Arizona republican., 1902-11-29

Washington. Nov. 2s.-The annual report of the secretary of the navy. William II. Moody. was made public today The report is comparatively brief. but it covers fully the operations Of the department for the fiscal year, and furnishes many interesting details concerning the navy:
 The disturbed conditions in the West Indies and the Caribbean have required the constant presence of our ships charged with the duty of maintaining order by moral influence, protecting the interests of our citizens and those of other nations committed to us. and or preserving the treaty rights of the gov ernment. These duties have been per formed in harmonious co-Operatinn with the department of state.
 The navy rendered essential aid in the relief furnished to the inhabitants of the islands of Martinique and St. Vincent afflicted by the volcanic erup- ton occurring in May last.
 THE MEN BEHIND THE GUNS.
 The secretary points out that the task which is employing the highest energies of the navy, and receiving the greatest attention from the heads of bureaus, the commanders In chief of stations. the commanding and subordinate off cers of squadrons, divisions and single vessels everywhere. is the work of training. To the development of the greE test efficiency in all branches Df the service the attention, zeal and thought of those in charge is mainly directed. This is an era of training. The reports of the several bureaus are largely made up of criticisms upon and plans for the improvement of the pres ent systems of practice, drill and in stvuctions.
 The training of apprentice boys and landsmen entering for the first time the enlisted force of the navy in all that is comprehended by the term "the sea habit" the training of seamen who have acquired this, but need greater familiarity with the specialized work of a modern ship of war; the training of officers and men of the marine corps in the military and naval duties of that organization; the training of off, cer, and men as sailors and marines, in the essential matter of craftsmanship with all arms, great and small, includ- ing machine and rapid-fire guns, in the care and handling of ordnance, and particularly in gun pointing;" train ing in developing and maintaining the efficiency of the main engines of ships, as we'll as of all auxiliary machinery and devices, steam electrical and other; the training of young officers of the staff corps in the specialties of theh profession, as well as in it's general obligations and duties; the training Of ! junior officers in torpedo work of all kinds, and in the handling of the smaller vessels, and the training of more experienced officers in the ca pacity to bring out and utilize the full powers Of the vessels under their com mand, whether operating singly or in | squadrons, appears to be the important present business of the navy.
 VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
 Al the close of the last fiscal year there were under construction fer the navy, by contract, the following yes sels: Eight battleships six armoreG cruisers, g protected cruisers, mon- itors, 13 torpedo boat destroyers, tor pedo boats, and : submarine torpedo
 boats. The general progress of the work upon these vessels, particularly
 those of the larger class, has not beer
 found to be satisfactory. The battle
 ships were. on the 3Oth of June. 1902
 from 10 to 29 months behind contract
 time; the armored cruisers from tC
 1S months: the protected cruisers iron
 to IS months, while the monitors were
 from 16 to 19 months in arrears.
 In the cases of the larger vessels the 1 causes assigned for slow progress ar,
 the non-delivery of structural material