Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-12

be annual report Of the Secretary Of the
Nsry has been placed in the hands Of the Pres
deaf mich OF IL has been anticipated bv the
lublicatioa m advance OF the bureau reports
D. states thst on the s;h Of March. 1859. The
feei II the United States navy. apart from
20 I'D ships long since obsolete and fast going
decay, consisted Of three modern steel YES
IS q an aggregate tonnage OF 1853 tons. ard
pointing thirteen six-inch and four eight
n guns. the forRings for which last. as well
he shaf;iEs for the vessels. had been pur-
basel from abroad, as they could not be made
N this country.
During the presen. administration nineteen
vessels of the new navv have been put in COM
n'z-ion Of an aggregate tonnage Of "a. $40 tons.
iftilg altogether two l2-inch. siN i0-inch.
iK'e, s-inch and eighty-,wo 6-inch guns all
shish. with the exception of hve Of the
ATTEST, Rave been manufactured in this coun-
" Three new steel tugs have also been con
iTne'ed and put IN service during this period.
ieHrtrS VESSELS IN PROCESS OF coNsrKUc-
ZION.
there are also in process Of construction and
rtain 20 be completed eighteen vessels should
cir amor be delivered, within the next year,
an aggregate tonnage Of %. f97 tons and
counting altogether twelve l3-inch six l2-inch.
Ntscn iO-tnch. thirty s-inch. thirty-two 6-iuch.
arty-eight 5inch and thirty -four finch guns.
- which have been or are To be mauu!ac-
H4Trd IN this country. During this period
Nruty-nve vessels will have been launched.
irteen OF them. including the three tugs. dur
he current wear. aud Of all the new ships.
~ construction ~ which has been begun dur
II he present administration. only two will
suaain on the stocks ON the 4th of March next
The Secretary then gives in detail the great
progress made in psrfeciIng armor plates. tor
sd1e>, heavy uapId-fire guns. srmOr- piercing
shsus. smoseies- powder. high explosives. &c.
Do progress Of recent construction of war
.--sls l. also minGteIy given. indicating most
rtlTfac;crv results.
POLICY OF CONSTRUCTION.
another year of experience. Of discussion
and q criticism. both a: home and abroad
saws Secretary Tracy confirms the de partmen:
n The ,iev- which it adopted in the annual re-
Iort oi 1889 a. TO the policy of construction
vhich The Eavy should pursue. The policy
then advocated. which was radical departure
nom any view previously presented IN this
country. consisted In the production Of three
principal types: First. the armcrea battle ship
Of lU.OJl OF more tons: second. the armored
cruiser q from 5000 to 1900 tons. aud third.
ths commerce protecting and destroying
cruiser % extreme speed Of .. 200 tons.
The act Of March 3. 1891. authorized the
Postmaster General To enter into contracts with
American citizens for the carving of mails on
Of prompt and economical conversion into aux
ilary naval cruisers. and which might be taken
AMI Used b. the United States transports
and cruisers upon paymeut G. the owners OF
thor far and actual valre- Under tine terms
Of this act twenty-One vessels have been IL
sp.r;ei by the NAVY Department with a view to
entering into contracts for mail service.
Another act Of great importance. approved
Nav no. 1892. entitled Am set to encourage
American shipbuildins. provides tina; The See
t4Tv Of the Treasury shall be authorized to
grant glsterS n vessels Of the United States
81 certain foreign-built steamships Of rot less
than .OOO tons and capable % n speed not less
than twenty kuots. belonging o. foreign corpora
ions not les than - per cert Of who stock is
owned b. citizens u the United States upon
The acquisition Of a complete transfer and title
b. III American owners Of such majority in
tere>s &C. he steamers. with tins important pro-
WHOM. that the American owners shall build.
IN American shipyartl- steamships of an ag-
Eregate tonnage Of not loss than the amount
Of The steamships so admitted 20 registry. each
steamship 80 built and contracted FOR TO be
O. = tonnage OF not less than 1000 tons. The
act further provides that any steamship so
rsgi-tered may be taken and used by the L nited
stats a. = cruiser Or transport uPOa payment
the owners OF the actual value.
uder this laS IL l. understood hat the two
tsst steamers now engaged in Transatlantic
commerce. and probably the two fastest mer-
ehant steamers M the wOrld-one OF whlc i
u tensicai vessel referred TO III the report
for I--9. the City Of sri=-will be admitted to
American regIst- v. and in fuifllment Of the
condition preserved bv the law ~ number OF
by rot less than fOar) to be built in Amer
ieAn ship yards.
UNPROTECTED CRUISERS.
With reference 10 unprotected cruisers Of the
second class of rom 400 to 5000 tons dis
Placement. the Department does not recommend
am present increare of the number. These
ve-sel-. In order toattsin the high speed
quiref Of y cruiser. must necessarily sacrifice
coal endurance. and they have. therefore a very
restricted sphere of usefulness for cruising pur-
poe. in time OF war. Nor il II desirable TO add
O. ID. number OF heavily armed guuboats Of
tn Yorktown type which we nov have In the
sersice.
One weIl-deined TIVE. which has proved
h.gh.y succ- sful. J. that Of the torpedo cruiser
Of from 100 to coo tons. OF small size. of light
dra.t. speed q twenty-five knots. sufficient
eoai cap~cItv. rapid-hre guns aud powerful
tCrrsdo armament This l. the type Of vessel
thai ths department would suggest building
should Congress adopt it, recommendation to
increase the limit OF cost IN the vessel author
nsd by the act Of June 80. 1850. and several
-ach ,e-sel- would be- valuable addition to
IL naval force. both in peace and war.
he Secretary reuews the recommendation
maize act year for the building ~ four small
Neee4- uf special design Tor river service. Dur
irg the past year AFFAIRS in the east have been
quist. but disturbances may be again expected
u III near future. The necessity for these
ve--.l-. recommended last year VIII I'M
dolbtedly arise and become urgent before the
vc.-el- car be built. and u ], the firm belief Of
ths department. that no time should be lost in
unlertaking them They should be of about 200
tn displacement. with a speed Of II knots a
mAzinIm daft OF feet. battery Of rapid
e. guns and number of revolving cannon
sud mich ne guns. The recommendation Of
lat ear TOT the building of al least thirty tor
pe1o boats l. renewed
NECESSITY or NAVY.
III Secretary says thai the aggressive policy
% foreign nations. evidences % which have
ben pointed cut in my previous reports has
continued. and this country, whether it viii or
ne. viu soJn be forced into POSITION where II
saulut disregard measures which form "a stand
m n~uace 10 lie prof. Gritty and security. ON
"a hmu- our commerce l. engaged in a de,-
PIRATE night &c maintain it foothold. In the
south Pacific repeated anreXauons and pro-
sctuTatss are extending the power and in
nuence Of the maritime states Of the old world
Sub.idixsd lines of fast steamers are complet-
ing he circle % maritime communication on
tn eastern and western coasts 81 the Dominion
Of Canada. and fortresses daily increasing In
Strength surrounding Our coast upon the
nh and the east Under these circums tauces
imperative To the Welfare II this country
at he policy OF naval Reconstruction 80 sue