Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-02-21
AN ENGLISH OPINION.
Our Progress Toward n N.w
nounced RemarknhI.

o"f Progress Toward u New Nav
h""nced Remarkable.
aneiis'i'nen can not help being inter-
esteu In the remarkable stridee uhioh
navc Deen taken on the other aida ~
tne Atlantic. where the rehah,litatia.
y sne navy OF the United States ia
oeihg pushed ahead with the character.
,seic energy OF our American cousins
-, perchance, there are any who have
not taken note OF what ia tbera ,,o;,,,.
on, tne imminent advent of four nov,
onu Important cruisers in our watera
should direct their attention that wov
~ IL not so much, however. that tho
uhieeu states have made a very good
beginning toward building up a modern
naVy--this Is but trifle where s.monev
- no oplect'-but there have also been
developed in the country facilities 81
every kind for the creation Of tbat
navy without outside assistance
rms can hardly yet be said
OF any other power excent France
anu treat britain. In 1885 it was not
only the case that the United States had
10 vessel OF war which could have kent
me seas for one week as against anv
lrst-rate naval power, but they were h.
soiutely dependent upon our manu-
| factories Tor forgings OF guns, for armor.
Tor machine and rapid-fre guns and the
axe. Now, four years later, not only
mas much been done in the way of CON
'lructing vessels, which are as good as
my thing OF similar type ahoat but ar
ahgements have been made by which
ahey will be able shortly to create en-.
rely from their own resources every
modern implement of war, including
'teel-clad battle-ships of the heaviest
tonnage, with their guns and armor.
by the end of this year the Bethlehem
ron Company, of Bethlehem, Pa, one
't the largest steel manufactures in the
states has guaranteed to have erected
me plant for the production of armor
ana gun forging of the largest kinds.
other companies have taken in
hand the supply OF war materials and
within the last month three or foul
arms have rendered bids for the con.
struction Of cruisers. and similar mum
per Tor the provision of steel projectiles
Moreover, there is now nearly com
pleted at Washington an ordnance fac
tory for finishing heavy naval ordnance
and all the necessary plant for handling
gun forging up to the quantity required
to make the very largest guns afioat
Nearly half a million sterling has beer
expended, or is in the course OF expend-
iture, on this factory alone. Of deyel
opments which we may call by com
parlSon minor there is the opening of a
new dock $50 feet by seventy-nine by
twenty-seven and half feet. at Mare
Island, San Francisco and another at
Newport, Pa, within the last fortnight
which is 800 feet by ninety-three feet by
twenty-five feet. The Americans have
quite evidently realized that as they are
obliged to spend money on a navy the
disbursements may as we'll be for theil
own benetitas not.
1t will be seen that the United state
are in earnest in the intention of re
iuming their position as a naval power
i is. however, somewhat significant tina
It present all this construction seems It
| +fuu III lIlt ulE'ELlOU OF vessels mOri
lifted to run away from an antagonist o
'eal weight than to sustain the gloriou
traditions of the American sea service
With but one or two exceptions, thes'
ships are better prepared to destroy com
nerce than to protect it. There is n
sign of fleet fitted to cope with Eu
-opean armor-clads if they crossed tn
Atlantic, as they have done before
After all though. it is better to craw
before trying to run. and we may yet Sc
designed, laycd down. and built by ma
i've talent in a United States navy
yard, that crux of naval constructions
he ''battleship of the future. "-Londol
Army and Navy Gazette.