The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-16
LONG REPORTS
NEEDS OF NAVY
Recommends an Increase
Of Officers and New
Warships.
Secretary Also Asks That
Office of Vice Admiral
Be Revived.
Special pispatch to The call.

CALL BUREAU, 1905 G STREET, N.
W., WASHINGTON, Nov. En- his an
nual report Secretary of the Navy John
D. Long Ienews his recommendation that
the Office of vice admiral be revived. He
also asks that the number of heutenants
be increased from 800 to $50, and that the
limit of the number Of junior Heutenant5
and ensigns be made 500; that the present
enlisted force be increased by 5000 men;
that the marine corps be increased by $50
men, as recommended by the genera.
board.
In conclusion the Secretary says:
The navy to-day is q far greater factor In
our relations with the world than 1t was be-
fore the recent national expansion which Row
includes Porto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands the
VAST area OF anu ana sea IN me 1niisppins 80
have navy az sll it must be commensurate
with these great eXtenslonS-sreatsr IN itesr-
national even than IT territorial Importance.
This necessarily involves TIE construction OF
more naval vessels, their manning, exercise
The general board. CT which the admiral is
president, recommend the following increase
of the navy:
Four first-class battleships.
Two hrst-class armored cruisers
displacement. with a sea speed of Is knots.
with twin screws carrying battery or four
n.ent of 60 officers and men.
Six sheathed and coppered seagoing gun
boats Of about 1000 tons trial displacement,
|
Six Glight-draft steel gunboats of about 500
tons trial displacement, for lnsular service in
the Philippines.
Six light-draft. steel gunboats OF about 200
tons trial displacement, not to exceed feet
draft. for insular service in the Philippines
Six steel sailing training ships OF about 1000
tons trial displacement.
One collier Of 10. 900 tons cargo capacity and
. sea speed of u knots
Three thousand enlisted men. in order that
they may be enlisted and drilled in prepara-
ton for the completion of the ships.
Seven hundred and fifty marines. This num-
rot Include the necessary garrison for posts
at home and in our iDsular possessions.)
An increase of 90 per cent in the number OF
naval cadets now allowed by law. in order
to provide for the increase Of officers needed
for the ships recommended above.
The board construction recommend:
Three seagoinS battleships OF about 16,oCo
tons trial displacement.
trial displacement.
Six gunboats Of about 1900 tons trial displsce-
Six gunboats Of about 500 tons trial dispIace-
n1ent.
Two golfers ar about 5000 tons trial dis
placement.
One repair ship Of about $500 tons trial dis
Six training ships of about 1000 tons trial
-Four picket boats Of about $50 tons trial dis
placement
| All the vessels thus recommended are desir-
| able in the prospective and harmonious devel-
\ opment of our naval force A larger increase
| than usual is also desirable in view OF the
/ fact that was made last year. Some OF
| the vessels above recommended however. can
| better than others be omitted for the present
4 from the list and await appropriation here
| after. Among these the gunboats or 500
\ tons displacement. in case the picket boats of
similar dimensions authorized: also the re-
pair ship and portion OF each OF the other
classes of smaller vessels. The depart
| ment therefore recommends:
Three hrst-class battleships.
/ Two f1rst-clasS armored cruisers.
Three gunboats. each of about 1000 tons trial
displacement
Three gunboats. each OF about 200 tons trial
displacement, for insular service
| Three picket boats, each OF about $50 tons
| trial displacement.
Three steel sailing training ships, each OF
about 2C0O tons trial displacement.
One collier Of about 200 tons trial displace-
ment.
| Four tug boats.
| The department will submit 20 Congress in
! December next. as directed by the last naval
appropriation bill. general description Of two
seagoing battleships and two armored cruisers.
| according to which the battIeships and cruisers
| above recommended should be built II appro-
| rriation IS made therefor.