New-York tribune., 1884-12-08
SECRETl2I cHANDLERS REPORE


SECRETARI CHANDLERS REFORE
The Secretary of the Navy sees no reason TO
change his opinion that the new cruisers VIII
answer the purposes of their cons'ruc loii' anu
hc cites as IA strong reinforcement OF his po-
sition the fact that the British Admiralty Is still
buildnc vessels essentially like them. vi
course the main point at Issue is that OF their
speed. hr. Chandler maintains that they are
swift enough to overtake SO per cent OF thr
merchantmen allOat. But when he says tha'
their speed will undoubtedly exceed the cS-
tIpiate"' it is difficult to accept the assertion
since as q rule the performance III such cases
falls below rather than goes beyond the eSu-
mates. Nor is the performance OF new vcssc'
on the measured mile IA practically Trustworthy
test. The new cruisers will have to make con-
siderable cruises, taking their chance OF the
weather and trying all their qualities under
seagoing conditions. before it will be possible
10 form a practical conclusion as to thclr ca
pacities.
Perhaps. as the Secretary alleges. com
parisons between the cruisers and the racing
steamers are unfair. though it was supposed
that the former were to be able to eaten any
thing alioat, and this would seem to include
crs however, remains to be made, and because
it is not yet made that problem ought to be
solved before any more on the same lines arc
laid down. II may be the best model to adopt
We do not say it is not. But there ought TO he
no room for doubt or dispute on that head, ana
since tne attainment of certainty only involves
Il short delay. there should be no opposition To
the securing of absolute assurance IN the way
indicated above. Tho Secretary recommends
the construction of seven unarmorcd steel cruls-
crs a wear for ten years, and also the completion
of tho monitors and the building of num-
ber of torpedo boats. The first and
third of these recommendations are sound. a.
to the monitors. it may be that their compile
tion offers the cheapest method OF harbor de-
fence but the question is whether 1t Is wise TO
consider chcapncss in this undertaking. The
adoption Of the monitors is apt tO Interfere with
measures for the proper fOrtiiication OF our
coasts. They are liable to be accepted "a stop
gaps and they are not sufficient safeguards.
We need strong forts and heavy guns in per
mancncc. Monitors are exposed to all kinds OF
accidents. They, therefore, should be rcsortcd
to only in the event that Congress will not give
the country adequate coast dcfcnces.
are being forged, tho former at Philadelphia
the latter in England. Ii is significant and not
reassuring that nothing larger that Il six-inch
gun can be forged in the United States, because
we have not the plant. TO arm our coast for
tilications we should have to go abroad, or wait
two years for the establishment of the plant
here, and as the heavy guns cannot be made
under two years, we should be defenccless for
four years. IL appears that MIR. Chandler fully
appreciates the waste that has characterized
na2al repairs so many years. He attributes it
to the lack of judgment in trying to reconstruct
rotten vessels by repairing them. But he does
not make it clear how ii has come about that so
many vessels built at great cost have turned out
to be unscaw0rth'y soon after their completion,
and he lcaNcs il to be inferred that the system
pursued in the Navy Yards offers an ample field
for reorganization and reform. No doubt the
want of synchronism between many of the
bureaus is largely responsible for the blunders
which have 80 often mayed designs originally
good.
The Secretary points out several abuses
which call for reform, and generally cvinccs Il
careful study of the affairs of his department.
The repair system he evidently thinks il ac-
countablc for the swift disappearance of the
navy, which, according to thisrepor, will have
nearly died out in fifteen years unless steps are
promptly taken to reinforce it. 1t is, however,
evident that if the old r,paIr system is contin-
ued, a new navy may 60 the way OF the ono
whose few relics are now ailoat. lie recommends
no new, large ironclads, and in this he is wise,
for it is evident that the whole question Of
ironclads is at present in too much doubt to
justify heavy expenditures Torpedo boats,
however he advises, and there can be no doubt
that this is sound recommendation. for 1t Is
possible that torpedoes may compel the recon
struction of all navios, and certain that they