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President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Navy Moody information about torpedo boats. He would like the information, which was written by Commander Winslow, referred to Captain Converse. He wants the two of them to report back to him about what should be done in regards to torpedo boat construction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-15
President Roosevelt would like to know what has been done about improving cruiser marksmanship, especially the guns of six-inch caliber and less.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-21
Alice Roosevelt wanted Prince Henry of Prussia to make her a colonel of a lancer regiment but President Roosevelt believes her German torpedo boat namesake is “far better.” Roosevelt would be “more humiliated than amused” if he was offered an honorary membership in a foreign regiment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-29
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-28
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Storer, B. (Bellamy), 1847-1922
English
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Charles Dana, the editor of The Sun, that a torpedo-boat flotilla will assemble at Staten Island on September 29 and 30. If Dana’s son, Paul Dana, wants to attend and get a close-up, he can contact W. W. Kimball or John C. Fremont. Roosevelt can also make similar arrangements for a newspaper representative.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-22
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Charles A. Boutelle that he spent “delightful” days with the squadron. He believes people ignorant about the Navy would change their minds if they saw the battleships up close. The torpedo boat flotilla will be ready on October 1. Roosevelt cannot express the numerous things he wants to discuss with Boutelle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-16
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Daniel W. Lord. He will read the article, especially with torpedo boats in mind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-17
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt explains to William S. Cowles that he is not involved in those matters. Still, he will forward the application to the Bureau of Navigation with his endorsement. He enjoyed being with the fleet and learned a lot. Cowles is correct about the fleet moving compactly and swiftly. Therefore, Roosevelt will do what he can to keep it together. He agrees about the torpedo boats, but members of the Herreshoff family are difficult to work with, and the ships they build are undependable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-17
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Senator Lodge that Murray Crane recently visited and says that Lodge’s senatorship is under no danger. He recently met with President William McKinley, who is pleased with Lodge’s letter. McKinley also said Roosevelt was right in his speech to the Naval Militia. While trouble with Spain is uncertain, Roosevelt is sure that McKinley would deal with it thoroughly. Roosevelt told McKinley that he will ensure the Department is ready in case of war, and that he will personally go to war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-15
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Secretary of the Navy Long that he issued the order to Francis T. Bowles and will think over the proposition to abolish the Yards and Docks by merging it with the Bureau of Construction and Repair. He discusses his initial thoughts that the plan is undesirable and comments on the question of dry docks and the matter of torpedo boats. Roosevelt believes sending French Ensor Chadwick to England to learn about naval administration would be beneficial. He will be with the squadron next week.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-04
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt worries he should have consulted Representative Boutelle about sending the torpedo boats up the Mississippi River. Roosevelt agrees with Boutelle that the torpedo boats should go south for boat work once the season is almost over. Roosevelt will send Boutelle and the Bangor Whig a pamphlet of statements made by presidents about the United States Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-28
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt sends Mary Louise Tyler Brock letters for her husband, John W. Brock. Roosevelt recently took his son to Newport, Rhode Island on a torpedo boat, but regrets that he will not be able to accept the invitation to visit with Brock.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-02
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Captain Taylor he will try to take a few days to see him test the guns if his work schedule allows it. Roosevelt has submitted the staff plan to Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long and is pleased with the readiness of the the USS Indiana that Taylor reports. Roosevelt recently wrote a report on the Porter to combat the exaggerations being reported in the newspapers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-24
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Lieutenant Winslow that Captain A. S. Crowninshield will not give Winslow command of a torpedo-boat during Roosevelt’s upcoming trip, but he is permitted to accompany Roosevelt on the planned trip. Roosevelt would like to schedule another torpedo-boat trip with Winslow during the upcoming summer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-21
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Lieutenant Winslow that he is interested in torpedo boats and would like to consult him about them. Roosevelt could not find Winslow after he left the day before, but he will try to see him in June.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-18
Charles J. Bonaparte writes to President Roosevelt regarding an article in the French newspaper, Moniteur de la Flotte. The article included the Russian view of the Battle of the Sea of Japan and Bonaparte encouraged the President to pass on the article to Admirals Converse and Evans, as well as Lieutenant Commander Sims.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-02
Contrary to the opinions of some observers, the course of battles in the Russo-Japanese War has not shown battleships to be obsolete. While battleships can be vulnerable to torpedo boats, this is already known, and the effectiveness of torpedo boats in the course of the war is likely to be less than was initially anticipated. Nevertheless, both types of vessels are important in the makeup of a navy. A substantial quotation from an article by Captain A. T. Mahan outlines the principles that must be considered when thinking about what sorts of ships a navy consists of.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-27
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1892 to December 1898. Notable events include the death of Elliott Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt is appointed New York City Police Commissioner, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Spanish-American War, and Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt encloses three memoranda for Secretary of the Navy Long. The first concerns the suitability of the Dry Tortugas as a naval base, the second is about the subject of torpedoes, and the third reports that the Italian government has agreed to sell two armored cruisers to Spain. Roosevelt calls Long’s attention to the growth of Spain’s naval force, in contrast to the United States’ relative stagnation.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1898-01-22
Congressman Robert Bradley Hawley would like the torpedo boat flotilla and one additional ship to be in Galveston for George Washington’s birthday, February 22. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt hopes that Secretary of the Navy Long will consider this request as Hawley is a “a clean, straight, able Republican.”
Massachusetts Historical Society
1898-01-03