The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-18
sEoRETARY LONGS REPORT.

I HE ANNUAL REPORT Of Secretary Long of the
navy contains Il number of interesting figures and
suggestions Not the least interesting Is the
statement regarding the number of ships under con
structOn. BY the acts of congress of March g. 1899
and June = 1900, the secretary authorized to build
fourteen cruisers protected cruisers and battleshps
and seven submarine torpedo boats.
All of these are now undergoing construction at
the various shipyards of the country The most ex-
pensive Is the Pennsylvania which Is being built at
Philadelphia by the Cramps She is to cost S3S90OOO
The contract dated jan 10 of this year and the
Pennsylvania is to go into commission within thirty
six months. Those submarine errors, the Holland tor
pedo boats cost less than cruiser, but if reports
OF their effectiveness are to be believed they viii be al
most formidable.
The seven Holland boats viii aggregate s.. 100 0OO.
The total cost of the ships OF all classes under way
now viii be S5009S600 When they are completed they
VIII place the United States vel to the front among
the naval powers of the world. But Secretary Long is
far rom satisfied with his present and prospective
strength He recommends the construction of more
vessels at the earliest possible moment.
SIR. Long wants three first-class battleships two
rst-cass armored cruisers six gunboats three picket
boats. three steA training ships, collier and four
tugboats In order TO man the greatly enlarged navy
Secretary Long offers some important suggestions
After making the statement that if it should become
necessary to give each vessel It's full complement there
wouldn't be enough officers to go around Mr. Long
proposes a way out of the difficulty
lie recommends that the number of lieutenants be
increased from 800 $50 and that the limit OF Junior
heuenants be raised 600. The secretary proposes
further that the number of cadets in the naval academy
be increased so per cent ard that the president be given
authority to appoint tel at large every year In con
n0ction with the naval academy propositions Mr. Long
wants the title of midshpman revived.
He says the word "njdshipman' Is full of historic
association and hallowed memory. The term naval
cadet doesn't fiji the bi IN the opinion Of the secre
tary and he hopes congress viii take some action on the
subject Bat 1t IS not in officers alone that the navy is
short the report In spite of the steps that have
been taken to increase the number of vessels COM
mensurate steps have not been taken to increase the
lumber of nlisted men,
Mr.. long suggests that the present force be added
g by 5000 He believes the total viii then be III ropor
ton to the navys needs. The marine corps Is also
short, $50 more enlisted being needed there See
rotary Long renews his recommendation that tho Office
of vice ADMIRAL be revived
The navy today Is a far greater factor in or re-
lations with the world" Secretary Long concludes
an II was before the recent national expansion,l
Includes Porto Rico the Hawaiian islands The vast
area Of land and sea in the Philippines and our obga-
tions to Cuba. IF to have navy at all IT must
BE commensurate with these great exensio1-ercater
in international even than IN territorial importance