The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-20

congress ana the navy.
The struggle in the House over the Naval
Appropriation bill is ended and the result
i the authorization of one new war vessel.
an armored cruiser like the New York.
That this contribution to the fleet OF the
future is inadequate. that 1t is not the
proper share OF the Fiity-second Congress
az the present session. seems very clear.
Yet the attacks made upon this meaGre
provision, which was the one reported by
majority OF the Naval Committee. suggest
that it was something Of a triumph even to
secure one ship.
The debate showed that the opponents Of
q strong naval defence do not understand
the needs Of the country. One OF them took
the ground that the greatest bulwark
Of American independence is in the happy
homes OF the people," yet happiness must
rest on security. and without an adequate
navy the homes on our seaboard would be
exposed to destruction. The Kansas Repre-
sentative who suggested this substitute for
a navy should also reflect that even Kansas
homes. thousand miles and more from the
range OF q hostile fleet. would no longer be
happy with the great coast cities laid waste.
Another speaker proposed a different bull
wark. Let us see whether we have to
fear England" he said. Gentlemen speak
about coast defences. about armored YES
sells; but when from the hand OF the AL
mighty was poured out three thousand miles
OF ocean. there was erected for u.s. free OF
cost, to be maintained forever. the securest
bulwark from European attack" Surely it
is familiar history that the war OF 1912 had
to be fought with England on this same
stretch of ocean. and that. in spite Of the
great victories gained there. because we
had. for those days. fine navy. England
was able to take and burn the very city in
which this discussion Of homes and seas as
bulwarks has been going on.
1t is well known" said the Georgia
Representative just quoted. that these
monster war ships cannot even come across
the Atlantic or the Pacific without the great
est difficulty" referring to their coal supply.
But England. in a war with the United
States. does rot need to have her naval base
at Portsmouth. She has fortified stations
and coal yards on this side OF the sea. at
Halifax. at Bermuda. ct Jamaica, and at st.
Lucia. II is less than three days run for
heavy battle ship from the Bermudas to
the chief port OF Georgia. and the distance
Hampton Roads. One value OF our new
l0.oo0-ton armor clads is that such vessels.
if we have a few more Of them. will enable
US to defend by attacking. and to break up
n hostile rendezvous ut Halifax or Jamaica.
and destroy the use OF such base.
Still another speaker opposed increasing
the navy because "in brief space OF time
American ingenuity and industry could i'm
provise vessels TO meet the most powerful
ships Of tho world" But you cannot i'm
provise water-line belt OF eighteen-inch
steel armor nor a battery OF sixty-ton
guns. The armor for the vessels already
under construction. say the House Com
mittec. can hardly be furnished before the
beginning OF the year 1894. and it was on
this ground that they decided not 10 ask for
another battle ship now. Secretary TRACT.
IL MS last report. looks from a different
point OF view at the same fact OF the time
needed to build Il modern war ship, when
he declares that vessels authorized at the
present session could hardly be begun Ie-
fore next spring, so important are the pre-
liminaries. To Offset such facts by recall
ing that PERRY equipped from the forest
in ninety days the fleet that won the battle
OF Lake Erie." is hardly that serious treat
ment OF the subject which it deserves.
But apart from the difference between
o.d-tLle wooden craft and modern ironclads.
what right have we to expect the ninety
days grace that PrnEY had A war that
once might last seven years could be I'm
lshed now in "a many weeks. Capt. TAYLOR
has pointed out that the war OF 1859. be-
tween France and Austria, WIS declared
May 3. and Solferino came June "a: that the
war Of Austria and Prussia was declared
June 1t. 1866. and that of Austria and Italy
four days later, while Sadowa was fought
on July 3 and LISA on July 90: that the
war of 1870 was declared on the 18th of July.
and Sedan followed on the I'd Of Septem-
Der. Within short time after the outbreak
OF hostlitics. n British fleet could lombard
our ports. There would 10 no question
then Of lmprovising ships. but there might
be one OF paying n tribute big enough to
have built scores Of war vessels.
IL is something that the House has au-
thorized an armored cruiser. Il could
hardly have gone before the country with
All appropriation OF s2o,o0o.OO0 in its pend-
ing River and Harbor bill and not one ship
for the new fleet. But it should do better
than 1t has done. Perhaps when the Navy
bill comes back from the Senate, with the
amendments projected there. a suitable
compromise may lie reached In conference.