The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-11
Our Next Group Of War Ships.

yet be requisite.
Our Next Group OF War Ships.
1t is now clear that the vessels which the
Fifty-sccond Congress will be asked to
authorize are to be gunboats OF about ZOO
or 1900 tons displacement.
Tho type proposed will be rather larger
than the Petrol. which Is OF 1856 tons. and the
practice vessel. sometimes called by antlcl-
patton the Bancroft. which Is OF S3s. On the
other hand. it will not equal in size the
Yorktown class. which are OF 1,70S tons each.
or tho Dolphin. 1900 tons. But tho Dolphin
is special service craft. and the three OF
the Yorktown class could now be improved
upon in the steady advance Of naval con-
struction. The vessels most nearly resem-
bling tho new group to DO proposed are tho
two l.05O-ton gunboats undcr construction
by tho Bath Iron Company.
Several considerations favor the adoption
OF this policy. Perhaps, to begin with.
1t Is feared that the reaction In tho present
Congress against its predecessor Of billion
notoriety may extend even to the subject
OF naval construction, really one Of the
most legitimate paths for liberal expen-
diture to take. Under the system OF in
stallment payments the stipulated annual
appropriations for the three great battle
ships, the two fast triplo-screw cruisers.
the 6.5oo-ton ship. the finc armored cruiser
New York. the armorclad Maine and Texas.
and the double-turret monitors must be
heavy. 80 that Congress will probably well
come type Of vessels that will allow 1t to
add its quota to the list Of new vessels at a
very small additional expense. The Indiana
Is fine battle ship. but will cost $3.06S. 1888 !:
the Pirate is splendid cruiser. but will
cost $2.725.O0o. The two gunboats under con-
struction by the Bath Iron Works cost only
$91s.5OO each. Nearly ten Of these. there
fore. could DO built for the cost Of one
Indiana. and nearly nine for the cost Of one
pirate"
But more important consideration Is that
these small gunboato are very much need
ed. The urgent want Of our navy just now
is that Of vessels enough for the foreign
stations. Ten gunbosts would be more USE
full for the moment than one great battle
ship. For tho police and patrol duty re-
qulred Of them. In some places. the small
craft would even be better than the large.
The Petrol can 60 on the Yangtse River
In China. where tho Massachusetts or New
York could not. In chasing poachers
around the passes leading from Behring
Sea, vessel like the Petrol would also have
obvious advantages. When troubles arise in
Samoa, or Honolulu. or Hayti. or along the
coast Of Salvador or Guatemala. the great
necessity is to have vessel at hand to look
after the lives and property Of American
citizens. For this purpose q l.OOo-ton gun
boat may be as effective as 10. o00-ton bat
tie ship. The latter requires long time for
its construction. and Is 90 expensive to
maintain that but few vessels Of this sort
are undertaken In our country.
Indeed. one Of the foremost recommenda-
lions Of the new typo is that II half dozen
OF them should be authorized by Congress
next winter, they would soon be In service.
In that way 1t would be possible to make
net gain In our numerical naval force:
whereas the long time required for con-
structing bigger ships forbids even an Offset
for the constant discarding Of the WORKOUT
wooden craft. Still another important
point Is that the small vessels require only
small crews. and hence can be rapidly sup
piled with their compliments and sent of
to duty. whereas even ship like the Chlca-
time In order to gather up men enough.
With the Same aggregate force Of enlisted
men larger number Of stations and har-
bors can DO occupied. and more officers can
receive practice In the command of vessels.
It must not be supposed that these
small gunboats will be inefficient on account
Of their size. The two building In Maine.
now known as No. s and No. 8. have triple
expansion engines that yield collective
horse power of 1000. They each carry eight
finch rapid-fre guns. which. from the guam
tity Of projectiles they can discharge within
a given time. are sufficiently formidable
weapons In contendlng with unarmored
vessels like themselves. BY giving the new
gunboats little more displacement still
higher speed might be achieved. with an
equal battery power and not much increase
In cost. This accordingly appears to be q
type of vessel which would be Of great Inn
mediate use In our navy.