Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-12

While the authorization of new ships
rests wholly with Congress. the recommen-
dations of the department have large in
fuence on the result 1t will be seen from
/ the above table that about % 900 tons were
authorized under the first administration
/ that took up the work of naval reconstruc-
ton, and that this amount was nearly
! trebied under each of the two succeeding
! administrations. The authorizations during
I the fiji st perioi included five cruisers and
/ three gunboats. In the second period two
/ battle ships of the second class, one ar
mored cruiser, one armored harbor-defense
| ship. nine cruisers, four gunboats, one prac-
ticc vessel one ram, one dynamite gun yes
sci. one torpedo boat and three tugs. In
the third they have comprised four first
Z class battle ships, one armored cruiser, two
/ protected cruisers of extreme speed one
/ torpedo cruiser and one torpedo boat.
! All the above, with perhaps one or two
exceptions. are essential components of Il
! fully developed naval force, but the rcla-
tive contribution to the defensive power of
/ the United States to be found in these
groups of vessels is not to be measured
i either by the number of ships or the num-
/ Der of tons alone.
/ The reconstruction of the navy has i'm
! posed upon the navy department 4 great ad-
/ ditional burden Of labor and responsibility
| far beyond that which was demanded of it
before the reconstruction began. OF the
share of this labor and responsibility tha;
has fallen to the present administration.
the above figures speak for themselves.
/ The development of the past four years
has not been confined to ships alone At
the beginning of this administration the
naval establishment was entirely destitute
/ of certain elements of efficiency, each one
of which was indispensable TO its practical
employment as a fighting force. and the
absence of which, if it had been possessed
of hundred ships, would still have left !,
in condition of paralysis.
These were the following: Armor, tor
pcdoes. heavy rapid-fire guns, armor- pierre
ing shells, smokeless powder. high ex-
piosives.
/ ~ Armor-ln March, 1859, the navy
was still without armor. although con.
tract made two years before provided for .
future supply This armor was to be OF
simple steel. A contract fer ike amount
was made with another firm in 1890 and
led to the erection of another plant. Both
piaiits are now furnisliing material. In the
meantime series of exhaustive expert.
nlan1s. lasting over three years. resulted in
the development of an arnor of new com.
position and treated bv a new process. far
superior to any hitherto knexp, and des.
tined to furnish the the standard both Of
quality and manufacture for the great nayai
powers Of Europe.
I 10 Torpesioes in 1899 the navy had
several ships in process of construction that
were designed and fitted for torpedoes. bal
IL had no tor"e,ioes that eouii be- used from
the ships. nor was there any concern thai
cenld make them il this country Sine
that date the manufacturp of the White
head torpedo, the most efficient known, ha.
been dome-,icafed. AMI contract has beer
made for 100 ia-inch torpe,ioes ot the most
recent type. SeveraI of thse hsya been
completed ani are now undergoing adjust.
ment trials: the remainder viii be ready FOL
service. in short time
4 (31 Heavy rap:d-tire guns.-In 1859 the
navy had no heavy rapid-fre guns. sinss
that time these guns have been developed
lof esiib.rs of 4, ). and 6-ineh. the success.
OF which unier trial has proved complete
The difficult problems presented in these
guns, in reference to breech mashanism
metallic cartridge cases and other essentia
features have been overcome. and a mar
imnm rapidity of Gre has been obtained
with each caiiber, all parts Of the gun work
ing perfectly.
Il ~ Armor-piercing shells Althou =
. the few ships that had been completed il
/ 1889 were armed With high-ppwer guns. =.
had no projeetile that could make the Sigh.
lest impression upon srmos-Plating. Thi