Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-01

LIE LUIS u ELI
class fighting ship can be produced and
furnished to the department in this
country as soon as in the course of coL-
struction any element or feature is re-
quired. But this has never, until the
present time, been true. Therefore, con-
sideration of the subject has been neces-
sarily postponed by the department until
the present time.
| COMMERCE DESTROYERS.
The efforts of the department in ship
construction have necessarily, since
March, 1885, been devoted to unarmoreo
vessels, and as to others, the department
is able to report that when the ships il
course of construction and those author
lied shall have been completed, the
United States will rank second among
nations in the possession of unarmoreu
cruisers or commerce destroyers," hav-
ing the highest characteristics, viz: a
size of 5000 tons and upwards, and pos
sessing a speed of nineteen knots and
upwards per hour.
The Secretary quotes authorities as to
the value of this class of vessels, and
continues: "We cannot at present protect
our coast, but we can return blow for
blow, for we shall soon be in condition
to launch feet of large and fast cruis-
ers against the commerce of the enemy,
able to inflict the most serious and last.
ing injury thereon"
With regard to the production OF
power by machinery the report says
"The standard in 1885 was ten-horse
power to ton of machinery. All con-
tracts since then have been upon the
highest standard, and at the present
time the department has reached point
where reliance can be placed upon 1t for
the production of war vessels equal in
character to those of any other country.
REDUCED EXPENDITURES.
cit is gratifying to be able to report" "
says the Secretary. "that notwithstand-
ing the large expenditures for the new
navy in the last three years, reductions
in other directions have made the total
expenditures OF the Department less for
these years than for the three years end
ing June so. 1884, the ordinary expenses
OF the Department having been reduced
over 20 per cent. The total expendi-
lures of the Department for the three
years ending June 80, 1884, compared
| with the three years ending June 30
1888, were $47 ,979, ,997 and SAC, $50, $50.
Under the head Of Coast and Harbor
| Defense Vessels" the Secretary states :
| ''In the last annual report of the De-
partment considerations were given,
leading to the conclusion that it would
be unwise for the Department to follow
the course of the European powers in
building unprotected torpedo boats and
in the present uncertainty regarding
the practicability of submarine boats
and while waiting practical trial of
the dynamite gunboat, it has been
deemed wise by the department to build
one light draught, heavily armored har-
Dor defense, floating battery or ram, for
which designs have been prepared. The
advertisements for this vessel call for the
submission of bids in February next, the
characteristics to be found as stated in
the table of armored vessels"
Considerable space is devoted to busi-
ness methods and the introduction of
the system into the department.
NEED OF ARMoRED CRUISERS.
A chapter is devoted to naval progress
during the year at home and abroad, and
in it is the statement that the necessity
for an increased number of fast protected
cruisers, whether for purposes of protect
service with the feet as scouts,
has been emphasized during the
naval maneuvers of the year,
and fully recognized by all the naval
powers. But with an increase of the
number of cruisers it has been recognized
in view of the recent introduction Of
high explosive projectiles and the in.
crease of power, rapid fire and other
guns, that renewed attention must be
given to an armored feet, and the pre-
vailing opinion in England, France, Italy,
Germany and Russia is strongly in
favor of additional armored ships to be
built at an early date. In these new
vessels the armor will be much more
widely distributed and will certainly pro-
tect battery and crew, as we'll as the
water line and machinery. The de-
structiveness Of high explosive shell fire
against the unprotected sides of vessels,
emphasizes the peculiar advantages OF
the Monitor type for the coast defense
service.
The Secretary considers the subjects of
improved powder projectiles and torpedo
boats, saying in regard to the latter that
recent naval manoeuvers abroad, show
that they must still be regarded as the
most useful for coast and barber defense.
The estimates for the navy and marine
corps for the current fiscal year amount
TO $23 ,003, 1924. Those for the next fiscal
year are $26, ,767 ,677. The appropriations
for the current fiscal year are $19, 742 ,4Sl.
Mexican Matters.
MEXICO (via Galveston), November 30.
President Diaz and the Governor of
the Federal district yesterday received
the members of the Press Association
from the United States, who arrived
here. The President made an address
OF welcome to his guests in which he
dwelt on the grandeur of the press.
| The editor of the Ell Nacional has been
sentenced to eight months imprison-
ment and fine of 81 900, or instead of
the fine to 500 days additional imprison-
ment.
The entire press is unanimous in at
lacking the concessions granted by the
Governor to Louis Huller in Lower Cali
fornia, on account of the irregularities,
denounced by Engineer Sanchez Facio
in his report.
| President Diaz has repeated his asser-
ton that he would make no changes in
his Cabinet, and that he would not
leave Mexico during his term of office,
notwithstanding rumors to the contrary.
Meeting of Forestry COn1resses