The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-13
REYE1UE CUTTsRs As P0ssrRL1 LAKE
~. g. ~, lE.EENDERA :.

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RtYE6UE CUTTERS As P0ssr1L1 LAxl
! ~ Is DEFENDERS. So.
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TIE Eew veesss r.er.sss re- I.s Isei.'
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WASHINGTON. Dee lA.-Thsre -, notice
able passage mtne section OF Secretary ros'
ters report treating ~ the revenue msrMe
wh'ch service ia now US hheherto. hnaer the
pana2ement OF inc IreaSnry Dmattmep'.
Heaaks Tor -FOUR new cutters whfch. 10 meef
any sudden cohtihgch'y' shouin possess
features that wculd enahie 'hem 10 answer
"demnnds other fhan those for as'sisfanco to
distresseh vessels anu the enforcement OF tne
customs revenue iayss. since the duetes thtrs
mentioned typify. IL they do notwhoty'nc
the services required OF tho revenue marine IN
unie of peace. ~ Js nnsnfhi TO surmise thnt the
additional functions suggested re'n TO to per.
siblc war service Two ri tho vessels asked
Tor nre. Intended foe the Pacliic coast md the
others Tor Lake Michigan ana Lake Oots.rio.
The new vessels are described ns able cruis'
ING steamers. OF those Tor the Pacific. ono n
expected to haro $50 tons displacement and
the other between 500 and OO0 OF those Tor
the lakes. tho Michigan cutter IL also to have
between 800 md 600 tons displacement ana
the Ontario about 800. Thus tho two larger
wond exc"ad In displacement the ennboafs
Piuta and PAlos. about neutrality-suspicious. and
nearly equal tho MichieAp. our present naval
vessel on Tho lakes. Thay wonfd DO immeas.
urably superior to my OF these In emctency.
being modern steel vessels. le - Proposed TO
secure speed for them OF fifteen Knots. which!
would much exceed that OF the Pctrea ana sur
pass even the contract req elremems OF the
newer Maohias. Tho vessels would also BE,
effective. through their large sadtua OF action.
Tho primary purpose urged In increasing
tho sizc and power OF the rev'nne cutters Is
that OF making them able to ren'!cr assistance
to merchant vessels Of any size and In heavy
weather. Not only is tho mercantile marine
growing on the lakes but the insSsaSa live YES.
new revenue cutter should be- biz enough to
riv Give any Of them mid in a storm. srne OF our,
Guitars ara unable 70 do tbis VT II safety TO
themselves tns,ose Ss "''''' " wv was ~
But there is anotl,cr important consideration.
pnder the treaty of 1917 an effective naval de-
fence Of the lakes is madc impossible. and the
shores and harbors in, some cases 'nre moo
wnony s"t M ~. loHnsu syey up, ."."
batteries. This treaty rrescr,ees tnae only q.
n.itas Sesso
britain or our own county on inc upper iaSes
tho limit Of tonnage and battrry i. sush
as N ,nnxe aueh n crnft ridiculous An
s a. var . snIp. FvcS til. old Michigan
y,chates the trentv In the excessof her battery
power For some reason our aovernmenthas
nssss for Giving notice. to wnss~ o
take special ratns not to tempt England on
her part to withdrawal. For fear OF seeming
10 oreak iaith u wo",a noe even peinN ,, the
new practice vessel to DO constructed In Mich.
.tannono,Is ora would navor hovs ,,oon n.ad
at Ahhnpons' anu "outu he. .. n1se Dcen useu
sesscs hundreds OF torpedo craft and small
v,,nhoats that conld he sent through fine al.
Lawrence and the canals OF Canada to the
great isEes sn0nd t9e treaty % 1,6r0garedt,
additional war ships on the lakes it may law
fully and properly put additional revenue cut
may be at once converted into Amcient gun 4