New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-02
HAT1L PREPlRATToNs.

NAVAL PREPARATIONS.
The necessity for replacing the American
ships lost at Samoa is urgent The German
Government will dispatch several vessels with
out delay from Zanzibar and the Mediterranean
and naval reinforcements must speedily be sent
to Admiral Kimberly. The Monongahela will
arrive at the islands most OPPORTUNITY with
supplies, but she is only sailing vessel with
two small guns--a storeship, and nothing more.
The Richmond, now on the South Atlantic Sta
ton, and the Alert have been ordered to pro-
oeed at once to Apia. The Alert is at Honolulu
the nearest point, but she carries only four
guns, and is hardly available for serious SER
vice At San Francisco the Charleston is
rapidly approaching completion, and two YES
sells, the Adams and Iroquois, are under
going repairs, but these viii not be ready
for sea before June. Work on the Adams,
however, is to be hurried forward. Further
achievements must be drawn from Panama
and the Asatic Station. The Mohican is need
ed at the Isthmus, but possibly may be spared
If q swift vessel like the Boston be immediate
" dispatched around the Horn to replace her.
The Asiatic Station is the most convenient base
for naval relays for Samoa. The Omaha and
the Dolphin can be detached from the squad
ron, which will then include the Marion and
Palos. The Swatara and Enterprise are now
at Madagascar, and one or the other can prob
ably be spared for service in Samoa. With
the Omaha, Dolphin and either the Mohican or
the Enterprise, the present exigency can be
met. Moreover, these vessels can reach Apla
in advance of German squadron from Zanzi-
bar.
The emergency serves useful purpose in
disclosing the weakness of the existing navy
and the necessity for strengthening it on a
large SCALE The Trenton and Vandalia were
among the best vessels in the old navy, and
their loss is serious one. The Omaha is as
Door substitute for one as the Mohican is for
the other. The wooden feet is rapidly dis
appearing, and the steel vessels are taking its
place very slowly. OF the first series Of new
cruisers two are now in service, the Atlanta at
Aspinwall and the Dolphin on the Chinese
coast, while the others, the Boston and Chi
cago, are at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the latter
destined to relieve the Lancaster in Europe
The Yorktown is the first of the Whitney series
to be completed, and as soon as it receives its
electric lights and battery 1t can be pressed into
service. Before the end of the year the Charles
ton and Baltimore ought both to be ready for
sea with the best ornaments ever placed On
American cruisers. Several additional vessels
of high speed will be added to the navy next
year. There is progress in the building OF the
steel feet but the antiquated wooden ships are
condemned so rapidly that the number Of avail
able vessels in the navy is not increasing. The
shipyards Will have to be busily employed Tor
ten wears before the feet will be equal TO the
requirements of the Nation.
The Navy Department is acting iudiciously
in forwarding the CharleSton's battery to San
Francisco, and in expediting the completion OF
| the ship in every possible way, for frSt-class
cruiser of high speed is needed Immediately
for service in the Pacific. But it will be a
serious mistake to accept either that vessel or
any Of the other cruisers approaching compile
ton without obtaining adequate tests Of speed,
horse power and seaworthiness. These ships
are experimental, and are to be taken on their
merits after impartial investigation. II they
prove to be as fast and as stanch as they prom
| Use to be, they can be duplicated on a large
scale; but the best expert talent Of the Depart
nent is needed in determining their merits.
They belong, moreover, to single claSs-un-
armored cruisers of high speed, and are not to
be regarded as fighting ships The intricate
and complex problems involved in the con-
struction of battle ships Of the most approved
| model are still to be worked out by the De
partment, for the designs of the Maine and
| Texas are only tentative solutions OF the most
| difficult questions connected with marine archi-
lecture. Unimpeded progress must be made
in the building of the new navy, but there
should be no precipitate haste, no costly mis-
calculations.