Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-14
Rebuilding Our Navy.

While nearly every nOn-partisan person
in the Union will indOrse the action of the
Democrats in Congress in opposing the
scheme to inaugurate at this time, and
under the present administration an ex-
pensive and experimental system Of ma
val construction, the sentiment is all but
universal that steps should be taken at
no very remote period to rebuild the
American navy.
The improvements in naval architecture
during the last quarter Of century have
not been made in a corner. No nation
can keep secret the number, classification
and strength of its vessels of war, and if
our Navy Department was in charge of
competent and worthy men, who keep
posted in regard to the progress of the
age, there would be little use for the
wasting of immense sums in mere expert
ments. The reports Of experiments and
tests madesby several European govern
ments are easily obtainable, and they
should be taken as a guide by the naval
authorities of this country.
Experiments and tests made in time of
peace are valuable, but the true value of
the war ships of the present day cannot
be so ascertained. The only test Of conse-
quence they have had in actual war
during the last 20 years, was at the bonn
bardment Of Alexandria, and there the
impotence of the opposing batteries were
such that no very valuable deductions
could be made. 1t is probable, however,
that the heavier irOnclads in the English
and Italian navy are practically impreg-
nable against any guns now constructed,
although duplicate sections of their armor
have been penetrated by shot. But these
big irOnclads are expensive affairs, and
are almost useless as general cruisers,
and in attacking or defending where tor
pedOes are used.
TOrpedOes will probably enter more
largely into naval warfare in the future
than ever before. When this government
has a naval administration that can be
trusted it will doubtless greatly increase
the facilities for making and for instruc-
ton in handling all the various kinds of
torpedOes and torpedo boats. Deep draught
irOnclads can hardly be expected to render
service on our coast commensurate with
their cost. They will doubtless be super
seeded by wide beamed, shallow draught,
steel clad ships, which will be equally
serviceable as cruisers and for river and
harbOr defense. These, provided with
powerful engines, can attain the maxi
mum of speed, and yet possess sufficient
bouyancy to enable them to sustain
heavy armor and carry large guns. The
building of any considerable number of
unarmored cruisers would appear to be
worse than useless expenditure of money.
The country wants navy, and wants
one that will compare favOrably with
that Of any other nation. Such navy is
not to be obtained in ten or even twenty
years, but the work of construction will
hardly be begun in earnest until we have
confidence in the capability and honesty
of those who have supervision Of the
work. When the United States does be-
gin to construct a new and modern navy
it might as well put the necessary plants
into its own navy yards, cut loose from
the contract vampires and 90 into
the ship building business on its
own account. In the hands Of proper men
the navy can probably be brought up to
any required standard of efficiency at lit
tie more than half what it would cost
under the contract system.