Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01

could prevent the result have described. Our
present naval force would be equally powerless.
I.en when all the ships now authorized are
completed we should not have a fighting
cEhee against a respectable feet Of foreign
ironciads. There are other seaboarls besides
the Atlantic exposed to attack other cities be-
sues New York Of commercial Importance
New orleans on the Gulf, San Francisco and
Iakoma and Seattle on the Pacific. Our line
OF defense is long. and its parts are so divided
ana SO remote that they could not be included
IN any single plan Of concerted operations.
tach would inevitably become the object Of
separate attack, and each must be effectively
and separately guarded. Nothing short of q
force OF battle ships, numerous enough to be
distributed in the separate fields of attack and
able to concentrate on any threatened point
within their own field, will prove q complete
protection.
HAnBoR VESSELS.
The type Of ship which the department would
suggest for purely local purposes is an en-
| larged Puritan, Of light draft, not more than
IA to 16 feet, OF moderate speed and intended
absolutely for smooth-water cruising but with
such armor and armament as to make it. at the
same time, irresistible and invulnerable against
any single assailant. Twenty inches of armor
and eight 13-inch guns would fulfill the pre-
scribed conditions. 1t is a serious question,
however, whether greater advantages would
not be gained by distributing the guns in two
vessels instead of one; but whichever plan is
adopted the general conditions of the problem
remain the same. The ships would be intended
exclusively for local purposes and would have
postand station from which they would never
De absent. While the battle ships are Of the
nrst Importance to concentrate along the coast
or IN waters not far removed from it, wherever
they may be needed. the continuous presence
OF a sufficient number Of harbor-defense ves-
sells would stay the entrance of an enemy until
the battle ships could arrive. The type of har-
bor-defense ship described is less expensive
than the sea-going ships and it answers, as no
other type can answer, the requirements Of
American harbors.
Should such line Of construction be adopted
the vessels so built should be regarded as dis
tlnctively for local protection. The movement
toward the creation of naval militia, which
has found expression in the legislation of four
Observation-Disclosures. Rhode Island. New York
and PennsvlvGnia-would receive additional
strength and encouragement from the creation
OF TINS national force reserved for local pur-
poses. The harbor defense ship would become
the rallying point, the armory, the drill hall,
the parade ground and the naval school of
those young men who have shown such spirit
and earnestness in the organization of the
naval militia. 1t should be their privilege to
become the principal source of supply for the
complement, both of officers and men. of their
loca. ship; and the result would be an addition
of incalculsble strength to the naval resources
OF the country.
CENTERs OF NAVAL STRENGTH.
If such plan should be adopted it is reason
able to believe that Boston. New York, Phila-
deiphia. Baltimore, New Orleans, San Francisco
and the cities on Puget sound would become
centers of naval strength instead of being. as
they are today. conspicuous examples of mari
time weakness. and inviting objects of maritime
attack; while these local forces. organized in
complete harmony with the spirit of American
institutions. would be welded together ard
transfused with the spirit of naval discipline by
tie small but efficient standing force which the
country will always maintain.
In conclusion l would repeat here the propo-
sltlOn that was laid down at the opening of nv
report last year. that the purpose for which
the United States maintains navy is not con-
quest. but defense" The best guaranty of
peace is judicious expenditure for the navy,
such as viii meet the necessities of the coun-
try. AZ the present time it has not such a
force. nor will it have the force required even
when all the ships now authorized are COM
pieted. The problem of naval construction
has been simplitied almost beyond belief in the
las: eight years. 1t only remains to add to tie
number of vessels of types already in existence.
The price is not too high to pay il it affords
the means whereby the United States. for the
first time in many years, may be enabled to
preserve and defend its rights. War is a great
calamity. but it is not the greatest calamity
tnat can befall free, intelligent and self-re-
spectinS people.