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 Dispatch to The Call.

CALL BUREAU, 140e G. STREET, N.
W., WASHINGTON. Nov. 15.-In his an
nual report Secretary of the Navy John
D. Long ierews his recommendation that
the office of vice admiral be revived He
also asks that the number Of neutenantS
be increased from 800 to $780, and that the
limit of the number of junior neutenants
and ensigns be made 600; that the present
enlisted force be increased by 5000 men;
that the marine corps be increased by $50
men, as recommended by the general
board.
In conclusion the Secretary says:
The navy to-day is 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 land and in the Philippines
and our obligations to Cuba. II to
have a navy az all it must be commensurate
with these great extensiOns-greater in inter-
This necessart1y involves TIE construction Of
more naval vessels, their manning, exercise
and maintenance.
president, recommend the following increase
of the navy:
Four first-class battIeships
Two frst-class armored cruisers.
Four picket vessels of about 500 tons. trial
with twin screws CARRYING a battery of four
G-pOunder and two Colts guns and compile
n.ent of GO officers and men.
Six sheathed and coppered seagoing gun
boats Of about 1000 tons trial displacement,
with moderate sail power. similar to the An
Six slight-draft steel gunboats Of about 500
tons trial displacement for lnsular service in
the Philippines
Six Ifght-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 10000 tons cargo capacity and
q 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. CThis num-
Der needed for duty on board ship, and does
at home and in our iDsular possessions)
An increase of 80 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 on construction recommend:
Three seagoing battleships Of about 1s.ovo
tons trial displacement
Two -armored cruisers Of about 1850 tons
Six gunboats Of about 1900 tons trial displsce-
ment.
Six gunboats Of about 500 tons trial displace-
ment.
Six gunboats Of about 200 tons trial displsce-
ment.
Two golfers af about 5000 tons trial dis
one repair ship of about $500 tons trial dis
placement.
Six training ships Of about 1000 tons trial
-Four picket. boats of about $50 tons trial dis
placement
Four tugboats.
All the vessels thus recommended are desir-
able in the prospective and harmonious deve-
opment of naval force. A larger increase
than usual is also desirable in view OF the
fact that none made last year. Some OF
the vessels above recommended, however,
better than others be omitted for the present
from the list and await appropriation here
after Among these the gunboats OF 500
tons displacement. in the picket boats of
similar dimensions authorized: also the
pair ship and portion Of each OF the other
classes of smaller war vessels. The depart
ment therefore recommends:
Three frst-class battleships.
Two irst-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 2C00 tons trial displacement
One collier OF about 10, 900 tons trial displace-
ment.
Four tug boats.
The department will submit TO 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 battleships and cruisers
above recommended should be built II appro-
rriation Is made therefor