New-York tribune., 1886-03-06
WAR SHIPS RECOMMENDED.
THE HOUSE NAVAL COMMITTEE REPORT.
AMERICA MUST BE NO LONGER AT THE MERCY OF
THE SFcOND-RATE POWERS.


AMERICA MUST BE NO LONGER AT THE MERCY OF
THE sECoND-RATE POWERS.
WAsUINGTON March 5.-The House Com
mtee on Naval Affairs has completed its report to ac
compauy the bill providing for an increase OF the NaVa
establishments II points that the United states Is
without adequate means Of defending lis iorclSh OF
coastwse and the cities scattered aiohg tue
long lines OF seacoast absolutely at tho mercy o'
any second-rate naval power OF the world. inc COM
rnttoe believes that the Government should at least
create a navy which will be respectable In slZe
and thas it shall demonstrate It's capacity 10 IN
crease 1t rapidly to any required eA'o""
"Thcre no; it says, town or city along our "ho
coast from which tribute could not be sucoessiny eA
acted by any modern fleet" The following Is state
rueut OF the destructbe property subject to the fire OF
an enemy's guns taken from paper by lAeutenant Or
Of the United States Army: Portland, S3o'ooo'oVo'
Boston, Sl7l 100000 NewHork, Sl,S13ooo'Voo' 'ei
sey CITY SlI3,COO.OGO; Philadelphia S|SV'ooo'ooo'
Baltimore S2l 100000; New.oreans' SlIo'ooo'Ooo'
san Francisco. Sls0.Oo0Ooo. This list omits u" men
tIon of Wilmington Charleston, SavaDnah Jacksonville
Mobile aud the entire Texas coast
The report continues Alter studying the oharNcel
scs OF other nayles find that we are not OILY a' Tue
meroy of foreign Nations, but that our negh'or braA
might exact tribute If any city along our Gui or
coast, while Chill could enforce similar demands on THO
orcs of tho Pacific IL ithe unanimous opinion OF your
committee that the Government OF tho United states
ought not longer to permit the hVes ana
property of American citizens to be thns mann
testify held Mt the mercy Of so many foreign Na'os
We therefore having decided that the Government
shoud tako steps n: once the construction OF mod
rte number of modern vessels with Grmaments Of the
most approved type set ourselves at work to decide
what type OF vessels should be recommended to the
House Tho policy o. foreign Governments has approved
the following types o, vessels:
First. The heavily armOrcd vessel OF 0,OOO-l3,oo0
tons displacement designed for the limo Of battle ana
coast defence.
These vessels. because of tho weight OF armor and
armament are of such heavy draft not to be abe to
enter any the prucpa seaports of tho United states
except Francisco For this, among other reasons
the committee has not deemed it proper to advise the
building OF such vessels
Second The armorod cruising and battle shin OF
GOOO-s 600 displacement, armOrcd with lo-lZ lhchos
of steel OF compound plates belt and barOettcs or
turrets carrying four l2-lnch guns, with number 1
lighter guns and powerful secondary battery WIN
hh speed and great coal capacity capable OF keeping
The FOR long periods, and designed Us ousor VI
battle shn
or this class the committee advises the building OF two
vessels.
Third The bolted cruiser. whose water-lnc belt OF
l0inch protects Its stability and all vital parts
These vessels are designed TO patrol the seas
The committee advise the construction now OF
any Of these vessels
Fourth The protected cruisers OF 1000 tons ana up,
ward protected by armOrcd deck, coal supply ah9
minute cellular divson, OF large coal capacity, ana
speed running up to lgl9 knots these yssSeS
Destroyer aud for other service IN Which
or
Fifh Cruisers similar 10 the above of 5000 1000
tons displacement
The committee recommended the construction OF
three vessels OF the erscs of these two class es
sixth The torpedo cruisers al l2O0l 200 tons dis
placement gLed 10 cruise in time OF peace ana IN
time of engage aud destroy the enemys torped0
vessels and boats.
The committee has recommended torpedo catcher
and four torpedo All tie vessels shall be bn OF
steel OF domestic manufacture having tensile strength
OF not less than 5000 pounds per square inch, ana an
elongaion in cighnch OF % per cent Tho arnor used
in constructing the armOrcd vessels provided for,
and in eompeting tho monitors. shall be OF the
best attainable quality and OF domestic manufacture
Another question the committee has considered with
great care whether the ships provided for In the b
shall be built by contract in the Government yards
Ia regard to this the report says
There he serious question as TO having al
repairs done in Government workshopA The dincuity
OF YauIug and defining the Gork 10 be performed Ien
deTs the cohtract system so lhlac ucaDe NM ~ & @
pnrant naval powers have sneh work done Ill tneF owl
shops The bin therefore provides that one or more OF
the vessels contemplated by the bh shall be con
structed OF tho Navy Yards O inc htcu
complete Government workshops vessels included IN
bill in 1t should become apparent to him mat
ernment The weight OF evidence il that contract ships
are cheaper Gqt there Is some .T2ns arc pnc2
This also found that II was "e1pedient 10
extend the practice OF building ships by
one OF the desirable results follow from this policy
with will be the encouragement OF private snip bud
ing and consequent multiplication OF the means OF
rapidly increasing our naval strength IN case OF need
The general policy pursued in framing the bill reported
by the committee has been to leave large amount OF
discretionary power in the hands OF tho Secretary OF the
Navy who will thus be held responsible for results
The latitude allowed TO constructors OF engines per
mts the Government TO utilize all the constructive
genius of the country The bill further proposes TO
have all the engines constructed by contract In this
and other respects the bill the Secretary with
cheek upon contractors 1t provides that In case he
cannot fair prices he construct the en-
gines in Government workshops
The committee discusses the appropriation for the
completion OF the Monitors Puritan, Terror. AmpGitre
and Monadnook and says that It would not have al
vsed the original construction OF such vessels but they
had reached advanced stage Of completion. and IL
was the opinion of naval officers that they would be
very efficient defence In conclusion, the
port says "Opnons differ widely IA TO what classes OF
vessels would be efficient considering the money
expended. NaVies, like armies must have dinerent
arms Of service. Your committee believing THIS mas
sought TO distribute the amount OF money which II ls
believed tho Government afford To eHpend during
the fiscal year raably among such vessels as seem
TO most urgently needed. We trust the Dill may
meet with the appreciation OF both Houses or
az an important step toward the creating or
an efficient navy contribute to feeling OF Increased
National security. Al present such feeling Of security
among wellinfOrmed people come only from the be
lief that nation viii dare attack another when she Is
helpless"
The report signed by every member Of tho committee.