The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-11-23
WANTS BETTER NAVY
Secretary Long Urges Increase in
Ships and Men.
Keynote of His Annual Report-List
of New Vessels Whose Construc-
ton He Ur.cs-Othcr Rec
concentrations Made.

ton He CrEcs-Othcr Rec.
concentrations Made.
Washington. Nov. l6-The keynote of
the annual report of Secretary Long for
1901 is "increase"-an increase in both the
number Of ships and the number Of oiii-
GERS and sailors for the navy. The navy
to-day he says. lis a far greater factor
In our relations with the world than 1t was
before the recent national expansion, which
now includes Porto Rico. the Hawaiian is
LANDS, the vast area OF land and sea in
the Philippines and our obligations to
Cuba. Ii we are to have a navy at all 1t
must be commensurate with these great
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in International even
than in territorial importance"
New Vessels Needed.
The secrctary's Recommendation for new
construction, based on the report of the
general board, headed by Admiral Dewey.
and that OF the board OF construction is as
follows:
Three first-ciass battleships.
Two tlrst-class armored cruisers.
Three gunboats. each OF about LOCO 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 1900 tons trial displacement.
One collier, of about Is. 900 tons trial dis
placement.
Four tugboats.
All the vessels recommended in these two
reports, says Secretary Long, are desra-
Die IN the respective and harmonious de-
velopment of our naval force, and larger
increase this year than usual is desirable
because none were made last year. He.
however, found that some of the vessels
recommended could better be omitted from
his list than others and await appropria-
ton hereafter
More Officers and Men.
The secretary places emphasis on the
necessity for more line officers and more
enlisted men. He recommends that the
number of lieutenants be increased from
800 TO $50 and that the limit of the number
OF junior lieutenants and ensigns be placed
at 600. AS to the enlisted men, he recon-
mends that that force be increased by
5000 men. Tables are submitted showing
tnat IN the number Of commissioned officers
OF the executive branch and in the total
strength of all ranks and ratings, the
United States navy is in the rear of that
OF England, France. Germany, Russia,
Japan and Italy. and that the proport ionate
increase In our navys personnel has for
SIX years been away behind the pace set
by the nations mentioned. Secretary Long
directs attention TO Germany's law, which
'iiNi'hstS utI l)tISuultl along Wltn ner
shipbuildng, and which, by an average
annual increase of 1,So2 officers and men
will give the German navy in 1890 total
personnel of 59.i0S.
Naval Reserve
Another pressing need set out in the
secretarys report Is that for n national
naval reserve, which was so strongly adj
Vocated by President Roosevelt when he
was assistant secretary of the navy. The
nv ,t..l,
war he says. was that steps should he
taken at once to meet this lone ccrINIn
and positive requirement which will face
the nation upon an outbreak of war"
Personnel of the Navy.
In connection with the subject of naval
personnel, Secretary Long makes a num-
Der of important recommendations as fol-
lows: The revival of the grade of vice adj
miral; an increase of SO per cent. in the
number of cadets at the naval academy;
an Increase of the marine corps by $50 men /;
increase In the corps Of naval constructors
and of civil engineers. and no further APP
pointments TO the Office of professor Of
mathematics.
The Retired List.
One of the most important recommended
tions in this respect is that officers of the
navy be retired with the rank and three
tourths OF the sea pay of the grade held
at the time Of retirement instead of the
next higher grade as at present. The sec
rotary points out that much needed officers
are now offered premium to go on the
retired list. He also strongly advocates
mat the law providing for the advancement
OF officers "for service rendered during
the war with Spain" be given general APP
pl1cation SO as to include service in China,
the philippines and elsewhere. He says
that some provision should be made by
winch retired officers. when ordered into
active service, shall have such service reck-
oned In their favor as to rank and pay
when they are put back on the retired
list. Recommendation Is also made that
all honorable service in the navy, the
marine corps and the army be embraced
IN the law authorizing the retirement of
petty officers and enlisted men who have
served 80 years In the navy.
Naval Station in Porto Rico.
The secretary announces that the naval
board appointed to examine the coast of
Porto Rico, with a view to selecting suit
able site for q naval station, recommends
That 1t be located on the shores of San Juan
harbor. and that Its recommendation also
includes the construction of a dry dock
Naval Observatory.
The secretary dcvotes considerable at
tention to the naval observatory and earn
cstly recommends that there be no lmia-
ton upon the field from which its supcrin-
tcndcnt is to be selected. Its head. he says,
should be, of course, the best astronomer
with the proper administrative quaIifica-
tons that can be found in the country
1t Is especially desirable. he statcs that
the superintendent should have continuity
Of tenure. as the observatory has suffered
from the frequent changes at Its head.
Civil Service.
On the subject of civil service. Secretary
Long says: 1.-THE navy department bears
witness tn the utility nf ut