The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-07

Cnusetts' OIeSou, pToteCbco cruiser NO. IL,
torpedo cruiser, torpedoboat No q
Act Of March 9, ls91-Protected cruiser
No. Is.
All the above vessels, with the exception
Of the torpedo cruiser, already referred to,
are making rapid and substantial progress.
PRoJEcTILEs.
Until the present year the United States
has been entirely destitute Of any armor-
piercing projectiles. It was stated In the
last report that contract had been made
for quantity of armor- piercing shell
manufactured Ia America by one of the
foreign processes. All the 6-inch and about
one-hah Of the S-inch shell under that con-
tract have been delivered and have passed
the required tests, and are now issued TO
ships as required. The Carpenter Steel
Company, the firm which is manufaot-
uring these projectiles, has made gradual
departures from the original designs, which
have resulted in distinct improvements; and
the difference in the effective force of the
navy to-day as compared with Its situation
year ago, when it had not a single pro-
jectile that could pierce modern armor, is
incalculable. 1t may be added that this
change, little more than a revolution, by
which we may obtain in America all the
armorspiercing she'll that we need, has been
brought about at very moderate expendi-
ture.
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
The old wooden ships Of the navy have
now practically passed out Of existence.
They no longer count even as a nominal
factor 10 naval defense. The sole reliance
Of the United States to-day for the protec-
tion of its exposed seaboard is the new fleet
This has advanced slowly, but its develop.
ment has been sure. It is a novel branch
of industry. but there have been no failures
thus far, and the outlook for the sbips still
In progress is satisfactory. II may fairly
be claimed for the work Of reconstruction
in the future that It will not fall behind the
measure Of success attained up to the pres
ent time.
The course of events during the past year
has shown anew the necessity of continuing
the development of the navy. The demands
upon it have been constant, and they are
constantly growing. The rapid extension
OF commercial relations has doubled the
Importance Of our interests, especially in
the Pacific. 1t was said few years ago,
by a keen foreign observes "Some day or
other there will be great rivalry of three
or four nations In the Pacific for the com-
merce Of those seas, and the country which
has cultivated its strength with view TO
that contingency will carry of a chief part
OF the prize" The rivalry has already be-
hand OF sharp competition.
MORE VESSELS RECOMMENDED.
The estimates for increase Of the Navy
for the coming year, including hull, ma
chinery, armor, armament, and equipment,
show a reduction of $500, 600 below the
appropriations for the current year, or Sl2,-
100000 in place of S17,600,o 900. A much
larger reduction will take place in the fol-
yUh mi thofa I.xo
plete all the work In progress under exist
ing authorizations OF congress. In view of
the large reduction in current estimates
and the still larger reductions In the i'm
mediate future, 1t would seem that some
new construction might properly and safely
be authorized during the present session.
The department also recommends the
| early construction of large armored
cruiser, similar in general design to the Now
York. This magnificent vessel, whose func.
tions cover far wider range than those OF
an ordinary cruiser, presents an extraordi.
nary combination OF great coal endurance
high speed, and efficient armor protection.
When to this combination is added main
battery OF Six 8-inch rifles, and twelve
heavy raptd-tire guns, she becomes one OF
the most formidable vessels in our own OF
any other navy, and one that can be
brought into use for any kind Of service
w Abu bhO CACcDbAUIl Oh WIG tuEeB bQIp6 OF tnf
Indiana class, she is the most important
element OF defensive strength which this
country now possesses.
EMITTED MRN.
In the annual report for 1889 the conti.
ton of the enlisted man was fully discussed
l desire to renew the recommendation
made at that time, and especially that the
number OF apprentices be increased from
$50, as now allowed by law, TO 1,50O The
measures proposed two years ago for the
purpose of securing a more permanent Gloss
| tn the corps of enlisted men are again recon-
mended. and 1t is strongly urged that the
principle be adopted of retaining the sery-
ices Of the men for life by substituting O
plan of continuous service for the present
method OF temporary enlistment The de-
partment believes that for emergencies o
four years. term of enlistment should be
adopted, and recommends that the laws re-
lating to honorable discharges after three
years Of service, and TO allowances upon a
three years re-enllstment, be amended &C.
cordinglY.
COST OF NEW VESSELS.
navy, excluding tugs, from beginning to
final completion, covering operations from
the fiscal year 18S3-'84 to 1S94-'95, aggre.
gates. during the twelve years, total Of
S69, ,993 1882, or considerably less than
sc, ,000O 600 year. The vessels included In
this statement are forty in number, with an
aggregate tonnage of 155, ,S20 tons.
When it is considered that at the time of
beginning the first four cruisers not O single
steel ship bad been built in this country,
that no vessels. either Of steel or of iron,
had been constructed by the navy since the
war, with the exception Of three small
third-class iron gunboAts built In 1874, and
that the whole work upon these ships repre-
sented practically a new branch of manu-.
facture. the stupendous character of the re-
suits accomplished may be appreciated. For
the mechanical work actually done, the fig
ures are reasonable, while the moral
result, which has been to raise this country
from position of absolute dofenselessness
to that OF a respectable naval power, has
been out OF all proportion to the annual
charge upon the revenues. No other ex-
pendture Of The government, of equal
amount, during the period has been more
productive Of benefit than tnat which has
been devoted to tho construction of an
American navy, out of American material.
and by American labor.
NAVY ESTIMATES.
The total estimate for the navy for tho
next fiscal year, including both running ex-
penses and Increase Of the navy" is $27,
1874, $50 so, as against the appropriation OF
$50, ,526, ,145 Is of last year, being an ag-
gregate reduction in current estimates be-
low the last years appropriation of S., ,331. =
sos SO.