Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-09
REBUILDING THE NAVY.
Ex-Secretary Whitney Tells what has
been done i'm that Direction.

The New York Herald prints an interview
with ex-Secretary Whitney. now in London, in
regard to the foundation laid for an American
navy during the administration OF President
Cleveland in which he SAYS:
AS look at it. President Cleveland's adj
ministration should be credited not merely
with what has thus far been actually done in
the way of construction, but with the fact that
we can now create entirely from our own re-
sources every modern implement of war of the
highest character including war vessels of the
highest types. with their guns and armor."
After referring to the policy of remodeling
and repairing old war ships which had been
pursued during previous administrations, Mr..
Whitney continued:
President Cleveland reversed the policy
which had been for long time pursued and
the old navy has been allowed to die a natural
death. During his administration we have had
In the course OF construction war vessels, mod
ern In character, of over 5000 tons. About
half this tonnage is in armored ships. and of
unarmored ships-those of the class known as
protected cruisers-we are building seven of
an average OF 4 900 tons each, and with a guar
anteed speed of nineteen knots and upward
In this class OF vessels we will soon rank second
only to England"
HEAVY GUN FoUSpRrEs ALSO.
"lbelieve you referred to having increased
construction facilities
'Yes. We have nearly finished az Washing
ton an ordnance factory for finishing heavy
naval ordnance and cranes and the necessary
machinery for handling gun Sorgings up to 100
tons, which covers the largest guns aloat upon
any war vessel in the world. l think upon this
the government has expended or has in the
course OF expenditure a total sum of about
S2.000.000.
The department also entered into a contract
with one of our largest and best steel manu-
factories (the Bethlehem Iron company under
which plant is being erected for the produc-
ton OF armor and gun forgings This plant is
to cost something over S3,000,000 The con-
tract was entered into about two and a half
years ago, and the plant will be completed this
year."
CONGRESS MORE LIBERAL THAN FORMERLY
sis Congress disposed to appropriate money
more freely now for the navy than formerly?'
''Yes, notably so. The feeling has changed
very perceptibly. and the disposition now is in
fact TO give the Navy department money more
rapidly than it can be iudiciously used In each
of the two last sessions of Congress more money
was voted for new naval construction than the
department asked for"
do you think that the United States will
continue the policy of increasing the size and
completeness of its navy?n
Il know no reason why ii should not do So
The necessity-or, at least, the advantages
apparent There is plenty of money. and pub
lie sentiment, as 1t now exists, will indorse
such policy.
'Of course, with the completion of the new
plants the present Secretary of the NAVY will
be able to lay out a much larger program of
expenditure than was pc ssible under the last
administration.
SOLID FOUNDATION LAID.
'Under President Cleveland the foundation
was thoroughly laid for navy adequate to the
needs of the United States and commensurate
with her dignity and position among the
nations, and 1t is to be hoped and expected that
this foundation will be built upon
"A few evenings ago a nephew of Charles
Reade, the novelist, i'll lecture here in Lon
don, said 1t had been reported that the United
States had dynamite gun which, it was claimed
could blow into smithereens any war ship now
ahoat. As he made the statement man in the
audience shouted out that he didn't believe it.
Are you willing to throw a little light on that
point?"
WE HAVE SUCH A GUN.
81 hardly think would do wisely in going
into that matter in detail" replied Mr.. Whit
ney, laughing. ''for might be drawn into a
discussion with some one
1T is true, however that the United States
appropriated money for the construction of a
pneumatic dynamite cruiser. and considerable
amount-S600, 900 or 500. 0OO-for a coast
defense ship of a dynamite character 1t is
certain that the dynamite gun has passed be-
yond the experimental stage. 1t has been
demonstrated that it will throw an aerial tor
pedo containing 600 pounds of nitro-glycerine
to distance.of one mile, and one containing
200 pounds to a distance of two miles.
THE GUN WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF
II do not care now to express myself as to
the amount of destruction which the dynamite
gun will cause over and above that of the guns
now in use, and it remains to be shown vet to
what extent the dynamite gun can be utilized
on shipboard."
DO you think the dynamite gun likely to
revolutionize naval warfare?"
II am not prepared to make public my opin-
ion ON that point yet l simply say that unless
the Navy department had great expectations
from the dynamite gun it would not have ex-
pended so much money in finding out what it
could accomplish"