Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-06
AN ENGLISH OPINION.
Our Progress Toward New Navy
Thought Remarkable.

From the London Army and Navy Gazette
Englishmen cannot help being interested in
the remarkable strides which have been taken
on the other side of the Atlantic. where the re-
Mobilization of the navy of the United States is
being pushed ahead with the characteristic
energy of our American cousins If, perchance,
there are any who have not taken note of what
is there going on. the imminent advent Of four
new and important cruisers in our waters
should direct their attention that way. 1t is
not so much, however. that the United States
have made very good beginning toward build
ing up modern navy-this is but trifie
where money is no object'-but there have
also been developed in the country facilities of
every kind for the creation of that navy with
out outside assistance. This can hardly yet be
said Of any other power except France and
Great Britain. In 1885 it was not only the
case that the United States had no vessel-of-
war which could have kept the seas for one
week as against any frst-rate naval power.
but they were absolutely dependent upon our
manufactures for forgings of guns for armor,
for machine and rapid-fre guns and the like.
Now, four years later. not only has much been
done in the way of constructing vessels which
are good as anything of similar type afloat, but
arrangements have been made by which they
will be able shortly TO create entirely from
their own resources every modern implement
of war, including steel-clad battle ships of the
heaviest tonnage, with their guns and armor.
BY the end Of this year the Bethlehem iron
company OF Bethlehem, Pa. one of the largest
steel manufactures in the states, has guaran-
teed to have erected the plant for the prOduc-
ton of armor and gun forgings of the largest
kind. Other companies have taken in hand the
supply of war material and in the last month
three or four firms have rendered bids for the
construction of cruisers and a similar number
for the provision of steel projectiles. Moreover,
there is now nearly completed at Washington
an ordnance factory for finishing heavy naval
ordnance and all the necessary plant for ham
ding gun forgings up to the quantity required
to make the very largest guns afioat Nearly
half million sterling has been expended or is
in course of expenditure OH this factory alone.
OF developments which we may call by COM
parison minor there is the opening of new
dock $50 feet by 70 feet by 271a feet at Mare
Island, San Francisco. and another at Gosport,
Va. within the last fortnight which is 600 feet
by 80 feet by 25 feet. The Americans have
quite evidently realized that as they are obliged
to spend money on navy the disbursements
may as well be for their own benefit as not"
It will be seen thBt the United States are in
earnest in the intention of resuming their po-
sItion as naval power. 1t is, however, some
what significant that at present all this con-
struction seems to tend i'll the direction OF
vessels more fitted to run away from an an
tagonist of real weight than to sustain the
glorious traditions Of the American sea service.
With but one or two exceptions these ships are
better prepared to destroy commerce than to
protect it. There is no sign CT fleet fitted to
cope with European armorclads if they crossed
the Atlantic. as they have done before. After
all. though 1t is better to crawl before trying
to rum and we may yet see designed, layed
down and built by native talent in United
States navy yard that cruX of naval cOnstruc-
ton, the 'battleship Of the future"