Your TR Source
Ambassador Sternburg sends President Roosevelt some information about the Japanese fleet at the request of German Emperor William II.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-06
Rear Admiral Mahan responds to critiques made by Lieutenant Commander William Sowden Sims on his piece on the Battle of Tsushima. Mahan believes Sims did a disservice by referencing too few sources. He also believes his sources are superior to Sims’. He paints a different picture of the battle and the mechanics of it. He also believes they emphasize different naval philosophical differences in their critiques. Sims believes in the importance of machinery and Mahan thinks that resources should be devoted to manpower. Mahan analyzes successful battle tactics and logistics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-22
A recent report suggested that improving the speed of battleships was very important. The writer of this article concludes that if advances in this regard were unlimited, it would of course be extremely important; but there is a limit on speed that ships can reach which cannot be easily passed without extreme expense or sacrificing other important qualities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry reports on the present disposition of vessels of the Navy with reference to the Cuban situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-27
Ambassador Reid has forwarded President Roosevelt’s letter to the people of Salisbury, and he is sure it will promote kindly feeling. Reid hopes that they may be able to bring the “slow-moving” Colonial Office to an early agreement, as the only currently contentious issue between the parties is that of purse-nets. Reports of William Jennings Bryan’s speech in Madison Square Garden produced instant revulsion in Great Britain, as the public thought he “dished” himself by proposing government ownership of the railways. Reid has not yet had a chance to discuss Roosevelt’s letter to Andrew Carnegie with Sir Edward Grey, but plans to bring it up at first chance. Frederick Scott Oliver, author of the new book about Hamilton, does not seem to be a prominent literary figure among the Englishmen Reid has asked. Reid has been watching the Cuban situation with great anxiety, as he has always believed the United States made foolish decisions about Cuba at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-14
Robert Bacon advises Theodore Roosevelt that using “bluejackets,” the U.S. Navy, instead of Marines in Havana might lead to faster and more covert action in Havana. Three ships with 2,000 sailors can arrive within five days, but it will take longer to assemble that many Marines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-13
Andrew Carnegie agrees with President Roosevelt on disarmament, although he recognizes that it will be difficult to formulate a satisfactory plan. Carnegie says Roosevelt’s declaration that the United States does not seek to increase the present Navy but only to maintain it will be the great force making for agreement. Carnegie criticizes the practice of failing to give previous notice of war before attacking, and presents the “League of Peace” idea as the easiest and best solution. He encourages Roosevelt to be the one to formally propose it, as the United States is the only great power “free from international jealousies.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27
Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Takahira wants to convey to President Roosevelt that the Russian battleship Knyaz Suvorov (also spelled Kniaz Souvoroff) went down. Takahira mentions that four additional Russian battleships have gone down. According to Takahira, the Japanese fleet seized a torpedo-boat destroyer, where they found the wounded Russian Vice Admiral Rozhestvensky (also spelled Rojestoeusky). Takahira urges others to keep this information quiet until publication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-30
The Naval Intelligence Office describes the whereabouts of the Japanese navy and the Russian military forces, noting that both are making efforts to keep this information secret. For example, they are limiting where their military telegrams and mail are sent. The writer also describes several battleships that have been sunk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-20
The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on the positions of the opposing armies in Manchuria in the previous week. The Russians advanced to the vicinity of Changtu and Kaiyuen, falling back again to their former position. A delay in repairing the railroad bridge across the Hun River, in addition to the opening of the railroad to traffic, may account for the failure of the Japanese to advance beyond Kaiyuen. Nothing definite has been reported in regard to the absolute whereabouts of either the Russian or Japanese fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-28
No movements of the Russian and Japanese armies in Manchuria are reported. The approaching typhoon season will influence the movements of both fleets and render the work of scouting in small vessels dangerous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-05
Ambassador Meyer tells Senator Lodge that St. Petersburg, Russia, has been perfectly quiet since he arrived, due to extraordinary precautions taken by Governor-General Trepov to put down any troubles. Meyer thinks the disturbances in Warsaw, Poland, were a smaller scale repetition of those in St. Petersburg on January 22, 1905, and he notes that both could have been avoided by an able police. The stories Meyer has heard about corruption in some of the departments in St. Petersburg are astounding. Meyer thinks the ukaz issued by Emperor Nicholas II giving religious liberty to practically all sects except the Jewish people, if honestly and efficiently carried out, will be beneficial to the country. Representatives of Russian zemstvos, local municipalities, met recently at Moscow and blocked out a scheme of representative government. Meyer thinks the idea of a representative government is permeating all classes of society and that reforms are sure to come about, but the Russian government is currently “in a comatose state,” awaiting the result of the naval conflict and the next battle near Harbin, Manchuria.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-06
The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on the positions and movements of the Russian and Japanese armies during the Battle of Mudken, which took place along the Hun River near the Manchurian city of Mukden, now Shenyang in the province of Liaoning. The report also details the movements of Russia’s Third Pacific Fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-10
Map of a section of the Colombian coast with illustrations showing the path of a schooner that was boarded and then landed for an interview.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903
Acting Secretary of the Navy Darling sends correspondence concerning military operations in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-03
The Office of Naval Intelligence provides a brief update on the status and movements of the Japanese and Russian naval forces.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-13
Acting Secretary of the Navy Darling forwards correspondences concerning military operations in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-15
Acting Secretary of the Navy Darling encloses six documents concerning military operations in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-01
Acting Secretary of the Navy Darling sends transcripts concerning conditions and operations in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-25
Commander Phelps provides a report concerning military operations in Panama. Phelps highlights the movements of the Colombian military in response to Panama’s push for independence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-29