Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-12-07
SECRETARY WANTS BIG NAVY
Recommends Reorganization And
Urges Increase.
ANNUAL REPORT MADE PUBLIC
YESTERDAY.
Secretary BOnaparte Declares That
Hazipg Has Ceased at The
Naval Academy.

last session. and recommends that
another ship of the same type be
added TO the Navy. The Secretary
endorses the recommendation of the
general board for an increase Of battle
ships, cruisers, motor torpedo boats,
gnnboats, colliers .and ammunition
vessels to the amount of S35, ,0S0.
Although a continental power,
for practical purposes, he says, we
share with Great Britain the immense
advantages of an insular position.
Provided our naval strength be suffi-
cient TO retain command of the sea, we
are absolutely safe from invasion,
and consequently escape the burdens
of a vast military establishment which
bear upon all the great powers of the
European continent: but if we have
not n sufficient navy the oceans to
the east and west of us, instead of
serving as bulwarks for defense, be-
come highways for invasion.
1.-The extensive steam merchant ma
rines which serve the commerce of
the world are no less available to
transport men and munitions of war,
and they place our shores within q
weeks, or at least fortnight's IS,
march of a powerful army from any
one of the great military countries
of the world, danger rendered far
more serious by the fact that no
enemy coming by water is restricted
to no line of advance ascertainable
beforehand and may choose for aggres-
sion any point of our coast line
which seems the most vulnerable.
Under these circumstances, unless
we are willing to maintain a strong
standing army, the maintainance of
our naval strength is matter of SUI
preme moment to the national safety
and | am convinced that an enlighten-
ed and patriotic opinion will assent
gladly TO any reasonable sacrifices
necessary to assure such safety. EX-
pressed in figures, we may say that
the cost of the navy amounts to about
81 .33 per annum for each inhabitant
ofrthe United States and that about
six men out of every 10, 900 inhabi-
tants are Mt present bound by law to
naval service. Surely such burdens
as these, or even some very slight in
crease of these burdens, viii be accept
ed without reluctance or mUrmur by
the patriotism and good sense of the
American people"
Discussing affairs ut the Naval
Academy, MIR. Bonaparte says:
'The enactment of the statute au-
thorizing the Secretary of the Navy
to dismiss midshipmen from the
Academy and regulating the punish
ment and procedure in cases of 'haz-
ing has had salutary effect. 1t has
enabled the superintendent, with the
support of the department, to deal
nationally and effectively with 'haz-
ing and other brooches of discipline,
and it is believed that the first-men-
toned practice is practically, if not
wholly extinct, at least for the mo-
ment. Moreover, the action of the
department in holding out the oppor-
tunity for early graduation as an in
eentive to hard study and consequent
high marks in the present graduating
class, seems to have raised the stand
ard of scholarship and promoted
worthy and sensible ideas among the
undergraduates on this subject.
ITO maintain discipline and incul-
cate wholesome military spirit
among young men chosen as the mid
shipmen are, and coming as they do
from all sections of the country and
all classes of our population, is no
trifling task; and it is source OF
qualification to the department, as
well as of credit to the present SUI
printendent and Academic Board, that
conditions in the Academy have inn
proved so notably within the last
twelve months.
"The improvements to the buildings
and grounds are approaching compile
tion, and il would seem that no very
large expenditure for new accommo-
dations for residence or study would
be needful there in the immediate fu.
ture. 1t is hoped, however, that Con.
gress will authorize the improvement
of the chapel, so as to fit ii TO receive
the body of Paul Jones. and appro.
pirate the necessary funds for this pur
pose during the present session. HC
recommends that bronze tablet bs
erected to commemorate the merits
and public services of Prof. William
Ch auvenet, whose counsel and assist
ane were of great value in effectine
the establishment and organization
of the Academy by Secretary Ban
croft in 1S45.
''In the report of the personne
board says Mr.. Bonaparte, ''ther,
will be found recommended OF
that the classes at Annapolis be no
reduced in number at the time now
fixed by law. | heartily approve thi
suggestion, but | further recommend
that all vacancies in the lowest gradei
of the Pay Corps and the Marine Corp
be then filled by the appointment o
graduates of the Naval Academy, anS
that undergraduates who desire t.
qualify themselves as medical officer
or civil engineers be allowed TO pur
sue a special course of study during tn
last two years of their curriculum a
the Academy, with a postgraduate
course of two years longer, may quail
ify them for appointment as assist an
surgeons or assistant civil engineers
"This two-year postgraduate couTs'
in these branches would be a substi
tute for the one year at sea recon
mended by the peronnel board for al
midshipmsn before they receive com
missions as ensigns, the years della,
being no more than a sufficient deter
rent TO prevent too many undergradu
ates selecting noncombatants branches
of the service. 1t is my belief tha
when all officers, whether OF the line
or OF the staff. are educated togethe
and appointed in like manner, III,
feeling of antagonism between th'
two branches will gradually bu
surely disappear, and also that, unit