Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-05

the law stands now. an encounter of this
character Is "a. crime. and this department
must and will enforce the law. IL the
congress shall see 1T to change the law,
Of course this wall alter the attitude of
the. department, but while the articles for
the government OF the navy remain I'M
changed all participants in such proceed
ings must be punished with a severity cor
responding to the gravity OF their offense.
ever. should say here that do not
advise any such change in the existing
provisions Of law. for I consider the custom
between menbersS Of the naval service az
highly Objectionable and essentially I'M
Since. however. this custom ,s nm.
doubtedly Of long standing at the Naval
academy. It may not be possible to sup
press II Immediately or without difficuity.
cident Connected with II as this arises and
according to tho peculiar circumstances,
and si hope that It's melancholy results in
serve to awaken to Its evils some who
may. have been hitherto unduly tolerant
OF them s
The Estimates.
The estimates submitted for the expenses
OF the department and the service for
the fscal year ending June go 1907, ex-
the amount appropriated for the same pur-
pose for the current fiscal year. While
this additional expense is. Of course, to
De regretted In itself, 1t can hardly be
deemed unreasonable, in view of the
steady growth Of the navy In fact, these
estimates have been reduced by more than
$15, COO from the aggregate of those sub
nitted by the several chiefs of bureaus
and think any further reduction will
pc made at the risk OF diminishing the
efficiency of the navy.
1t will be observed on examining them
that there is a large reduction, in the
amount asked for the increase of the
navy, the aggregate of the sums re-
quested for this purpose being some slSO00,-
600 less than what was given for the
there is a very heavy increase in the
estimates of the Bureau of Ordnance and
considerable additions to the appropriations
engineering. besides the Increased amounts
required for pay and maintenance of the
Navy and Marine corps.
Increase of the Navy.
within the past two years very impress
siye lessons as to naval problems OF the
highest Importance have been Afforded by
the bloody war In eastern Asia, now happily
concluded. AS TO some conclusions TO be
drawn from this experience. we may fairly
say that everyone IL agreed. Such are OF
paramount Importance to a beligerent of
thorough prepa ration, drill, discipline, tar
set practice and proximity 20 weli-sup-
piled base at the moment OF decisive con-
flict . rF
on other points professional opinion at
least. is practically unanimous. IL is unit
versaliyl recognized by those qualified to
=.
equal. victory viii usually fall to the heav.
fer battery; that torpedo craft and mines
have q real although somewhat re-
stricted, field OF usefulness In naval war
fare, and that superior speed rs OF value in
a feet, not merely because Il enables the
commander to force or avoid battle. but be-
cause II is a, source OF strength In actual
conflict
on yet other questions, however, we can
not say that any such ununiInity exists
The recent war has taught US little. IL any
thing. about the utility of submarines. II
has caused. or at least left. much difference
ers and Il has created a, stllI more serious
divergence Of views respecting the best
| limit OF size for the future battleshlp. As
as 1900 tons displacement was used by
either belligerent. and while, on the one
hand. at least ono great power has deter.
mined upon the construction of an $1,000
ton bRttleship, and others are reported TO
| have in contemplation vessels OF from 10000
| to % 900 tons. on the other. some authori
| ties think these leviathans will prove less
formidable and more vulnerable than bat
tleships of 1900 tons. such as our contem-
plated South Carolina and Michigan.
The department has been caused serious
| concern by the conflicting advice on the
aforementioned question, rendered il by its
! authorized expert advisers. The general
board recommended some time since that
! the aforementioned vessels be increased in
displacement from 1900 to lS.ooe tons The
Recommendation. The general board has
| further recommended the authorization OF
/ knree fDdllieculpos 10 COST approximately
/ S. 10000 each and to be OF such tonnage
| as will suffice to secure an armament OF
| at least ten sl2-inch guns. The board on
| construction dissents from this recon-
mendation likewise. and advises instead
| three bNttleships at an estimated cost OF
| 81, 500. 900 each. with an anticipated arma-
| menty OF eight i2-inch guns and substan-
| TALLY the same tonnage as Is contemplated
| for the South Carolina and Michigan.
! After very carefully weighing these di-
| vergent views l feel that Il Is not as yet
| sufflciently clear that the larger and more
/ costly battleships would have such in
] creased efiiclency in battle as TO Justify the
views OF the general board. Unless. there
! fore, you or the congress shall direct other
| wise. shall order the construction OF the
| South Carolina and Michigan on the plans
/ approved by the board on construction.
| The department recommends the authori.
Sation OF the following additions to the
| navy:
Two scout cruisers. ...--....--....- t0o00ol
-FOUR deStroyefS .-..--...-.......... S,JO,OO,
II Two submarines or submersibles.. 500 90
/ One gunhoat OF the Helena type. 600dO
Two river gunboats ...,............ 200O0
The same reasons which lead me 70 think
/ Il expedient to enlarge the Dimensions OF
tue South Carolina and Michigan lead ml