The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27
NEW AMERICAN
Navy
Ex- Sc cretory Long
Gives Thrilling

DOCKS OF lasting Importance OF
the year. This comprehensive work, in
two volumes. which has just appeared
from the press OF the Outlook Publish
Ing Company, has the value of being
the authoritative statement upon the
part played by our sea power in the
Spanish war, written by one who was
the executive head and chief director
OF that power during the momentous
period OF preparation and the brief
struggle in Cuban waters. There have
been other works which have laid the
claim 70 being authoritative, but what
Edgar Stanton Maclay expressed with
such virulent assurance ex-Secretary
Long has put forth in the cold, judicial
attitude Of one having command Of ex-
act inside facts
Longs book should be read by every
one who pays taxes for the support Of
the Government, for it is minute ex-
position of the workings Of that com
plicated beaureaucratic system of con-
troll which diverts a portion Of the Gov
ernment's money TO the maintenance Of
peace and national honor through the
navy. Up 10 the time Of the Spanish
imbroglio the navy Of the United States
received little enough recognition, eth
er at the hands OF the people at home
or the nations abroad. Now that these
great white sQuadrons have proven
their worth in battle and the only he
roes OF our last war have been those
with the star Of Annapolis on their
sleeves, il is full time for the American
people 10 acquaint themselves thor
oughly with the facts OF the growth
and present usefulness Of our new
navy.
The author opens his book with a
chapter upon the birth Of the new sea
power. After briefly reviewing the ef-
fects Of the battle Of the ironclads in
Hampton Roads in our Civil War, Long
proceeds TO show TO what a low ebb Of
efficiency our navy had fallen in the fif-
teen years succeeding that struggle
When in 1879 our fighting power on the
sea was represented by only forty
eight iron ships OF the higher class.
mounting not a high-power rified gun
among the number and inferior to
sCne OF the navies Of South America,
American sea power was at its lowest
mark Then, under the administration
OF President Arthur, came the first
born Of our new navy, the Chicago,
Boston. Atlanta and Dolphin. Long
faithfully describes the hesitation and
tight-fsted policy which marked the
actions Of Congress in granting this
niggardly boon TO the feeble navy.
IN a detailed account OF the organi-
zstion and several provinces Of the
naval boards, bureaus and committees
which divide the stupendous task OF
operating the naval branch Of the ser
vice. Mr.. Long defends the policy Of
having civilians at the head Of naval
Offices. which is so unsparingly at
tackled by the English Lord Wolseley.
He says:
ours is a civil and not a military
government. The heads Of the army
and navy departments are civilians.
The fundamental principle Of our con-
stitution Is that the military is sub
ordinate 10 the civil function. Then,
too. as e matter Of expediency as well
as OF principle, IL is better that the
head OF each department should enter
upon his duties with an open mind and
without the possible bias Of prejudice
or favoritism which might come from
having been himself lifelong member
OF the body over which he is placed" :"
Although admitting that friction be-
tween the various bureaus often arises
on account Of the overlapping Of their
jurisdictions, the eX-Secretary would
have no general staff for the navy such
as was provided for the army by the
last Congress. He maintains that such
a board would have a tendency TO ar
roEate powers 70 themselves at the ex-
pense Of the Secretary Of the Navy
The present system Of administration
Is compact and yet elastic enough TO
secure the most effective cooperation,
according 70 Long, and he would have
II that the Government let well enough
alone.
In reviewing the nerve racking per-
fod Of tension just preceding the dec
laration Of hostilities against Spain,
Long makes some assertions about the
over Jealous ideas Of President Roose-
welt. then Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy. which have been construed by
many newspapers as a sharp criticism
OF the conduct OF tne tnen energetic
Secretary. Writing Of Roosevelt's part
IN the councils OF the secretary's Of
fee. Long says;
His activity was characteristic. He
was Jealous in the work Of putting the
navy ia condition for the apprehended
struggle. His ardOr sometimes went
faster than the President or the de-
partment approved. Just before the
var he as well as some naval officers,
was anxious TO send a squadron across
the ocean TO sink the ships and tor
pedo- boat destroyers Of the Spanish
feet while we were yet at peace with
SPAIN
After some Of these comments had
appeared. Mr.. Long was interviewed by
a representative Of the New York Sun,
and said: 1T was very pressing time
in Washington. those weeks just before