New-York tribune., 1890-04-03
NEW NAVAL VESSELS NEEDED.
FIRSTCLASS BATTLE-SHIPS TO COPE WITH
FOREIGN FOES.
THE HOUSE NAVAL COMMITTEE REC0MMEN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE sDA-GOINS
CoAST.LINE SHIPS OF THE MOST
APPROVED TYPE.

Washington, April (speciaD.-The action OF the
House Committee Naval Affairs on the Naval Appro-
pration bill Is attracting considerable attention mere
and its publication is awaited with good deal OF
Interest among Naval officers and Others who favor
the greatest practicable speed in the increase ana
development Of tho new Navy From AN advance
COPY Of the report the following extract is taken to
show tho reasons which controlled the recommended
tons OF the committee in regard to the authorizing
OF ships:
in determining to the recommendations Tor further
increase OF the Navy the committee have considered h'
fact that up the present time. while we have produced
or authorized OF the finest war vessels OF their re-
nectye typo from the pioneer steel dispatch boat Dol
phn and gunboats to the great cruisers OF high
speed nd the coast defence vessels OF 1000 to 1000
tons. such the Monterey. Maine ana Texas We nave
not yet attempted build any hr'clasS lighting ships
tho, c,n take the sea and hold nj bay defeat surt
heavily armed and armorcd foreign vessels as would
inevitably be AGAINST us In case Of war ana u + to
provide against the exsenccs OF war that We bud ana
maintain u navy.
we have now reached point in the development OF
facltle. and CAPABILITIES for building modern ships OF
war where VIC fully warranted IN beginning the
construction OF u moderate number OF SHIPS powerful
enough to afford real protection to our coast and habors
such vessels must able to 60 70 sra to drive OF an
cpemy to br,aS blockade. prevent the bombariment
of our rors While Objections both practical and senti-
mental are urged against tie construction OF fleets OF
great battle ships cruise all over the globe caon
md on,irt co bnc I'm fayo-nr the establishment OF
rower squadron OF defence ha Will b. abb TO prote
our own from ASSAULT that NAV be made bV
sea- IL I. not policy TO seek to RIVAL IN numbers the
great naval aramcnts Of Eu1one but the commoc con-
cevc the purpose Of peooc to be that such shr a.
se bu,d shall be the best their kind and must
have some nehtng ships that can stand against any tina;
they may have to encounter
With this view committee recommend The consjfuc-
ton OF three scagolng coastnc tateshps designed %
carry the heaviest amor and powerful ordnance upon
displacement Of $500 with coal endurance
OF coo knots at the most economical rae Of speed
and To have the highest speed atanabc without sacrifice
OF offensive and defensive lowcr Such vessels, by the
saving Of COAL compareo with those designed
for cruising distances from their base Of supplies can
carry heavier armor aad enna and yet have SUI
nc.ent to part Of our coast or ada
cent waters from Nova Scotia the Jfhmu, and feet
Of such battlsships could rapidly coLccn.iaH az any
threatened poin, on sc&boafG Such lo't Of sea-
going ships be Infinitely economical than the
attempt sufficient force OF smootwa;cr lon-
clads each OF important har"gs. and they would b'
able destroy the bases - supple Oh o. near
our coast upon which foreign nsHi aesr'sson would
depend.
The recommendation Of these ships carrie. with it no
dispaagemcnt the monitor type Of habodoncc YES
sells in fact 1t OF prdo t. all Americans that
the most formidable designs for t~ batca'p u to-day
represents substantially sca-coing improvement Of the
doublc.turrctod monitor OF Ecs'on. The 10" fneboai
is abapdoned in order TO steam and Arht in The o9n sea-
but the two.turrcts system With nearly aii-IOund
fire. Is adhered the best arrangement that has been
devised The committee have deemed tAci ia 1sw 81 the
Ter 9Th Of required construct thce trirl ship,
the present authorization Of thN q n Ia i H-cou' and
desirable The expenditure for them viii probably BE- dis
tr.sted over four or nye ycar annual outlay
will not be excessive.
In addition, committee recommend the construction
OF an armored OF about 1900 tons 70 have speed
OF not Jess than twenty This vessel il Of very
formidable and effective typ, Of cruiser intended carr
side and defective and hcay hchpoNcr and -ct-
ondary batteries For the protection OF our commerce
from foreign cruisers destioyn7 the commerce of
an enemy the vessel. Of this class are most valuable