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VOL. XXXIV. CLEVELAND, DECEMBER 13. 19:06. No. 24 BONAPARTE'S REPORT. As foreshadowed in his remarks at the annual dinner of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engi- neers in New York in November last, Secretary Bonaparte, of the navy de- partment, has reversed himself regard- ing naval increase. He now thinks that the country should have a navy commensurate with its size which, of: course, means a great navy. In a plea for an adequate navy he says: "Provided our naval strength be sufficient to retain command of the sea, we are absolutely safe from inva- sion, and consequently escape the bur- dens of a vast military establishment which bear upon all the great powers of the European continent; but if we have not a sufficient navy the oceans to the east and west of us, instead of serving as bulwarks for defense be- come h'ghways for invasion. The ex- tensive steam merchant marines which serve the commerce. of the. world are no. less. avail- able to transport men and = muni- tions Of war; and: they. place. our shores within a week's or at least a fo:tnight's march of a powerful army from any one of the great. military countries of the world, a danger ren- dered far more serious by the fact that an enemy coming by water is re- stricted to no line of advance ascer- tainable beforehand and may choose for aggression any point of our coast line which seems the most vulnerable. The pecuniary burden imposed on each inhabitant of the United States for the maintenance of the navy may be estimated roughly, but with a fair approximation of accuracy, at one- third of that borne by each inhabitant of Great Britain and Ireland, and the burden of personal service to the like end at about one-seventh. Expressed in figures we may say that the cost of the navy amounts to about $1.33 per annum for each inhabitant -of the United States and that about six men out of every 10,coo inhabitants are at present bound by law to naval ser- vice. Surely such burdens as these, or even very slight these burdens, will be accepted wath- out reluctance or murmur by the pa- triotism and good sense of the Ameri- can people.' Mr. Bonaparte reviews and com- mends the reports of the personnel board except in minor particulars and declares that the result, if the sug- gestions be adopted by congress, will be the more rapid advancement of officers. He advises grouping the work of. the department under four sections with well-defined powers and responsibilities. He urges the crea- tion of at least two vice admirals. He defends and explains the work of the general board and advises placing the chiefs of bureaus on the military as- signment standing. The secretary declares that hazing has been virtually abolished at the naval academy, while the standard of scholarship has been raised. Specific legislation to settle disputes as to ti- tles in the navy is urged. He declares that the lack of sufficient enlisted men is due to the stringency of the re- quirements and not to lack of appli- éants, but he declares the situation is improving. He scores applications for pardons for desertion. He suggests publishing the names of all places that some discriminate against the uniform and: its wearers. The secretary commends the naval militia, but urges the establishment of a system of large reserves of trained seamen and advises paying such re- serves at least $250 a year each on service, the number being limited to 20,000. tains to forty is approved. The work increase of. Inc-ease the number of cap-_ on battleship design and submarines is reviewed. It is urged that provi- sion be made for a reasonable increase in the number of battleships because of changed conditions in Europe. BATTLESHIP VERMONT'S TRIAL. When the battleship Vermont, from the yards of the Fore River Ship Building Co., Quincy, Mass., success- fully completed all her government trials at sea, including a four-hour run at full power, a twenty-four-hour en- durance test, and the usual turning and backing maneuvers, her forward deck from stem to bridge was incased in ice, as the result of a thirty-six-hour trip in a northwest gale with zero temperature. When she reached the city Rear Admiral Hemphill, chairman of the naval trial board, notified the secre- tary of the navy that the behavior of the ship had been excellent. In the four-hour full-power run, the Vermont averaged 18.33 knots ani hour. In the twenty-four-hour test the average speed was 17.43 knots an hour and the H. P. 14,500. The requirements called for an average: of 18 knots at' full power and 13,000 H. P. at two-thirds speed, The trials were held under the most severe conditions encountered thus - far by a government vessel in her offi- cial tests: The tests were all com- pleted in four days, which is the short- est period in which a battleship has been put through her paces. From the time the Vermont started until she finished the weather was very stormy. The four-hour run was made on a_ south-southwest course, and when it ended, Cape Ann was about thirty miles on the starboard beam. Without stopping, the Vermont be-