquire the
habit of the sea and a knowledge Of the
practical mechanical appliances which
are found on board the modern man-of-
war This has been carried out during the
past year TO a greater degree than ever
before, and the experiment has been sue
cessful.
SHORE DUTY BEYOND SEAS.
Section l3 Of the "act to reorganZe and
increase the efficiency of the personnel
of the Navy and Marine Corps Of the
United States provides that when naval
officers are detailed for shore duties be-
yond seas they shall receive the same pay
and allowances as are or may be provided
by or in pursuance of law for officers of
the army detailed for duty in similar
places
It has been held by the accounting off
GERS Of the Treasury that Porto Rico, the
Hawaiian Islands. Guam, and the Philip
pines. because they are now part of
our own territory. are therefore not '.be-
yond seas within the meaning OF the
statute above quoted.
Believing that it was the intention of
Congress TO place naval officers assigned
to such duty upon an equal footing with
army officers similarly situated, it is rec
commended that The statute be SO amend
ed as to afford the desired relief.
ARMOR MATTER.
The act OF June 9TH. 1900, authorized the
Secretary of the Navy to procure by con-
tract armor of tbs best quality fer any
or all of the vessels above referred to-
provided such contracts can be made at
q price which. in his Judgment, is reason
able and equitable: but il case he is una
BILE 10 make contracts for arrnor under the
above conditions he il hereby authorized
and directed to procure a site for and to
erect thereon Il factory for the manufac-
tnre Of armor, and the sum of So, eDl, 600 is
hereby appropriated toward the erection
Of said factory
After prolonged negotiations, in which
the services of the Chief of the Bureau
&C Ordnance have beer Of the greatest
value. and il which these companies met
the Department in a spirit of reasonable
adjustment, an agreement has been made
.'ita them, and now awaits stgna ttlre. for
krupp ar.nor of the first class for S42O a
ION.
Although the seafaring class of our peo
pie is a comparatively large one. it is not
now brought into touch with the naval
service and The Navy Department in time
of peace in such manner as to instruct
and prepare any part of it for assistance
10 the regular service In case of a sudden
outbreak of war Means should be pro
vided to this end. and the matter should
receive the immediate attention of Con-
gress. and provision made, as recommended
IN my last annual rsport. for enrolling. in
addition TO the naval militia. which is an
organization Of the States and under heir
regulation. naval reserve of a natiorsI
character. which shall be under tho call
and general direction of the Navy De-
partmtnt.
DRY DOCKS.
A dry dock capable Of aceon,,oo5,ti-r
the largest vessels is needed in the p,,;Ie
:apire Islands. When the Oregon rro,,,s-
ed last year in Chinese waters tfrn,,ah
the courtesy Of the japanese Governmest
the use of the dock at Kure. Japan, Was
secured
Aside from direct considerations oe
economy and convenience, it is important
that this Government should have. ,,nder
Its own control and always at command,