The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-12-24
BONAPARTE'S
REPORT ON navy
CONTINUED from Page TwO),

naval reserve, Secretary Bonaparte
says.
our provisions for this contingency
are manifestly and fiagrantly made
quate. II the nation wishes the SER
vices Of trained seamen whenever 1t
needs such services, It must pay them.
A man could hardly afford to assume |
such an obligation, and, with it, the
impediments It would involve to his
securing permanent employment, for
$40 or $15 or $25 a year, but If he were
given $3.50 year, and II the conditions |
of membership in the reserve were not
made unduly onerous, It would un-
doubtedly prove attractive to many |
competent men; yet the assurance that
90, 900 thoroughly competent seamen
could be secured at any moment for
our fleet would be very we'll worth So
900 a year.
ct suggest, therefore, the propriety
of allowing every able-bod'ed man o.
good moral character within certain
limits of age, who has served at least
four years in the navy and been dis
charged with credit. to be enrolled on
a reserve list, in return for which he
should receive from $15 to $25 per
month. according to his rating at the
time of leaving the service"
WOULD BUY FOREIGN ARMOR.
The armor plate question is reviewed
at length, and Secretary Bonaparte
concludes by asking the right to manu-
facture or to buy, not only armor plate
but projectiles, torpedoes and ammunt-
ton abroad Regarding this he says:
There are only two ways in which
it is practicable to control such a sit
uation; either the Government must
| be authorized to manufacture its own
armor plate or it must be permitted
to buy this abroad. recommend that
both privileges be accorded to the de-
partment. The first mentioned of them
would be, however probably ineffect-
ual since not only would the cost Of
establishing a Government plant great
| ly exceed any difference In the price
of the product which could be obtain
ed in a single year, but the delay at
tendant upon the establishment of such
mandatory would be very objec-
tionable.
IF. however, the Secretary of the
Navy were authorized to buy armor
plate abroad whenever, IL, the judg-
ment of the President, the price in the
United States was exorbi,Ant or unreal
sonable there is good reason to believe
that the manufacturers would either
not form combination at all or agree
upon a reasonable and moderate price.
I would extend the like authority tc
the purchase of torpedoes, ammunition.
projectiles, and, in fact all articles
necessary to the national defense.
when citizens of the United States
enjoying the protection OF it's laws
who are engaged in the manufacture OF
articles of this character, refuse tc
manufacture them for the government
unless 1t shall agree to pay for them
an exorbitant and unreasonable price
they evidently defraud it of an oppor'
tunity to exercise its just constitution.
al powers, and evade the fulfilment Of
their own duties as patriotic citizens
INCREASE OF NAVY.
The increase of the navy, Secretary
Bonaparte says, should be confined tt
moderate addition to the effective
fighting strength. He recommends
therefore, that a second ship of thu
huge class, for which the last Congress
authorized the first, be built the dup
licate use of the plans which have beer
submitted for the first ship, giving TIVE
vessels in the time otherwise needed
for the construction of one.
The views of the General Board and
the Board of Construction are submit
ted. Each recommends two huge bat
tleships, two scout cruisers, four de
stroyers, two small gunboats and 9th
er small craft. The General Board es
innate of total cost is $3S,0SO,OOO, ant
the Board of Cinstructiol $31 900, e00O.
Secretary Bonaparte strongly recon-
= mends the building of the gunboat
and destroyers, but is not entirel!
favorable to the second great battle
ship One, he says, is required for tn
d national safety under existing circum
I stances.