The Globe-republican., 1900-09-13
The AMERICAN NAVY
Work OF Preparing 1t for the
War with Spain.
Credit should BE Given 60 Those who
AdnziDister Its A6aire--DiHcuIfy of
Buying and EquippinE Auxiliary
Sailors.

Under the present administration the
navy has shown itself worthy OF its best
traditions The great victories at Manila
Bay and Santiago were IN acct
dents They Were the results of years
OF careful training of officers and men
and the thorough preparation of the fleets
for the crucial test of For this
preparation, this readiness TO 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 af1oat. and 10
those officers and men who seize the op-
portunities of 10 render conspicuous
service; but in remembering them one
should not forget those who labor with
out ceasing to secure the fleet II Il CON
dition of high efficiency. and to place at
the disposal of the commanding officers
an abundance of supplies, without which
che feet is powerless.
As early Jan IL, 1898, more than
a 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
would place at the disposal of the
officers in command the full measure of
naval force.
Immediat ely upon the passage of the
bill appropriating $50. OoO, 600 for the ma
rional defense, board was organized
for the purchase of auxiliary ships, and
after careful examination 1O2 ships of
various types were secured at a total
cost of SIT, 936, $50 OF these vessels
but two. the New Orleans and the AL
bany. We're 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 practical, and suitably
armed.
Between March 16 and June 30 all
these vessels were purchased and rap
idly as overhauled We're placed in com
mission and put into active service. They
were used not only auxiliary YES
sells, but supply the fleets with coal
and ammunition and with fresh water
and fresh provisions For the care of
the sick and wounded the Solace was fit
ted out as a complete hospital, and to
make repairs to vessels at the Vulcan
was fitted out modern machine shop
In order to meet the increased demands
on the navy yards. it was necessary to
practically double the force between Feb.
Is 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
igation Company and one of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company were charter
ed. There were in all 12S ships added to
the regular naval establishment, and it
became at once necessary to provide Off
oers and men to man them. For this
purpose 225 officers on the retired list
were ordered to active duty, $50 officers
were appointed for temporary service,
and the enlisted force was Increased from
1850 to over "a. 600 men
1t was enormous undertaking to
make all these additional ships ready for
war service, to secure the necessary guns
for them, and to keep the fleets supplied
with coal. ammunition and provisions
But this was only 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 Differed
and manned by the naval militia of the
United States A coast signal service
was established. which kept practically
entire coast line from Maine to Texas
under observation, TO give warning of the
approach of enemy's vessel of sus-
picious craft of any kind.
The operations OF the fleets of the Ash
attic and North Atlantic squadrons are 50
well known that 1t is hardly necessary to
speak of them in any detail Their work
well done that the power of Spain
was swept from the sea, and Cuba. Porto
Rico and the Philippines, which she had
znisgoverned for centuries, were taken
from under her dominion.