Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-03

TO emphasize the feature of coal endurance 70
the extent OF any such extraordinary figure as
mas been attained in the New York and in No. 6
and sui more in No. H. This feature has not
| been sighted, however for the radius of one
ration OF the ship is 5000 miles, equal to that
OF many cruisers; but ID is not the principal
feature. The first object Of these vessels is to
nght, and fighting machines they will be, of
the highest efficiency. As with coal endurance
so with speed. The speed Of the battle ships
has not been neglected, being sixteen and one
nrtn knots as q maximum and fifteen knots
sustained sea speed, but it has not been made
the main object. II is not necessity, as in
the case OF cruisers; the duty of the battle ships
Is TO night. not to run, and these ships will
never have occasion to run from a hostile feet
OF equal or even slightly superior numbers,
whatever the vessels of which that fleet is COM
posed. They are the first United States ves-
which the war compelled US to obtain in adj
vance of other states, Of which this fact could
be asserted.
The department regards these vessels with
peculiar interest, for they were only acquiesced
In upon its earnest solicitation and in the face
OF many misgiyings. to which free utterance
was given both in Congress and in the press As
designed they challenge comparison with the
battle ships of the world. There are others in
existence of greater size; none of greater
power or efficiency. Nor can it be doubted by
any one who has watched the progress of naval
construction in America that their perform
ance, when the work is completed. will equal
the highest expectations that are formed of
them today.
CRUISER no. IL.
In cruiser No. II (the three-screw ship the de-
partment has sought to produce a vessel abso-
lutely without parallel among the war ships Of
the world. The combination here made unites a
sufficient armament with complete protection
against light guns. while at the same time the
hav n and n on1r,
ance hitherto unknown in ships of war. She
VIII be match for the most swift transatlantic
liner afioat today, carrying any armament of
which such n vessel is capable. No merchant
vessel that she meets, armed or unarmcd. can
escape from her.
This ship. SO powerful in offensive force as
to equal all ordinary cruisers, so well protected
as to be hardly vulle rable to the lighter class
OF guns, SO abundGntly supplied with separate
engines as to be incapable of being wholly dis
abled, can steam completely round the world
without touching at any point for coal and with
out receiving fresh supplies from golfers; and
yet when the occasion arises she can overtake
with ease the feetest of the ocean greyhounds.
Six such ships would exterminate the commerce
OF any country under the present conditions of
commerce protection, and would thus, under
these conditions, absolutely preclude attack
from commercial state. however threatening
III its demands, powerful in it, armored feet or
aggressive in its foreign policy.
THE PROPOSED NAVAL REVIEW.
Finally, the Secretary quotes the act of Con-
gress of April rs. 80, providing for a great
naval review in 1898 in connection with the Co.
lumbar exposition, and says: The rapidity
with which construction has proceeded during
the past year and the promising outlook for
the coming two years are such that if no delay
Is caused by failure Of appropriations in the
completion OF the contracts now outstanding,
the department can safely present its list of
vessels. which, with the exception of those re-
quired for service at the time. will take part in
the projected review of 1885, the grandets naval
demonstration that, up to that time, will have
taken place upon the western hemisphere.
THE NEW VESSELS THAT WILL APPEAR.
He then presents a table showing the new
vessels that will, it is expected, be ready in
time for the review. OF the armored vessels
there are four first raters. New York. Maine.
Texas, Puritan: second rate. Monterey, Am
phitrlte. MiantonOmah. MonadnOck and Terror:
third rate. harbor defense ram. Unarmored
vessels-First rate, cruiser II; second rate
Chicago. Baltimore. Philadelphia, Newark, San
Francisco, Charleston, Boston, Atlanta Raleigh
and Cincinnati; third rate. cruisers ., 10. IL,
Bennington, Concord, Yorktown, Dolphin
gunboats and 6; fourth rate, Vesuvius. Petrol,
practice vessel, torpedo cruiser Cushing and
torpedo boat No. 2. This makes ten armored
and twenty-six unarmored vessels. or thirty
SIX ships In all, representing the latest ideas in
naval architecture.