The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-12
GOOD SHOWINGOF THE NAVY
Condition 'of Our Battle-Ships as Seen
By Secretary Tracy's Report.
Description of the War Vessels Now Able to Do
Duty for Uncle Sam and Something About
Those We Are Greatly in Need OF.
Special to the indianapolis. JOurual

vessels of the new navy were put in COM
mission during the present administration,
of an aggregate tonnage of 544. s3o, mount
ing altogether two tweive-inch. six ten
inch. sixteen eight-inch and eighty two
six-inch guns. all of which. with the ex-
ception of five of the earliest, ave been
manufactured in this country. Eighteen
vessels are in process of construction and
certain TO be completed. should their aymor
be delivered, within the next year. These
have an aggregate tonnage of 90. Az, and
mount altogether twelve thirteen-inch, six
tweive-incb, sixteen ten-inch, thirty-elght
fvc-inch and thIrJy-four four-inch guns,
all OF which ave been or are to be manu-
featured IN this country. Our new navy.
including all vessels bnilt or authorized.
now consists of the following vessels:
One ~sea-going battle ship first
class. Iowa: three ooast-line bat
tle-ships (frst-class). Massachusetts,, In
diana and Oregon; two battie-ships. Sec
ond class, Maine and Texas; SIX double
turreted hsfSor and defense vessels. Purl-
tan. Monterey. Miantonomoh. Monadnock.
Terror and AmphitrIte; two m ed
cruisers. New York and Brooklyn; one ram:
two protected cruisers of extreme speed.
Columbia and Minneapolis: fourteen cruIs-
ers. Oily Baltimore. Chicago. Phils-
dolphin. san Francisco, Newark. Charles
ton, Boston. Atlanta. Cincinnati. Raleigh,
Detroit. Montgomery. and Marbiehead
one dispatch boat. Dolphin; six gun-boats,
Yorktown. Concord. Bennington. Macbias,
Calais and Petrol; one dynamite vessel.
besuvius; one practice vessel. Bancroft;
two torpedo boats, Cushing and No. 2,
making n total of sixty-two vessels.
wOTrn HAVE RFFS PARAIYZED.
The development of the past four years
the beginning of this administrations the
naval establishment was entirely destitute
CT certain elements of efficiency. each one
of which was indispensable to it's practical
employment as o lighting force. and the
absence of which. even If we bad been DOS
sessed of q hundred ships, would still have
left the navy in = condition OF paralysis.
These were the following: Armor torpedo
and heavy ~rapld-hre. guns. armor-piercing
shells, smokeless powder and high explo-
sives.
The Secretary next notes that the United
States has emerged from its condition of
helplessness at sea IN this respect, and.b by
the emDloyment of Its own resources, has
distanced Its more experienced competi-
tors. thus marking an epoch IN the naval
development not only of this country but
of the world. Mr.. Tracy speaks
of the progress or recent construc-
tion, and reports the different stages
of completion the various vessels
now being built have reached. The delays
In the delivery of armor. he says, have
caused the dates of final completion of the
armored vessels under construction to be
somewhat later than was at FIRST cOntem-
plated, but there has boon some compensa-
tion for this delay in the superior quality
of the armor that has recently been de-
veloped. In connection with the develop
nngf ~ ntaklaacl for TIM Hannrf-
ment has undertaken q series of experi-
ments in the application of this material
TO other purposes OF construction which
promise no less important results than those
already attained. If the expectations now
formed are realized, IL Will not DO long be-
fore nlckeL-steei will be extensively used.
both IN ships frames and marine engines,
with a marked Improvement both IN the
strength of the parts and in reduction of
weight. while Its non-corrodible qualities,
already partly demonstrated, point to the
probability that It may ultimately present
q solution of the harasslDR problem of pre-
serving the submerged plating of ships.
The Fifty-second Congress-. at It's first
session. by act approved July ~. 1882. au-
thoriz the construction of one armored
cruiser and one sea-Roing battle-ship. De-
signs for these vessels have been prepared
by the department in conformity with the
provisions of the act, and proposals for
their construction were invited by adver-
tfsement on Sept. %. 1892, ten weeks after
the passage or the act.
NEED OF VESSELS.
Another year of experience, of discus.
sion and of criticism, both at home and
abroad. CONFIRMS the department in Athe
views which il adopted in the annual re-
port of 1889 as to the policy of construction
which the a has pursued. The policy
then advocated, which was q radical de-
parture from any view previously present
ed In this country. consisted III tho pro-
dussion of three principal types: First. the
ermored battle-ship of 10000 or more tons:
second. the armored cruiser of from 5000
TO 1900 tons. and, third. the commerce pro-
tecting and destroying cruiser of speed. of
1880 tons.
Secretary Tracy renews the recommends
tion made last year for the binding of four
small vessels of special design for rivers.
During the past year affairs in the East
have been quiet. he says. but disturbances
may be expected in the near future. One
of our vessels in these waters has lately
been condemned and ordered to be sold.
and another, the Monocacy, is in such con-
dition that her early condemnation aud
sale is probable. The necessity for these
vessels recommended last year will I'M
doubtedly arise aud become urgent before
the vessels can be built. and il Is the firm
belief of the department that no time
should be lost in undertaking them.
Mr.. Tracy also renews the commend
tion previously made for torpedo boats. A
supply of American torpedoes is now &c
hand. and the United States CANNOT afford
10 be any longer destitute of the boats
especially adapted for their use. At least
thirty such boats should be constr cted in
she Immediate future. 1t is to be hoped
shat in their construction, as in that of tor
pedo-boat No. =, now building at DubuQue,
la. the resources of the interior Will DO
drawn upon 10 q considerable extent
Although the gov and people of
the United States have reason to con grstu-
late themselves upon the marvellous prog
Iess which the mechanical skill OF America
has enabled them to make In the recon-
structIon or their navy, IL must not be sup
posed. says the Secretary. that the work
has been completed. While our progress.
from the fact that 10 procseded from q
ANAL beglnning-almost. it might be said.
from nothing-bes been startlingly rapid
z successful. other nations being upon
strong and well-establiehed foundations
have not been idle. and the United States
Is by no means yet in q condition of ade-
Quate defense In the meantime the az
eresslve policy of foreign nations. evil
dences of which have been pointed out
this country. whether il will or not,
will soon be forced into q position where
It cannot disregard measures which form
q standing menan to It's prosperity and
security. On the isthmus our commerce
Is engaged In . desperate light To maintain
Its foothold. In the south Pacific reported
ennexations and protectorates are extend.
ing the power and influence OF the mari
time states of the old world. Subsidized
lines OF fast steamers are completing the
circle or maritime communication on the