The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-12-12

OF the sixtcsl completed vessels of the new
navy, thirteen have been commissioned during
the present administration and four during the
past year. The work the three great battle
ships, the Indiana. Massachusetts, and Oregon, Is
going forward rapidly. and. according to present
probabilities they will be ready for service early
in 1884, The Monterey is ready to receive her
armor and will be completed next year, while
the powerful cruiser New York. which was
launched the other day, will be ready for serv-
ice in January, 1875. Next TO the three battle
ships. she will be the largest and most formida-
BILE ship of the new navy, and will he able to
hold her own it is thought. against any vessel of
her size afioat. Work on all the other ships ex-
cept the proposed torpedo cruiser, the mate to
the Cushing, is being pushed rapidly pos
sible The appropriation for the torpedo cruiser
tSy5OOOl was too small, the secretary having
been unable 10 get any bids for its construction
within that limit
MORE sHIPs NEEDED.
Secretary Tracy insists that more ships are
necessary il the United States desires to secure
and retain her share Of the commerce Of the
world. On this point he says:
The course of events during the past year has
shown anew the necessity of continuing the
development OF the navy; The demands upon
II have been constant. and they are constantly
growing The rapid extension Of commercial
relations has doubled the Importance of our in
terests especially in the Pacific. 1t was said a
Some day or other there will be great rivalry
of three or four nations in the Pacific for the
commerce of those seas. and the country which
has cultivated its strength with n view to that
contingency will carry off a chief part of the
prize" The rivalry has already begun, and the
signs are evident on every hand of sharp com
petition aPPar=sn, = trat an rae ,nd,x merantne sn
larging their fields of activity with 4 more
aggressive energy than ever before No one
can fail TO observe the indications Of system
f;, affin IN taEn aivaDfn.rp of tho disturbed
conditions now prevailing in many OF the small
er states In this movement naval ascendency
plays large part; Inc Gohseduences s are not
commercial supremacy by European power in
any state of the western hemisphere means
the exclusion of American influence and the
virtual destruction, as far that state is con.
cerned, of independent existence. With the
great maritime powers it IL only step from
commercial control to territorial control IL
that most important agency in the commercial
development of the United States. the Mica
ragua canal, were completed. the strategic
situation would be largely modified. At the
present time the two seaboards are 80 remote
that each requires a separate system OF naval
defense Each has its vulnerable points, and
each has neighbors that are well prepared for
offensive movements There is a circle of in
sular fortresses facing our Atlantic seabOard
the sole object of Whose existence Is to maintain
naval outposts at our doors. There are states in
the Pacific-and not large states either-whose
fleets are more powerful than any force that we
could readily bring to meet them To protect
either seaboard, even when our present author
lied fleet is completed. will involve stripping the
other at a critical moment.
Even il it were impossible to involve this
country in war without its consent, there are sit
uations in which that consent would be given by
| a unanimous popular voice. There are outrages
which can not go unredressed; there are lnJu-
| ries 20 which no nation can afford TO submit.
StSant, nat;onaI Se,ense There are ele-
menfs OF danger at all times for American inter
eSt5 and at any moment these elements may Ire
rendered tenfold more active by European
He favors the construction Of more vessels Of
the Indiana type
Its only bv the possession Of ships Of this type
that the defensive strength OF the United
States can readily he measured. We may have
many medium sized cruisers of 5Dtons or be-
low. which perform useful service in time OF
peace in carrying the nag about the world;
which give practical training to officers and
men and which perform important auxiliary
service in war. But when opposed to armored
ships these vessels can not be counted As an
element of force.
THE GILLIAN TROUBLE
Secretary Tracy devotes considerable space
to the Chilian trouble. and gives detailed ac-
count of the attack on the sailors of the cruiser
Baltimore. Numerous accounts have beer
published of this incident, but this one is tht
| result of full and official investigation. and
co1'tains many points which have not before
beea made public. The secretary says:
At2p m on the 10th Of October the Balti
/ more being then at anchor in the harbOr Of Val
| paraiso number of searnen belonging to ths
/ ship went on shore in uniform for liberty, in az
/ cordance with the universal practice prevailing
| on board ships of war in foreign ports Two
| weeks had passed since the surrender OF Val
paraiso to the congressionalist leaders, and tbs
| city was quiet Other foreign war-ships in th'
harbor had already given liberty to their crews
and no reason existed for Withholding hk'
| privilege from the crew OF the Baltimore.
Ate p. m the men had been ashore foul
hours It is the general testimony that they
had been during this period. and were then
orderly, sober and well behaved The ms
| encounter appears to have taken place at thu
/ time between one of the crew of the Balti
/ more and Chilian, who spat In bis Ace Ins
sailor knocked the Chilian down, and wa
] another OF the Baltimors's crew, by an angrl
| crowd. The two sailors took refuge IN Q passini
J stssst car. They ware dragged from the car %