Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1901 — ASKS NEW WARSHIPS. [ARTICLE]

ASKS NEW WARSHIPS.

Twenty-two MorU, Vessels Are Recoin* mended by t-ecretary Lone, Secretary Long wants twenty-two additional warships for the navy. In his annual report he asks Congress for appropriations for that number of new vessels. He recommends the construction of three first-class battleships, two firstclass armored cruisers, three gunboats of 1,000 tons trial displacement each, three gunboats of about 200 tons displacement for service in the Philippines, three picket boats of about 650 tons displacement, three steel sailing training ships of about 2,000 tons, one collier of 15,000 tons and four tugboats. In support of this recommendation the Secretary says: “The navy to-day is a far greater factor in our relations with the world than it was before the recent national expansion, which now includes Porto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands, the vast area of land and sea in the Philippines and our obligations to Cuba. If we are to have a navy at all it must be commensurate with these great extensions—greater in international even than in territorial importance. This necessarily involves the construction of more naval vessels, their manning, exercise and maintenance.” In order to provide a sufficient number of officers and men for the growing navy Secretary Long urges an increase of fifty lieutenants, 3,000 enlisted men and 750 marines. The Secretary urges the establishment of a naval rendezvous and a naval reserve. In explanation of the purpose of the former he says: “In such a rendezvous the enlisted men should be made familiar with all the mechanical appliances with which they would have to do on shipboard. There is no reason why boilers should not be set up on shore at such a ‘rendezvous, engines run and all the other appliances of naval machinery typically represented. Such a station would serve for the assembling, recruiting and drilling of the enlisted force from which the crews for vessels would be drafted as required.” The Secretary’s argument for the'naval reserve is briefly stated in these terms: “The results of the Spanish-American war were such as to assure everyone having knowledge of naval matters that steps should at once be taken to meet the one certain and positive requirement which will face the nation upon an outbreak of war —the immediate necessity at that exigent time, if it comes, of a large increase in the men of the navy from an existing reserve—an increase which must, in the main, be made from the seafaring class, who, having acquired the habit of the sea, are at home on the water. “There is no better way of insuring such a reserve than by the measure now urged. Our pressing need is for such a reserve —a body to go to the front on board ship at once upon the outbreak of war, or when it is imminent. Next to this will come the defense of the coast, and for such purpose the naval militia will be essential. I see reasons for both organizations.” Secretary Long declares that American armor plate is the best in the world, and the cheapest.