New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-12
NO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CRUISERS.
TIE NAVY DEPARTMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO
BUILD VESSELS or THAT CLASS.

DUlIsD VESSELS VI lbNA N''''''
Washington. Aug. II (speciar.-T'hcre recently mp
pcarcd I'm vnrio1s papers OF the country teeerams "
tbe effect that the Navy Department In It's consider
o.on NJ thc Kind and number OF vessels 10 be asked
f,r from Congress I'm the next annual report OF the
Secretary had determined 10 request authority Tor ue
construction Of several. probably SIX 2'oo"h
sheathcd cruisers. According TO the report these
vessels were 10 possess moderate speed and great COM
endurance and having shcathed bottoms-that IS. steel
6ulls covered with wood and copper. would De hDle
10 keep the seas at fair nlte Of speed for long
,..ried and no, BE- required frequently 10 be locked
After describing at length and with mnch III
erenuity the advantages Of vessels OF 1000 tons dlH
placement with sheathcd bottoms, the pnbliShcd ~
mort concluded with the statement that the Navy 1T
rartmcnt was now engaged 10 the preparation OF plans
for such vessels.
Inquiry at the Department 10 day brought OUT inc
tact that the preparation Of plans for 1000 ton
cruisers had not only been begun. but that the
policy OF building vessels Of this displacement was not
favored by the Department constructors. oh the
contrary many naval experts. while agreeing thht
conpojte sheathcd vessels had certain economical al
vantages over vessels composed OF mcnl nlone. which
might make those vessels desirable additions 10 the
xovv ON stations like the Pacific. where docking
facilities nrc few and widely separated are Of the
opinion that cruisers OF the 3,oOotnn type are I'M
suitable for practical around purposes In any navy
II IS true that England has number OF ships OF
.hnut but n Is not SOUND reasoning 10
conclude that therefore the United States should also
have them, as the conditions and duties Of tho two
services are different.
In January 1880. Secretary Tracy, upon invita-
lion spponred before the Committee on Naval Affairs
and IN reply Ia oeran inquiries ~ - the policy %
the Navy Department reLiye 10 The class II vessels
desirable for The United States, said
"Tle general policy Of the Navy Department Is not
IN ro0uuend or ndvsc the construction a any vessel
which + not believed r. the lest OF her type W"
.o,rd not build very large navy, but every element
thereof 10 be lrlt should be Of the highest and most
advanced class equal at least 10 any other similar
vessels in the world The people Of this country viii
never in my judgment approve or take pride IN any
seooud.r rate vessels or vessels which are recognized
from the beginning icing inferior To those Of other
nations 50 far AS vessels OF sbont ZOO W 1000
tons aro concerned would not advise the construction
~ one No ships Should DO built which cannot havc
double botions and these small vesssis cannot carry
this extra weight. Such ships have limited useful
ness in time Of war or peace but they have neither
the sreed coal endurance nor defensive power re
ouirqd OF n modern cruiser These light ship would
hc SINK IL they came In contact with modern ship.
I would not build ships Of this class
The consensus Of opinion among naval experts j.
hat shcathPd ships strongly recommend themselves
for practical purposes, and as Secretary Tracy hvos
the idea Of shrathing certain class Of ships. ueN
may be at distant day u RECOMMENDATION from MIN
for their authorization. 1t Il safe 10 say, however,
,hat neither This nor any other Innovation will be
advised for ships OF less than $500 oP 5000 tons dis
placement.