New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-20
GROWTH OF THE NAVY.
MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT IN THE LAST
TWELVE MONTHS
TIE NUMBER OF VESSELS LAUNCHED AND IN
PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION 3 IMPROVE
MENrs IN oRDNANcE-THE SUPERB
oRITY OF NICKEL ARMoR-sTEEL
WORK ENCOURAGED.
WORK ENCOURAGED.
UY rE,xarAru no rHs rRrpuxaS

Oh1TY OF NICKEL AhMOh-oAGCA
WORK ENCOURAGED.
-fsY rEaxoRArH no rHs TRrDuHh'
Washington, Oct 10 (speciaD.-A years progress
In the American Navy so necessarily represents 1"o
experience and experiments OF previous years anu
even perhaps Of former Administrations, that any 70
view Of such progress must regard those Influences
good deal proposed in other times has been carried
into eject and theories Of yesterday have the test OF
practical dsmonstranon Of to-day. During the last
twelve months material advancemeDt has been made
in Naval matters In the United States. Wmle FORMER
observation ct homo and abroad has lea to the adop
ton Of methods and material the year has bccn marked
by an unusual spirit Of progression in the rejection.
undcr the same influence OF whatever IN foreign
services was not above question No greater evidence
OF material progress can be shown than that the
Naval authorities not too READY TO accept the idea
OF European constructors. Time was when the Eng
lish service took the initiative. The adoption OF
type Of vessel OF style OF gun or OF class OF afma-
meut BY the British constructors seemed 10 remove
that particular type style class from the province
OF criticism The srcst proof that advancement has
been made In American Naval matters cposes IN tne
fact that the service has shown an independence In It's
administration. 1t is destined at last TO take ds-
ninsd place among Naval Powers with any OF which
II may already be fearessly compared at least In point
Of ordnance.
The moral erect Of the appearance OF American
men war in foreign waters las been realized Our
consus report the greatest respect for this country
manifested along the route Of the Squadron Of Evou-
ton To the public whose ides OF the Navy Is based
on the catoonsts' favorte emblem. tub the indlca
tton of proeress Is the number OF vessels added TO the
service There have been three cruisers launched
during the yearthe Concord, at Chester, Penn March
8; the Newark. at Philadelphia. March 10; the Ben
nngton at Chester. Penn. June 3. The armored
cruiser Maine being built at the Yard viii
be launched next month. The torpedo boat Cushing
was purchased by the Department last March, from
the builders. Herreshor Manufacturing Company,
while the Charleston Vesuvius. Petrol and Baltimore
may be said to been added To the active list OF
the Navy during the last twelve months.
The vessels under construction, 1t is hoped and in
tended will be completed before the end Of the present
Administration. The plans are prepared by construct
ors at the Department, and represent vast deal Of
technical labor and research Opinion Is divided among
experts regarding the most efficient type Of vessel
There is always likely to be division on the purposes
OF navy. Those who believe that security at nome
and respect abroad must come from defensive Navy
srsue for a return to the monitor type, which, with
ecient ordnance sustained by coast defences may
be kent at the entrance Of harbor. Dthers hold that
the cruiser heavily protected and highly ordnanced Is
indispensable to on offensive navy. There are GOOD
authorities on both sdes and the decision must regard
each At present there seems little Likelihood OF inc
monitor type more than surviving the opposition evil
denced by this Administration
nearing completion seventeen vessels authorized b pre-
vous Congresses OF these, there arc eight CRUISERS
nve of which are protected steel practice vessel
two steel gun vessels, one coastdefcnce vessel one
battIeship and four monitors. In addition TO ths the
Naval Appropriation bin for this year approprates for
increase Of the Navy follows Three coastline-
ofbatte ships, $l2,OO0,OOO; one protected cruiser
a. $50 600 one torpedo cruiser S35O0o0 one torpedo
boat 1925 900. These amounts represent the limit OF
cost and do not include armament
while the United States is exceeded in the volume
and expense Of construction by England, France
Portugal and perhaps Russia, none OF these countries
nrcns evidences Of greater advancement in that work
or as great advancement In certain lines Dnr1ng me
vear the domestic manufacture Of ordnance has been
developed commenMrately with the demand Inc
plant ut the Washington Yard has been strenghehoa
by the addition Of machinery, including the finest ma
chine lathe ever made in this country. The ordnance
shop has reached that efficiency by which 1t can furnish
the outts Of the vessels fast they are reured
The manufacture Of American guns has been
creditabe feature In the years work Virtually new
industry, It has not taken on an experimental phase
The service has had such difficulties with lts guns
as has the English Navy. The 11Otons OF the lat'er
service are pronounced faulty. In the American Navy
three corresponding 1oinch guns will put little moro
weight on board ship than the English 11Ogun, be-
sides being easier and quicker to manoeuvre ana VI
superior endurance. Other advancements OF the year
In ordnance have been the enghening OF the bore OF
guns the improvements In rapid firing guns and the
development of the 1O-nch gun. All have contributed
10 general efficiency in ordnance that Is only equaeo
by the demonstrations In armor.
After all the experiments abroad, It left to the
American service in its nitisl test to develop the
superiority OF nickel armor The readiness Win WHICH
Congress accepted the situation and Appropriated
81 900 for the purchase of nickel orc to be utilized
as an alloy In armOr plate marked a spirit OF ap
probation not usually attributed to that body. The
a<o ontion ~ MIA
in position of defence before the most powerful
armament OF the seas. The fact that domestic
ordnance In its latest and best state can perorate the
compound apfnor OF the British service has also been
developed while a sense Of security comes from the
fact that English ordnance does not present power
and certainty characteristic Of American guns.
No great developments have been made in smoke
LEGS powder although experiments constant One
torpedo, the Patrick, has been added 70 the service
The question OF smaller calhre for rifles remains 10
be decided. The matter requires the mutual actlon
OF tie War and Navy Departments. and the delay up
to this time has been caused by difficulty In the de-
livery Of the powder Under the fostering cure OF the
Department the supply OF powder for use In the scr
vice has been confined to American manufacturers
The Department has returned TO the old style OF
anchor after experimenting with new Inventions
new compromising binnacle has been adopted. and
81 stem Of instruction TO navGatcrs inaugurated Inc
adjustment of the compass has become a work OF
great importance for the distractng influences Of
changes OF latitude have been Increased by the intro
duction Of metal in shipbLildnG equipment The
errors in the compass are DIRECTED by mathematical
calculation, and the new conpass, the Invention OF
two officers OF the service, is intended to be capable
OF ne adjustments necessary to accurate navigation
Work ut the Navy yords has only been such In most
cases as would keep them In good condition. Electric
light plants have been placed In active operation at
Boston and Mare Island Navy Yards and preparations
are making 10 establish plants at New-York and Nor
folk. The intention is to have the plants servo
for Illuminating purpose by night and as motive
power by day. The uses Of electricity during the
year have been increased In the Navy. TO II may be
attributable the search lights OF the modern cruiser
Motors on shipboard are used for driving fans, for
hoists and In the Chicago motor has been used for
training one of the lxrge guns Electric welding has
come into practice. and the work once the labor OF