The San Francisco call., 1904-12-05
TORPEDO ONLY
AN AUXILIARY
Navy Board Holds That the
Battleship Continues to Be
the Mistress of the Seas
MORTON MAKES REPORT
Would Put Younger Men in
Command; Favors Creation
of Two Vice Admirals

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4-Secretary of
the Navy Morton in his annual report,
made public to-day, says the naval es-
Inmates for the fiscal year are large the
largest ever submitted, notwithstanding
the fact that they have been cut down
from those sent in by the bureaus more
than $17,0OO.0OO. He adds:
The past year was an important one in the
history OF our naval construction Never be-
fore were so many warships launched by this
or any other nation in year Vessel for
vessel and type for type. believe new
ships will compare favorably with those of
any navy ahoat and every American should
be proud Of the progress and character of the
work now beng accomplished. not only in
construction. but in all branches OF the SER
vice.
New ships necessarily require more officers.
appropriations are quite likely to increase
steadily for some years to come. The more
will be and the greater our facilities necessarily
must be, IN the way Of yards and docks and
the ability TO make repairs and take proper
care OF the fleet.
II costs a great deal OF money to keep the
fleet moving in maneuvers and target prac-
tice but this Is the only way officers and men
can gain experience at and il Is well
defined policy TO maintain high standard Of
efficiency throughout the service.
Last year the navy cost little over dol
lar per capita. II cost little compared to what
war would cost and it is the best insurance
in STYLE size and sand" that no other navy
viii ever desire an engagement with US. 1t
is greatest exhibit in favor of peace
HEAVY GUNS EFFECTIVE.
The lessons Of the war in the East thus far
are che same as those OF the Spanish
with respect 10 the relative value and uses
Weight Of metal. heavy guns and hard hitting,
whether at long or short range, still do the
most effective work The day or the battle
vessels while important. is auxiliary only.
These conclusions, reached by the general
result OF careful study Of naval progress and
present conditions in the light of the events
of the past few months in Eastern seas, con-
firm in a most striking manner your own
views on the subject expressed more than two
and half years ago
Secretary Morton then quotes from
the Presidents letter. in the course of
which the President said:
Nothing could be more foolish than the talk
OF substituting torpedo boats for battleships
and cruisers. Except when working at night
or under conditions which favor surprise, the
torpedo boat is absolutely helpless against any
seagoing snip armed with rapid-hre guns
whether the ship be large or small and under
no circumstances is 1t fit to do rough work at
sea or to perform any of the duties taken
matter Of course by regular seagoing craft.
The Secretary continuing says:
The general board and the Board OF Con-
structon after weighing the result Of rece-t
developments, have reached conclusions in full
accord with those expressed by you in the pa
a
struction in harmony with these views will be
submitted later.
1t is only fair to say the work now being
done by the general board. with Admiral
Dewey at its head. Is directly in the line Of
preparation for and is Of the greatest
value.
FAvORS YOUNGER MEN.
Secretary Morton says that our in
terests in the Far East and elsewhere
have become so important that the
navy should have one or more officers
Of high rank available for service
wherever their presence may be appro-
pirate, and he concurs in the recon-
mendation of the chief of the Bureau
of Navigation that provision should be
made for two vice admirals of the
navy.
Secretary Morton also concurs with
the chief of the Bureau of Navigation
in the opinion that officers of the navy
attain command rank too late in life,
and on this subject says:
1t is no disparagement Of the senior officers
OF the service to say tnat we should have
younger men in command of our ships in time
of peace well in time Of war.
Secretary Morton reports satisfactory
progress of work on vessels building at
navy yards, but says:
1t is the opinion of the chief constructor
that ships built by the Government at navy
yards will cost more money than If built at
private yards by contract.
He concurs, however, with the chief
constructor in the view that the repair
ing and overhauling of naval vessels
must remain the important work of the
navy yards, and that there should be
no change in the policy of building pub
lie ships, as a general rule. by contract
at private establishments. OF naval gun
factories he says:
The maintenance Of public naval gun fac
tory in state of such efficiency as to be ca
pable OF turning out guns of all calibers re-
quired for the armament of naval vessels is
undoubtedly desirable. The Government should
not necessarily y'~enter the industrial field The
development in time Of peace of large private
establishments, with extensive plants and a
force OF skilled artisans capable of building
ships of the first class. making armor of the
best quality in all weights, and constructing
guns OF every kind and supplying fixed ammu-
milton therefor is desirable inasmuch as the
existence of such establishments may be Of i'm
portant service in time of
AS to the use of oil as fuel Secretary