New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-05
MORTON'S FIRST REPORT.
THE NEEDS OF THE NAVY.
Problems Discussed by the Ne5o Sec
rotary IN a BusinessHke Way
IFnom THE TRIBUNE BUREAUl

IFRom THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l
Washington, Dec. 4.-The Secretary OF the navy
an his first annual report. shows that ne mas Sc
c,red a remarkable grasp naval problems IN
~ 1--WE months since he took office, and demon
,-ates the wisdom Of the President in selecting d
,roeress!ve business man OF unusual eAecu'iNo
skill and experience for the post HIS stateI men
Of naval conditions and aims is to the point from
the opening words.
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS
In regard to the appropriations for the navy MI
Morton says:
,ge s8068s as against ss7l5S 1870 agProptrlaiffeHd
tbs year. the largest ever bsn cut down
from iaoST W. he ,e asked for less than the money
s,-aiIv required 10 continue the naval pr4gr IA
ac'I@ "a down by the General Board. of which 40
a as ~ Dewey is the head. notwithstanding al VINO VINO
,I~ogramme should be carried OUT. - .ba his
-" If our naval construction Never before Weae
So many warships launched by TINS OF d az TYNE for
To- believe our ships will compare ian ~,
ably with those Of any other navy ahoa Loerses and
ccharacier of work nov being accomphsheoofi he
only in construction, but IN All ora"0"eS "
New ships necessarily require more officers more
marines and more enlisted men. and the s1PPssO-
rriations are quite likely to increase steauHo he
some years 10 come The more sIlpS , "" he Greater
orfr facilities necessarily must be, III te
yards and docks and the abilitg TO n IS lust
eeert5aJ 10 keen our ships thorough repair as
Is 10 build Them in the first place ana 10 Pc co
len 10 run down for any length OF time amu 20
without repairs would be the helght " eent NOV
sr in 6andeuvres and target practice nut Ihls Is
The only way officers and men can 6aiicv f. main
taIr a high standard Of efficiency thT3ngnou, me ne
service Practice makes perfect III '"e "a'' %
I5sf year the navy cost little over 81 per per
Solt and II Is the best insurance we have against
We want such na MY are T!I desire an en-
eaEement with Us It is our greatest e@h1 nro III
favor Of PGaee ,onS te great nations Of the earth
er5 lille doubtless shall always be in the read
in every international movement TO promote peaesi
prepared for war that war VIII ne'eL CONF I'll, am
prove Of navy that is well prepared at all times lines
10 take OF their defences and TO protect thel
position IN the world This is all we are trying 10
accomplish.
PERSONNEL INCREASE.
Secretary Morton emphasizes the need for more
officers and men 10 carry on the work OF the navy
L Is useless to build ships, he says, unless provl-
sion is made 10 man. care for and use them Tho
best results viii surely be obtained by keeping
ehIqs and men at work developing efficiency in all
the lines Of active service. Most of our ships and
an of our shore stations now short Of officers.
and with the completion Of vessels under construc-
ton this condition will become more serious. The
deficiency Of officers is not limited to the line alone
hut is felt In every corps OF the service.
BATTLEsHIPs BEST
one Of the most important features OF the report
is the Secretary's discussion of the comparative
merits Of batiIeshps and torpedo boats He saws:
The lessons Of the war in the East thus far are
10 me Te!atFe Ealut ana uses OF palu.s hipS, TOT
PED boats and GeStToyeTs Weight of metal. heavy
guns and hard hitting. whether at long or short
range. sti DO the most effective work. The day of
the 5attlesRlp is not over, and the sphere OF the
These conclusions. reached by the General Board
and the Board on Construction the result Of
SIN Of nd
few months in Eastern seas confirm in a most
striking manner your own views on the subject
Upon the files of the Navy Department l md a
Navy February g. 1902 in which you assign the
place Of first importance 10 the heavier vessels Of
modern fleets; conclude that in the future, as IN
The past hattleships must hold the battle line and
emphasize the point by taking the ground that r.
place of the admiral in war. and probably also in
squadron. In that letter after expressing wish
Tor the views in the matter Of leading officers Of
One salient point in Connection with the Santiago
haite seems TO me to be the unwisdom of having
had the admirais ships concerning which
Il could be said that they were not to fight in the
night and general in land fight does not seem to
ne 10 hold, If My from he faCt hat the admiral ha
unit corresponding to a brigade on shore It does
NOT seem 10 ne desirable that admiral should be
expected 10 keep out OF the fight. At Santiago the
Spanish ships We're only armored cruisers. If our
ships were pitted against batteshps of frst-cass
power a.! aIm9Led cruiser might nave very hard
time. and yet it might be to the very last degree
Criioi aIzlnS III d closely contested battle to see
MA SleSrhg out OF me night Every gre at
aaIAraI from the days of Blake and Won Tromp
ana de kuyter 70 those Of Nelson and Farragut.
mas taken ms Place in one of the best fighting ships
a1d has been in the forefront of the battle. At
LISA me victorious Austrian admiral. Tegethoff
,oioNeq this custom with sp endid results. and his
aelaed zoe owed part Of his i'll success the fact
',dl ne was not on Of the formidable
Sills. ana ala not go into the thick of fight
Aeephg OUTSIDE in vain attempt to exercise such
S1perFison over his squadron shore the
oycUai captains
Mess good reason can be shown me 10 the con-
- intend 70 have order issued that the ad-
ia slaA have his place in Of the great gn ting
shps whenever there is war should also like
hDoN II there Is any reason why he should not
' NC II great lighting ship in time OF peace"
secretary Morton declares that President Roose-
eNs judgment Of the place Of the battleshp in
e navy over two years ago. is that of naval ex-
PTiS To-Day and the General Board and the Board
vi construction after weighing the results of re-
'al deFe!opmentts, have reached conclusions in
dent "
GENERAL STAFF
The question Of the need OF general staff or
oaro 10 serve the Secretary of he Navy in an ad-
.'soy capacity" Secretary Morton says was care
-e-'y considered by my predecessor ] do not fell
'-4l can add anything Of value to his discussion
u me subject. i is conceded that the upbuildng
reservation. maintenance ana efficiency of the
navy are to be attained only by unceasing exercise
y trained vigilance in all departments under intel
eVl' and consistent general supervision. This is
1>ei'al IN order that abnormal strength may not
cur IN one direction at the Of weakness else
'Dere. II IS further considered that when the
17s.fec results attained, and we have a salts