Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-09
He Tells London Reporter About
the American Navy.
BUILDING SHIPS JUST BEGUN
Praise for President Clcveiand's Ad-
ministration - Building Instead
of Repairing Men-ot-War
viii Go On.
The Deadly Dynamite Gun.

President Cleyeland's cabinet for four years,
and who is now in London, was asked to-day
by Herald reporter what the United States
had accomplished during his term in the
matter of improving the navyl AT first he
was rather dsinclined to talk upon 1.-THE sub
iect, but upon the representation, however,
that the subject was one in which not only
Americans but Englishmen, Also are greatly
interested, and that no one was better quail
flied than he to furnish the desired informa-
tion, he consented to speak:
''This is an uncongenial atmosphere, / am
afraid, In which to talk on that subject" he
said, "for If you step into the house of COM
mons, as did yesterday, you would find
the subject of discussion to be
bill for the expenditure of $780,
100000 or s9OOOOOOO upon new naval
construction, To be sure, the bill covers the
contemplated construction tor the next four
years, yet the provisions and plans, at first
thought appear excessive What strikes an
American most forcibly in listening to that
debate is not the large sum of money asked
for, however, as we are not lacking in that
regard and are not now lacking in disposi-
tion to spend 1t on naval construction, but it
Is that the ability to spend that sum at once,
involving such enormous ship building IA
cilities, is possessed here
"You see, the building has to go along, in
addition to the ordinary construction for
commercial purposes, and indicates the great
resources to draw upon. The fact really is =,
that the United States has now only made
beginning towards building up its navy. The
administration of President Cleveland was
notable. so far as naval affairs are concerned,
more especially in the very line to which l
have alluded as existing here. 1t developed,
in our country facilities for the creation of a
navy, modern in character"
"You do not mean that no ship building
has yet been done, do you."
"Oh no, we are bull ding n good many
ships now; but refer to the most notable
result of the adm inistration from a naval
point of view. AS l look at it, President
Cleveand's admin stration should be cred
ited not merely with what has thus far been
actually done in way of construction, but
with the fact that we can now create en-
tirely from our own resources every modern
implement of war of the highest types with
their guns and armor. Upon the accession
Of President Cleveland to power, neither
armor nor high-power guns, of calibre
above eight inches, nor secondary batteries,
could be had in the United States and in the
previous twenty years there had not been
built altogether ten new war vessels"
'Were not large appropriations made,
from time to time for navyr'
s."Yes, but the money appropriated from
year to year had been spent in repairs upon
old wooden ships, which were really worth
less"
''Who was responsible for that 2"
''Well,. hardly care go into that subject
now. In fact, our people differ regarding
the responsibility for such state of things
existing. However, there is no one among
us who does not, at the present time, con-
denim it. l arose, quite naturally, from the
fact that at the close of the war we had q
very larger than we required. 1t was the
largest in the world at that time, think, for
many many years. There was a reason for
reducing, rather than increasing our navy,
and naturally the policy of repairing old
ships, instead of building new ones became
fixed upon us, and so, after a series of years,
we practically had no serviceable navy, and
there was general lack of confidence in the
navy department"
president Cleveland reversed the polio y
which has been for long time pursued, and
the old ravy has been allowed to die a nat
ural death. During his administration we
have had in course of construction war YES
sells, modern in character, amounting to over
n, 900 tons; about one half OF this tonnage Ia
armored ships, and of unarmored ships,
those Of the class known as protected cruls-
ers. We are building seven of an average
of 1900 tons each, and with guaranteed
speed of nineteen knots and upward. Ir
this class of vessels we will soon rank sec
oud only to England
~ believe you referred to having increased
construction facilitiesW
ayes, we have nearly finished, Mt Wash
ingtou, an ordnance factory for finishing
heavy naval ordnance, cranes, and the neces.
sary machinery for handling gun forgings NJ
TO l20 tons, which covers tho largest gun:
afoat upon any war vessel in the world.
think upon this the government has ex
pcnded or has in course of expenditure
total sum about 81, 100000. The department
has also entered into n contract with one o
our largest and best steel manufactures, the
Bethlehem Iron company, under which
plant is being erected for the production o
arnor and gun forgings This plant is Il
cost something over 81, 900, 900. Tho contrdc
was entered into about two and -one nal
years since, and the plant will be complete,
this year"
SIS congress disposed to appropriate money
moro freely, now, for tho navy department
than formcr.yi"
ayes, notably so. The feeling has change
very pcrceptibly. The disposition now Is, n
fact to give the department money NOR
rapidly than 1t can be iudiciously used. Il
each of the two last sessions Of congress
more money was voted for new naval con
struction than the department asked for.h
.Do you think that the United States vii
continue the policy of increasing tue sia
and completeness of its navyln
'I know no reason why it should not 4
so. Necessity, or, at least, the advantage j
apparent. There is plenty OF money, an
public sentiment, as il now exists, will IN
dorse such policy. OF course, With TIL
completion of the new plants, the presen
secretary of the navy will bc able 70 lay on
much larger programme OF eA
pendture than WAS possible undo
the last administration. Under Presden
Cleveland the foundation was thorough
laid for navy, adequate 10 the needs OF tn
United States and commensurate with he
dignity aud position among the nations @
the world, and 4 is to bo hoped and expccte
that the foundation will be built upon"
"a few evenings ago, Charles Read'
pcphsw Of lie novelist, 10 lecture hero