National Republican., 1885-07-31

the law, without calling upon the Attor'
ney General to construo it, showing that
Congress had devolved upon him the re.
sponsibiity of building four ships "of
the best and most modern design" "hay.
ing the highest attainable speed,' and
upon plans determined upon latter con.
sideration of all plans heretofore adopted
by the department"
The Secretary did not say, but The
REPUBLICAN will say, that the language
of the act is misleading, showing that
the bill was carelessly framed. The
best and most modern design" is non.
sense unless it means that some design
now in use, and proven by experience
to be the best of modern designs, shall
be adopted. But it does not mean that,
or there would be no necessity for new
plans and for laborious investigation.
"The highest attainable speed' is
still more misleading. Great speed is
impossible if there is to be ample room
for stores and for officers and men, and if
heavy armament is to- he carried. To get
the highest attainable speed the space
for officers, crew, stores, &c., must be
cramped and the hull must be mainly
filed with power-with boilers, engines,
and coal.
Why, then, omit the engineer corps,
the men who know how to make speed
possible, from the personnel of the
board? The line officers will look
mainly to the comforts and convenience
of the craft and to her fighting qualities.
The constructors will look TO the beauti.
ful lines of the hull. The engineer only
can look to and care for her speed.
In the course of his excellent and
%ell.timed address to the board, the
Secretary said
The department had not been authorized
by Congress and given the money with which
to construct n modern ship until these four
vessels that are now in course of construction
were authorized. Therefore the construction
of modern ships up to the present state of the
art was almost Il new thing for the depart
ment. 1t was not surprising that there had
not been accumulated here in the same degree,
ms is found mother countries, the information,
scientific knowledge, and skill which would
| have accumulated about the department if it
| had been engaged for number of years in
| this class of work. 1t has really been occu-
| pied in repairing the old wooden ships for a
number Of years, and has not had the means
nor authority to build new ones up to the pres
| cnt state of the art.
All this is true and just, but it destroys
nearly all that has been said or written
about naval management by Democrats
for some years past. The country has
been told that immense appropriations
have been squandered on John Roach.
The Secretary says that the navy-not
John Roach, but the navy-in its own
yards has been spending the appropria.
tons in repairing the old wooden
ships" and has had neither means nor
authority for other work.
If the Secretary can find out what the
act Of Congress means, which is more
than Congress knew when it passed the
bill, he will have basis on which to
begin work.
If he can make "the best and most
modern design" mean a new design got.
ten up for the occasion, and if in this
new design he can get "'the highest at:
tainable speed" he will exhibit talent OF
a higher order than any that has hitherto
figured in naval affairs.
The Secretary thinks it may be nee.
eSsary to send details of officers or ex'
perts abroad to find out what has been
done by the naval authorities of other
nations before deciding what plans to
adopt for the new cruisers. If this has
not been done already it ought not to be
delayed. But we had supposed that oul
navy was in possession of such informa.
ton to the fullest extent; that it had
drawings Of all the new war ships of Eu
rope, aud could reproduce them indi
vidually, or combine the best points o.
various ships in new plans. The coun
try has been given to understand tina
all this kind Of work-this keeping
posted on the construction Of ships il
Europe-was being faithfully attended to
If it has been neglected we are a goot
deal worse OFF than we ought to be.