Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-19
ON, NAVY.

1t is the conviction of many citizens
well qualified to give an opinion on the
subject that only next in Importance
to the repeal of the silver coinage LAWS
the need of some effective legislation re-
spectng our navy and coast defences.
The condition of great nation, practi-
cally without defence along its entire
seaboard is something preposterous. 1t
looks at last as if something was going to
be done about it. Congress has appointed
a competent committee to take the matter
in charge, and report its decision as to the
best means to be pursued for creating
naval armament somewhere near adequate
to the needs of the country.
Last week the naval committee of the
House held an important meeting, at
which u hearing was given to the views of
Secretary " hitney, Admrals Porter and
Simpson and Others and much valuable
information was ELECTED. Secretary Whit
ney announced that he had been led to re-
consider his decision regarding the un-
finished monitors He now recommends
that they be finished rs soon as possible
| These unfinished monitors were contract
! ed for by the government more than ten
years ago, and were to have been built by
| Messrs. Roach and Cramp. But the eX-
pense involved in their construction proved
to be so great that Congress, in II foolish
spirit of economy, refused to make further
appropriations for them, and for the past
ten years they have lain uncompleted in
the yards of the contractors Each year
Congress has been urged to vote an APP
preparation for completing them, but the
House of Representatives has persistcntly
blocked all legislation tOthis effect. Mean
while the government has been ut consider
able expense keeping the unfinished prop
erty in order. Secretary Whitney estmat IS
that the cost of completing these monitors
will be about four and quarter millions
He deems the expenditure by no means toe
great, when the value of these modern and
improved monitors for coast defence i,
taken into consideration. The opinion OF
Admiral Porter on this last point i,
worthy Of note. He believes the monitors
to be superior to forts for naval defence
and declares that with two of them he
would undertake to knock to pieces the
largest uuturretted irouCldd in the British
or any other navy,
Secretary Whitney also advised the
building of six more fast cruisers, ironclat
and heavily armed, and his opinion of the
value of these vessels for rapid moyement
as well as effective fighting is seconded
by Admiral Porter and other nava
authorities As to the construction OF
these vessels and others needed by the
government, it WAS the general opinion
that with the exception of engines and ar
NOR plating, ships can be built to better
advantage in the government navy yards
than in private yards.
1t is to be hoped that Congress will dc
something to provide the country with, at
least, respectable beginning in the way
of navy, at the present session. Tn,
matter is one of urgent importance, and
the sooner it is taken in hand the better,
a Partisan journalist has discovered the
ages of leading actresses and singers, ano
! gives the dates of birth rs follows AIDE
lima Patti, 1913; Zulma Bouffer, 1874
Pischard, 1874 Christine Nilsson, lS47
Sophie Croizette, 1913; Marie Roze, lS49
/ Jude, 1850 Sara Bernhardt 1880 Paoa
Marie, 1851; Theo, 1859; Hebron, 1859
Granier, 1852; Jane Hading 1860.