New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
and Bahia Honda. and urges that Work '"ei0 10
pushed to completion rapidly as possioie-
TIE CARIBBEAN SQUADRON.

pushed to completion as Idp+utS 90 bV~@~
THE CARIBBEAN SQUADRON.
m account % recent events In the West Indies.
the Caribbean squadron is considered CT esp'''a'
importance OF this Mr.. Moody says;
As stated in nv annual report for 1902, the depart
ment last year found the cohst an aribbean TO be
neessar in order properly to discharge our duties
ne NM nrder by moral Influence where dis
t,rbed rondtions existed OF protecting the interests
citizens and thpse OF otlier 81 f,,Ifu
ine The treaty Obligations of the govsrnmSn1 d Inc
liberation Of Cuba The aeGuiI' spons at Cuebra
San Juan and Guantanamo ana o1e tb ietbn1ien
ship canal conspire to increase the importance OF
the Caribbean as sphere of naval as wen as CUM
In recognition of these considerations important
hean Watera bv the North Atlantic fleet. under the
immediate supervision of the admiral of the navy.
eet Known as the aTBbean division was
shed and finally the Cagin1ea4 on as rrea at
The squadron win have ultimately as ITS base The
posed of swift cruisers and light vessels able to
proceed speedily to points WnT fff1a, W Hmapi
duties is demanded This squadron has al,
viii it is believed. become still more important
in the future A coast squadron was organized
Texas. the Indiana; the Arkansas the Neva ada
the F2rdh hi ana h9 OF peemHenty that of
coast defense but it will constitute reserve force
ready in case Of need to cooperate win inc pIci
pal feet in the West Indies
ADDITIONS TO THE NAVY.
The effective force of the navy was increased
during the fiscal year. the Secretary says. by the
addition of twenty-five new vessels These vessels
the battleship Maine; the four harbor defense
monitors Arkansas, Nevada, Florida and Wyo-
ming; twelve torpedo-boat destroyers; one torpedo
boat and seven submarine boats. Since the close
Of the fiscal year ana therefore not included in
this enumeration. additional vessels have been &C
copied as follows: one protected cruiser, the
Cleveland, October %; torpedo boat destroyer
the Marlborough, July 3 Aside from the foregoing
vessels which were built for the navy, there were
transferred from the army the transports Han
cock and Lawton, which have been ntted up 1or
use as receiving ships, and tho hospital ship Re
lief: and from the Treasury Department the
schooner Eagre.
The Secretary speaks of the unsatisfactory prog
ress of work on vessels under construction and
says that measures have been taken to eliminate
far possible the causes OF delay.
ORDNANCE AND WORKMANSHIP.
The Chief Of the Bureau of Ordnance reports to
the Secretary that all guns ato9t are IN g2E92G
cohtLlo5l' ana an Nesls III slTIlice Tre
armament for the batteships Maine and missouri
Florida Nevada and wyoming. has been completed
and installed board, and that for the Ohio is
the i've battleships of the Virginia class and that
class are well in hand All of the main battery
guns of the seven battleships and two armored
double tubed or reinforced to the muzzle.
Workmanship in the navy has improved o 10 "a
gunnery training has been centralized under the
Bureau Of Navigation and rendered uniform
throughout the service.
1T is a pleasure II state" says Secretary
Moody that during the last year the marine
corps has on more than one occasion eXempE1ed
the traditional readiness of that organization to
respond at the shortest notice TO calls made upon
it for active duty
INCREASE or SHIPS.
Mr. Moody closes his report with the following
recommendation for an increase in the number of
ships:
Careful consideration given during the last year
. the question of the continuance or naval con-
struction confirms the views expressed in
last annual report that the upbuiding OF the navy
should be continued by the annual authorization OF
new vessels. The advice of the General Board
and of the Board Construction has been sought
and received. and will be submitted 10 the commit
tees Of Congress.
best energies of all who concerned in its ad-
ministration and operation. The activity when
has been manifested throughout the naval service
has undoubtedly made large drafts upon the time
and abilities of officers and the endurance Cf
our ships Both officers and ships consumed
by their uses though thus they have each escaped
the deterioration which results from inactivity.
on the other hand I advised and believe 1t to
he true that constantly increasing number OF
enlisted men are becoming well trained for Their
duties that our hardwOTking officers are keen, in
telligent and Jealous; that our squadrOns are in
efficiency of the ii whole has been prOmOt
ed so that although not large in comparison with
other nayies. the navy justihcS the support of Con-
gress ana the confidence Of the country.