Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-24
ARE BUILT FOR WAR
THE REPORT or ANAvY OFFICER
The Three New Cutters Could Hold the
welland Canal-Our Needs on
the Lakes.

wAsHiSoroS. Dec. 23.--The full text
of the reports of tue Canadian lake
question. which were briefly summar-
ized in these dispatches TWO days ago.
is now accessible. The question OF
maintaining wvr ships on the great
lakes in contravention Of treaty supu-
lation has engaged the attention OF this
administration since the fall OF 1901.
In that yssr Lieutenant q. L..
Garden of the United States
revenue marine service, WAS di-
rected 10 investigate the subject. He
made quiet VISIT to Canada and last
January submitted report to secre-
tary Foster OF the treasure department.
giving the dimensions OK the so-styled
''new Canadian cruiser Constance
which was u revenue cutter in name,
but in reality u wsrship. This report
WAS transmitted to Secretary Tracy.
The treasury department during tho
PAST summer ard fall has kept fully
advised of the continued activity OF
the Canadian authorities IN building
armed Gltters on the lakes. Under
date # December Q. 1892, Lieutenant
Garden, who spent much OF his time in
Canada collecting information on the
subject, made u second report to the
secretary OF the treasury. He finds
that the hull designs OF three vessels
recently constructed or now on
the docks, the Constance, Cur
lew and Petrol. show sufficient
strength to permit of the mounting Of
! fourteen FOUNDER rapid fire Maxim.
Nordenfeldt guns" The Nordenfeldt
gun is the type OF gun, he says, which
| Will enter into the armaments OF these
revenue cutters, and adds:
The Nordenfeldt battery mentioned
for the Petrol and her sisters 10 more
than a match for the combined batter
les of the three United States revenue
cutters on the lakes-the Perry, John
son and Fessendeu.
Maneuver In the we!land Canal
Discussing the fighting quality of
these vessels, Lieutenant Garden says:
The hull Dimensions of the Petrol,
Constance and Curlew will enable them
to maneuver with ease in the Weliand
canal, and in the event of any possible
contingency MAINTAIN an effective
patrol of that canal. at least for three
or four DAYS, until additional gunboats
can break from the st. Lawrencerlver
across Lake Ontario to the mouth OF
the Welland.
In concluding his report Lieutenant
Garden, speaking Of the United States
revenue cutters now on the lakes. says:
Tney must needs be replaced by craft
having their vitals prote cted and be-
gwen rapid fire batteries embracing at
least one four-inch rifle for each ship,
supplemented by sIx-pounder rapid fire
batteries. The present exposed condi-
tion or the machinery OF the Johnson
and Fessenden courts immediate de-
struction.
The treasury and navy departments
have joined forces in behalf of the bill
providing for two new revenue cutters
| on the lakes. The senate has passed
the bill. but the house cheese-parlng
committee amended IT and cut off one
cutter. The bill will probably come
up immediately after the holiday re-
cess and the recent exposure OF
Cauada's ACTIVITY IN building up a
strong naval marine on the lakes. with
view to transforming it into naval
force in time of trouble between this
country and Great Britain, will have
the effect of inducing the houee to dis.
regard the amendment and pass the
bill as IT came from the senate.