New-York tribune., 1901-11-16
NEEDS OF THE NAVY.
INCREASE IN ALL BRANCHES
URGED BY YSECRETARYLONG.
HIS ANNUAL REPORT RECOMMENDS
TWENTY-FIVE NEW VESSELS
AND 4,2oO MORE MEN.

AND 4,-up MOht MEN.
Washington Nov Is (speciaD-Vast naval in
crease, commensurate with the recent international
extension of American obligations. is forcefully
urged upon Congress by Secretary Long in his
nual report, issued to-day. He recommends the
authorization of twenty-five vessels. fourteen
of them fighters and eight essential aux!aries
aggreeating than hundred thousand tons
displacement. which equals that of the ten battle
ships now in service. He asks for 450 additional
officers. 5000 enlisted men, $50 marines.
and begs the number of cadets be increased so per
cent. His estimates of money required for
year amount in round numbers to sSs 100000.
elusive of public works. against $50 900 600 spent
last year.
Among the more important propositions pre-
sented. the substitution of astronomical admin
istration for the military management of the Naval
Observatory is strongly pressed the revival OF the
grade of vice-admiral is asked. the pressing need
of national naval reserve force is forth, and
the Importance of a great navy yard at Subig Bay,
Luzon. is emphasized.
Secretary Longs suggested naval programme of
construction, which has the Presidents unqualified
approval, is regarded by the service conserva-
tive in view of the Dewey boards recommended
ton for thirty-fve ships twenty-eight of them
fighters, and the proposal of the construction
boards plans, having in view the limited capacity
of American shipbuildng establishments. for forty
vessels, twenty-seven be fighters. On the sub
iect of naval increases Secretary Long says:
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
m vito 0dqy lay koad far # s PHs
Porto Rico. the Havaiian Islands. the vast area
tions to Cuba. If to have navy at all
| 1t must be commensurate with these great extern
M Tbs neaessa
construction of more naval vessels their manning.
The General Board, Of which the Admiral is
president recommend the following increase OF the
navy:
Four first class battleships.
| Two first class armored cruisers.
Four picket vessels Of about $50 tons trial dis,
screws. Carrying a battery Of four s-pounder and
| two Colts guns and complement OF sixty oni-
Six and eoPPe5ed sesg1ng 1
a bosp @ tGns sar sTiat to he ANNAPOLIS Class
Six light draught steel gunboats OF about oo0 TOT, tons
trial displacement. for insular service in the Phil
Six light draught steel gunboats Of ABOUT boz s9 200
draught, for insular service in the PhtlipPnea NJ,
tons trial displacement o..,,. m, .so
One collier of 1000 tons cargo capacity ana sea
Three thousand enlisted in order that At they s
may be enlisted and drilled in preparation Tor the
sePen Rundred % and fifty marines hts number
cIude the necessary garrison for posts at homo
| and in our insular possessions2 ,-,,he- ., rava,
cadets now allowed by law, in order TO provide ias
for the increase OF officers needed lot 'he sh''7
recommended above
The Board on Construction recommends;
Three seagoing battleships OF about 1900 tons
trial displacement. "a, . .-s.,
Two armored cruisers OF ABOUT if''00 'N ~
displacement. o,o 49,. .,,a, d,sn,ace
e,,nhoats OF about 600 tons trial displacement
SIX gunboats Of about 700 tons lriai uiSpiaee
Two Golfers OF about 1900 tons trial displace-
One repair ship of about $500 trial displace-
six training ships of about ZOO tons trial dis-
Four picket boats OF about $50 tons trial displace
Four tugboats.
All the vessels thus recommended are oesiraoie III
he prospective and harmonious development OIL ooi
naval force. A larger increase thah usual - a'so
desirable in view OF the fact that none was made
,os+ ,.esr Some of the vessels above recon-
mended however better than others Do
omitted for the present from the llst ana await
appropriation hereafter. Among these ara the
r1,nhoats Of 600 tons displacement, in case tho
nicket beats of similar dimensions are authofIHeo'
also the repair ship and portion OF each ol mo
other classes Of smaller war vessels The Depart
ment therefore recommends;
Three first class battleships:
Two class armored cruisers no ,ons trial dis
Three gunboats, each OF about le' TONS 'riai us
placement. -. about on tons trial dis
three picket boats each of about go tons triai
Three steel sailing training ships each OF about
1850 trial displacement, en- , trial dispIacement
Four tugboats.
1,,s tho most significant feature OF the
recommendations quoted above Is their cohspicu-
ono rnannoitv in omitting all reference TO 'orPeoo
boots and submarines. The firm conVicuoh mas
been forced upon the whole naval service that tor
nedoes will not hereafter be used in warfare ahoat'
MORE OFFICERS AND MEN
with regard to the personnel of the service Sec
retarv Longs suggestions are brief ana 10 Inc
no,nt .J.he need of line officers for sea duty ne
go ..,.coues steadily more pressing and IN
~ :. sbou1d become necessary to man all the
o.a,s or orr present feet the required number is
ot available and I recommend that the NUMBER
os ,;eutenants be increased from 800 TO 3o0 ana
that the limit of the number OF junior heutenahts
90 .rs;e,s he made COO" He concurs with the
obi,f constructor in the statement that with moro
ships to build there must be moro cohstFoc'oiS.
and declares that some increase IN the coips VI
ci,i, engineers is necessary in view of the great
increase in ward and dock construction but ne seeS
no occasion for the further appointment VI Pio
fessors of mathematics
With reference to the enlisted he says:
T cannot TOO earnestly call attention to the neces
s,tv for an increase of this most important branch
Of the navy AS with the officers. so with the en-
greatly Increased in number, but commensurate
Steps have not taken to provide the necessary
crews for them l recommend that the present en-
listed force be increased by 5000 men.
In This connection the following tables pre-
scented showing in concise form a comparison of
our own personnel with that of the other principal
powers:
NIrNBE;R OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Nation. 1898. 1899 1900. 1901
fanee I.ns6eea 1876 1892 1859 1883
Germany ................. as5 S26 9os os 9os oas