Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-06-13
Activity in NAVY Building.

Now that our government is at work
building up new navy, it will prove
interesting 10 study the progress made
by other nations, as well as the steps
they are taking to increase the fleets,
as the future naval strength OF the
world depends not 50 much on the YES
GELS aAoat rs on those that will be in
service within the next few years.
Despite the activity our own govern
ment has shown, other powers have
displayed even greater enterprise,
hence. il we really desire 20 rise 10.
the position OF n lirst-clas naval pow
en- H. will be necessary 10 redouble the
efforts that have so far been made.
With the great surplus wealth in the.
public treasury, there can be no diff
Guilty in the way Of our possessing as.
powerful "A fleet as any ailoat but the
shortsightcdness OF "a s.ow-moving
congress.
In order to appreciate what our
rivals are doing, we will quote from "a
British technical journal which is con-
sidered an authority on such matters.
According TO this journal 1.-THE num-
Der of war vessels launched last year
by the naval powers OF the world was
60, while more than 100 were tIilding
when it closed. England led with ID
vessels launched and % building.
France launched and laid down 10,
Russia launched 2 and began 10, Ger
many put vessels into the water and
ordered or laid down 4, Italy launched
10 and laid down Is, Austria launched
no vessel but laid down or ordered 3.
Sweden laid down /, Denmark launch
ed and laid down another, China add
ed vessels TO her navy and ordered
or laid down 4 more, Japan ordered
and launched 3, the United States
launched 6 and laid down 6. Chill or
dered a new cruiser in England and
the Argentine Republic contracted for
a 4,300-ton irOnclad, Brazil laid down Il
cruiser, and even Uruguay has con-
tributed TO the navies of the world,
launching a small iron gunboat. The
minor powers like Greece and
Portugal, have either contracted for
or launched small vessels. Turkey
has begun the work Of building up her
navy, laying down one ironclad and
several smaller vessels"
According to this showing, this coun-
try, although having made commend
able progress, is far behind some of
the other powers in the activity dis
played in building ships OF war.
While these statistics prove that the
world is STEADILY increasing its rival
strength, it does not give true reflex
OF the vast strides that are contemplate
ed in the immediate future. The Eng
lish Government, though possessing
the finest feet in the world, recently
startled the powers by proposing such
vast additions TO its force that no other
government or combination of govern
ments will be able 10 cope successfully
with the improved force.
A report to the British Pertinent
states:
1t is intended TO construct and equip
40 new vessels at cost of E2l, 800, 900,
of which E10,00O,0 600 wouldbs provid-
ed from a special fund to be explained
by the chancellor OF the exchequer,
and the remainder would be an addition
TO the navy estimates for four years.
The additions to the navy would COM
prise s frst-class battie-shisp, each
with displacement of III 900 TONS 2
second-class battle ships of 5000 tons
each; 9 first-class cruisers of 1900 tons;
Il
smaller cruisers of the Pandora class
(2,600 tons each) md IS torpedo gun
boats OF 735 tons, making n gross ton
mage of 31S, 600 tons. OF the total sum
to be expended 100000 would be
assigned TO the dockyards, and work to
the amount of El0,00),000 would be
put out to contract. During the
present year 20 vessels would be COM
menced, namely, 4 first-class battle
ships, second-class battle-ship. 3 first
class cruisers, second-class cruisers
and torpedo gunboats, and the whole
programme would be completed in four
and half years from the commence
ment of the first vessel.
II it is desiredto place this country in
q position to cope with such mighty
Armada as the fleet that England will
possess in q few years something more
must be done than congress has yet
given an indication of attempting; but
as the country possesses the means,
and the people are in favor Of a power
full navy, the sooner we initiate Eng
lands example the better. Or
leans Picayune.