McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-12-13
THE TORPEDO SERVICE.

Il THE TORPEDO SERVICE.
T. As germane to this subject call your at
z zion to the importance of perfecting our
GJrpedo defences. The board authorized
by the last congress to report on the method
which be adopted for the manufacture Of
heavy ordnance adopted to general ware
fare has been assisted by the principal iron
and steel works, In this country and In Eu-
rope. 1t is hoped that its report will be
soon made and thatcongress will thereupon
be disposed to provide suitable facilities
and plans for the manufacture Of such guns
\ rs are now imperatively needed.
THE STATE MILITIA.
On several occasions during the past year
officers Of the army have, at the request Of
the state auth critics, visited their military
encampments for the inspection OF the
troops. From the reports of these officers
i am induced to believe that the encourage
ment Of state militia organization by the ma
uonal government would be followed by
very gratifying results, and would afford
1t in sudden emergencies the aid of a large
body of volunteers educated in the per-
Torrance Of military duties.
THE NEW WAR VESSELS.
The secretary of the navy reports that
under the authority of the acts of August 5,
1882, and March 3, 1888, the work of
strengthening our navy by the construction
of modern vessels has been auspiciously be-
gun. Three cruisers are now in progress of
cOnstruction-the Chicago, Of $500 tons
displacement, and the Boston and Atlanta,
each of $500 tons. They are to be built of
steel, with the tenible strength and durability
prescribed by law, and in combination OF
speed, endurance and armament are cy
pected to compare favoraby with the best
war vessels of other nations. A fourth ves-
sci, the Dolphin, Is to be constructed of
similar material, and is Intended to serve AZ
a fleet dispatch boat. The double-turreted
monitors, Puritan, Amphrite and Terror,
have been launched on the Delaware river,
and contract has been made for the supply
of their machinery. A similar monitor, the
Madanock, has been launched in California.
The naval advisory board and the secretary
recommend the completion of the monitors
and the construction OF four gunbOats, and
also of three additional steel vessels like the
Chicago, Boston and Dolphin as an impor-
tant measure of material defense.
INCREASING OUR NAVAL STRENGTH.
The secretary urges also the immediate
creation Of an interior fast line OF water
ways across the peninsula of Florida, along
the coast from Florida to Hampton Roads,
between the Chesapeake bay and Delaware
river and through Cape Cod. l feel bound
to impress upon the attention Of congress
the necessity of Continued progress in the
reconstruction Of the navy. The condition
of the public treasury, as l have already in
tiluateu, Hlahes Inc present III SUSPICIOUS
time for putting this branch of service in
state of efficiency. 1t is no part of our
policy to create and maintain navy able to
cope with that of the other great powers of
the world. We have no wish for foreign
conquest, and the peace which we have
long enjoyed is in no seeming danger of in
terluption, but that our naval strength
should be made adequate for the defense of
our harbors, the protection of our CONNER
cial interests. and the maintenance of our
national honor, is a proposition from which
sent.