The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-05
ESTIMATES ARE
ON THE INCREASE
Annual Report of the Secretary
OF the Navy.
NEEDS MORE MEN AND SHIPS
LESScnS CT THE War III THE
Fh2 FkeT.

~E
Washington. DE 4.Lsecretary % the
Nay Norton. in as au1ugI report,
MADE pabtic today. sass:
Tie naval estil'se=a e-c The fiscal
yea arc large, the Iarses- Ger submit
ted, notwithstanding ire Iaet taat they
have been cut down froal taosc sent IN
by the bureaus more than $1,000, 600.
ITc have asked Tor less than the money
actually required to continue ue naval
programme as laid Gown by the general
board. o. which Admiral Dewey is the
head, notwithstanding ali who have
studied the question carefully agree
mat this programme should be car
r.ed out.
The past year Nas m important one
IN The history OF our naval construc-
non. Never before wert.ao many war
S1ips launched by this or any other ma
Ton i'm one year. Vessel FOR vessel and
type for tyre. ] believe our new enips
"Hl compare fdvUrably with those OF
2.y navy afl0at, and every American
SHOULD be proud of the progress ana
cn1~aotcr, OF he work Row being ac-
C"hpilshed, not only i'm construction.
bGt in all branches o. the service.
More Ships and More Men.
New ships necessarily require more
officers. more marines and more enlist
Ell men and he appropriations are
quite likely To increase steadily Cor
some years 10 come. The more ships
We have the greater our Fixed charges
f1,f. rs+-
necessarily must be. I'm The way OF
yards and docks. and the ability to
make repairs and take proper care OF
the aeet. 1t is just as essential 10 keep
our ships i'm thorough repair as it is to
build them i'm the first place. and to
permit them To run Gown for any
length of time and go without repairs
would be the height of folly. IT costs
n great deal Of money 20 keep the fleet
moving in mancuVers and target prac-
tlce, but this is the only way officers
and men can gain experience at sea:
and iu is our wclI-defned policy to
D m1tain-a high standard of efficiency
throughout the service.
Cost Per Capita.
Last year the navy cost A little over
= per capita. IL cost little compared
10 vndt war would cost and il is the
best Insurance we have against war.
We want such navy en- size STYLE and
sand hat no other navy viii ever
desire an engagement with US 1t is
our greatest exhibit I'm favor Of peace.
We are bound Co occupy a prominent
POSITION among the great rations of
the earth, and while doubtless we shall
always be III the lead in every inter
lIs
Il is laCeh better for Es to he at an
times $50 NelI prepared For war that
war VIII never come. ! am sure that
the people Of the United States viii
approve IS navy that Is well prepared
"a all times to take care OF. their de-
icrsl1 and go project their position I'm
ihe world. ibis is all We are trying TO
accoa=lish.
Sec-ctary Morton speaks of the need
f.. "2"c oalcers and men in the navy.
SoE.Hg:
"It ia useless to build ships unless
Provision is made to man, care for and
use tacu."
Battleships Not Obsolete.
On the question Of batJlcsEins versus
torpedo boats. nc says.
Tho lessons OF the war iF the east
eia- iftt t'-- ttt same as lHtSt o. ire
spanish Wo~ with respect Ia the rcia-
-.rc vG.ss ard uses o. 5tt,Ic7hiyS tor
uclO 5c2,s ana desueyers. Weight Of
metal heavy guns ard hard aiJting
whether q, iong or short range still do
.hc mes effective work. The day o. the
G1ttlechip is not Ger. and the sphere
o. The lighter vessels, while Important,
l. auxiliary only.
THESE conclusions. reached by the
general BOARD and the board OF con
s'rUction as the result OF careful study
60 m ral progress and present COnG;-
items in the lisht of the events of the
past few months. in eastern seas. ION
,i-Io in most striking manner your
own ,jeNs Oh The subject, expressed
= ore than two AID hale yean5 ago
Secretary Morton then quotes Com
letter addressed by tic president in
February. 1902. TO al" secretary OF .he
navy, ~ which the chief executive as
signed the place cf first Importance ID
tlc heavier vessels OF modern Aeets.
Concluded that I'm tue Luure. IS j1 the
Y1st, battleships must aOld the battle
.1e, and emphasized t,c point o. taxi
ms the ground that TIE place OF The
admiral ia war. and probably also i'm