New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-12

o,tbe number. These vessels, In order to attain the
mn speed required OF cruiser, must necessary SUI.
rice coal endurance, ana they ave r,anS pnrposes
rthcted sphere Of usefulness for cruising PSSip,n'
1, time Of war They answer satisfactorily Wv ~,
led demand for hagships upon regular sa,Hh, mn III
,me of peace but IL is not upon these vesscJS lhdt
ne United states would place reliance IN cusr VI VI
atack from maritime Power Nor IS IL de,itaC 10 ~
did the number Of heavily armed euhD1a's vi r
yorktown type which we now nave III inc 49, %;
may d be nat o5J Pe tons on @
lrely with rapid fire guns and OF great speeqi ~,c q,
great distances but unt this typo Is more July de
'veoped It IS undesirable TO advance IN that afecnp
0ee Teaf an Of yP e o MSn cruiser Of from 500
to 900 TONS OF small size of light draught. speea
Of twenty-five knots sufficient coal capacy' TIKI Tis
as stated In my report last year. Is the type ~ vessel
that the Department would suggest ouliding shoulu
congress adopt its recommendation to increase the
limit Of in the vessel authorized by The act OF
valuable addition to the naval force both la peace
and war, ,.,o ,orov ,hs recommendation made last
year for the building OF small vessels Of special Design
Tor rycr service During tho last year affairs In tile
East have been quiet, but disturbances may be again
these waters has lately been condemned and ordered
to be sold and another 1s End sale IS prob
able. The necessity for these vessels recomHenned
before the vessels be built and i Is the Arm belief
of Department that no time should be lost IN unuer
taking them thy s0 ees % 9e 81 aSSs ma SHaS
drauct OF feet n battery OF rapid fire guns and num-
her If revolving
be iHexpensvo vessels well adapted for the service and
so constructed to last for long time. the general
considered in the Department, and, athoaga they
represent great advance on ANYTHING hitherto t e,
6 for ss w shHs Rssep light would
permit OF their being built on our inland waters .
would also renew the recommendation previously
made for the building of torpedo boats. 4 supply OF
American topedocs Is now at hand ana tine L te
states cannot afford to be any longer dss sns GI S
such bouts should be constructed in the immediate
future. 1t is to be hoped that in their construction
In that of Torpedo Boat No. ., now building at
Dubuque Ia the resources Of the Interior Will be drawn
Although the Government and people Of the United
States have to congratulate themselves upon the
marvellous progress which the mechanical skill OF
America has enabled them to make In the reconsruc-
ton of their Navy must not be supposed that the
work has been completed. While progress. from
the fact that 1t proceeded from small beginning
almost, 1t might be said from nothing-has been
startlingly rapid and successful other nations build
ing upon wel-estabshed foundations have not been
Idle and the United states IS by no means yet In a
condition OF adequate defence.
In the mean time the aggressive policy Of foreign
nations evidences Of which have been pointed ont in
my previous reports has continued and this country.
6n %here W 3T T 9s %hc @
standing menace to ITS prosperity ana od security ON
repeated annexatlons and prectorates are extending
the power and influence OF the maritime States Of the
Old World. subsidized lines OF fast steamers are com
pletlng the circle OF maritime communication on the
eastern and western coasts Of the Dominion OF Canada
rounding upon the south and the east Under
these circumstances 1t is imperative to the welfare OF
this country that the policy Of naval reconstruction. so
successfully carried on in the past should suffer no In,
terrupton in the future; that the vast numbers OF
Skilled artisans who have been trained In It's work
shops and In those Of private manufacturers concerned
IN its operations, should not be thrown ont
have now been overcome, should not be suffered TO
langIish when every day shows improvement both
in economy and ~ DISPATCH and that with only two
vessels remaining the stocks will shortly be the
case some further additions should be made by Con-
gress at the present session.