The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-16
THE pRAC1ICE HESSKL.
Does the Treaty of 1917 Forbid Her Con-
ntruetion at Bay CitYl

struction at Bay CityS
WASHINGTON. June ia curious point hal
been raised In regard to the contract for build
ing the S00-ton practice vessel for the use o
the naval cadets at Annapolis. The two bid!
are that OF Samuel L. Moore & Sons OF Eliza
bethport, New Jersey. and that Off W. Wheeler
d Co. OF Bay City. Michigan. The latter Ia the
lower by $1,000, 30 that presumably, II 1t Is oil
right in other respects, 1t will be successful
But the suggestion has been made that under
the following provisions OF the Rush BaRoi
treaty Of 1917, no such war vessel could be
rightfully built at Bay City:
The naval force to be maintained upon the American
lakes by his Majesty and the Government OF the United
States hall be confined the
| sells each side, that 10:
on Lake Ontario to one vessel not exceeding 100 tons
| burden and armed with ono ispound cannon
On the upper Akeh to two vessels not exceeding liz
| burden each and armed with like force
On the waters OF Lake Champaign to ono vessel not
| exceeding like burden and armed with ike force.
All other armed vessels these lakes shall be forth
with dsmanted and other vessels OF shall then
DO built or armed
The limit OF all vessels to 100 tons burden and
the declaration that mo other vessels OF war
shall then be built or armed" are stipulations,
it Is urged which would be violated should a
vessel OF 800 tons be built. carrying q much
A little examination. however, will show that
tho treaty is concerned with the naval force
to be maintained upon the American lakes"
not with shipping built there for maintenance
elsewhere. The naval practice vessel is not to
be maintained on the great lakes. but at Annap-
oils. 1t has nothing whatever to do with the
lake force. yet the words mo other vessels
OF war shall then be built or armed" refer
wholly to that force.
Besides. the treaty is practically obsolete.
The vessels it describes belong to bygone
era. and already in substituting more modern
craft tor them no attempt has been made TO
follow its restrictions. Independently Of the
armed revenue cutters which patrol the lakes.
the Government has there one war vessel, the
Michigan. which is OF 45O tons measurement
and 6s5 tons displacement. She carries not
one gun. but four. Hence. both in tonnage
and armament she contravenes the treaty:
yet nobody calls In question the propriety OF
retaining her there. Indeed, memorial was
recently sent to Congress from Chicago de-
claring that the Mich igan will be subject OF
derision - among foreign nations when the
The fact that during the long stay OF the
Michigan on the lakes no protest to her pres
ence has been offered is proof that the treaty
stipulation Is practically obsolete. The Do
minion does not maintain any vessels on he
lakes, but 1t has taken care instead to SO on
large It's canals that they can admit to the
lakes British wal, vessels many times as large
and powerful as the treaty speaks Of
The treaty, moreover, provides that If either
party should hereafter be DESTROYS OF annuling
this m and should give police that
binding after the expiration of six months
from the date OF such notice" The time al.
is two years from the signing OF the contract.
Our Government. therefore. surprising that 1t
Of the to The Mehesn bdders
would only need. on making that award. to
serve a notice on the British Government that
from that time this instrument would cease to
be binding and year and a half would still
may be worth considering whether the Gov.
eminent ought not to take this occasion for
serving the notice any way. Put upon the
not to be debarred from making full use OF the
shipbuldinR facilities OF the lake States for its
replacing existing vessels which have become
to adopt craft OF the types com
there Would obviously be- nothipS eg unt9ie iS
But on the other hand 1t may be more de-
treaty stipulation. which Great Britain GER
tainly respects In her practical conduct by |
hat case. the Govefnment can rely e on The fact
that Its practice vessel is not to be maintained |
here. although as q matter Of courtesy and to |
tho purpose OF building this armed vessel on |
he lakes.
AS to the future floating defences of the |
axes. they may take the form OF torpedo boats |
These could be built in any required number |
and kept in one Of the lakes Of New York COM |
with Lake Ontario. For the float |
ng defences Of the upper lakes It would be |
practicable to use some Of the largest and |
strongest merchant vessels. arminR them with |
Iessels will increase In numbers and availa- |
oility The firm OF F. W. Wheeler 4 Co.. which. |
although long a constructor Of wooden yes |
jes, set up it's iron and steel shipbuildinp |
olant less than eighteen months ago. has al |
eady launched two steel steamers and has |
promising sign for the naval resources OF the |
Government in the Northwest that n firm in |
Michigan can furnish vessel like the one re- |
luired for the Naval Academy.