, 1892-01-21
FIXED FOR A FIGHT.
Some of the Mighty Men of War the
Government Has In Readiness.
Headed by the New York, the Tri-
umph of Naval Architecture.
In a Great Naval Contest the United
States Would be all Right.

The probability OF the United States
and Chile engaging in a naval struggle
has caused nearly every man, woman and
child in this country to discuss the relative
naval strength of each Of these countries.
A great many people who speak without
having investigated the subject of late
years are disposed to deride the United
States navy. This mildly unpatriotic
notion doubtless originated some years
after the war between the states. Those
who should have taken the time and
trouble to have investigated the condition
of Uncle Sans navy before making sar-
castle remarks about it, will doubtless be
astonished to observe the rapid strides
the United States has taken for the last
few years. The fact is it could now cope
fairly well with some OF the greatest mar
thine powers upon the face of the earth.
Some of tie United States men-of war,
and those which would all be serviceable
in case the United States engaged in war
with any foreign power, are: The Balti-
more, with a displacement capacity Of
1892 tons. 3l5 feet in length, with a
beam iorty-eight feet five inches and a
speed of h%ineteen knots; constructed at a
total cost of 81, 1926, 900. This vessel, as
has been frequently shown, can not only
cop with any ordinary vessel in a battle
but is the peer Of any vessel that rides the
waves. Others about the equal of the
Baltimore are the Philadelphia, San
Francisco, Vesuvius and Gushing. Then
there comes the Miautonomah. an iron
vessel with the remarkably large dis
placement capacity of 3,815 tons, 249 feet
In length. with a beam of ffty-ive feet,
draught of fourteen feet, speed l0.5
knots, 1000 horse power. which cost
81. 300. 900. Following this are the Pur-
Itan, Amplitude, Monadnock and the
Terror. Other great men ,vf-war belong
ing TO the United States are the Texas,
Name, Newark, Bennington, Concord
and Yorktown.
The latter is now in Chilean waters,
having relieved the Baltimore at Valpa-
raise only a few months ago. A few of
the most important new vessels of the
United States are the New York Monte
rey, Cincinnati, Raleigh and the Chicago,
and there are now at the United States
ship building stations a large number of
new vessels not vet christianed, but which
could be launched in a months time.
The new war ship New York is, rroba
bly,, taking all in all, the most formidable
war vessel shoat She is a distinctive
type. The department in her consti NC
tion ~eDdeayored to combine every posi-
bic point, both OF offensive and defensive
power, with extraordinary coal endurance
aud a high rate of speed. travelling TWEEN
tv knots an hour. This will enable her
to overtake any OF the more powerful ships
afoat, and surpass the majority of ships,
either naval or merchant Her battery is
more powerful than that of aLy other
cruising vessel In the world.
Besides the vessels already mentioned
there are half a hundred smaller ones
including the old monitors viii n could
be used IN uninp0rtant stations and for
barber deienses. 10 case OF a war with
Chile a dozen OF the most formidable
men-ot-war in the world could anchor in
the harbors OF Valparaiso inside of two
weeks.