The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-27

gent needs Of substituting steel cruisers
for wooden ones. aud after study OF the
country's requirements and experience in
construction had Indicated the pathway for
the future The two main features Of the
programme thus adopted were a force of
twelve nrst-clnss brittle ships and Of. per-
haps, thirty or forty torpedo boats. These
were properly regarded ns uniting perfect
naval defence with such degree Of agrees
sive capabilities as the problem ur protec-
tion always includes. In addition, n small
number OF torpedo cruisers. few gunboats
OF special types. and, perhaps, three or four
additional commerce destruyers OF the Co
| lumbia class were mentioned as desirable.
But the battle ships and torpedo boats
were the main features OF the programme.
The present Secretary was ut that time
| Chairman of the House Naval Committee,
and now urgently carries on that policy.
| or the twelve battle ships fixed upon, four
are under construction. three uf them
being in the water and approaching com
| pleton. Mr.. HERBERT. while in the House
OF Representatives. advocated adding ono
battle ship at each session until the pro-
gramme was completed Last year. under
the pressure Of extravaganza in apprOpria-
lions for other Objects he consented to the
temporary abandonment OF that sound
policy. and brought in bill for single
little gunboat. The Senate. fortunately.
demanded n worthier contribution to the
navy. and three gunboats instead were au-
thorized, besides a Submarine boat; but
there was no battle ship. The country's
finances are, to say the least, no more
favorable to-day than they were year ago;
but Mr.. HERBERT, viewing the matter more
broadly. as the head Of the Navy Depart
ment. wisely decides not to sacrifice our
needs OF defence at this time, and calls for
the annual battle ship.
In addition, he finds It possible to obtain
four or even six torpedo boats by simply
modifying existing acts or our two first
class torpedo boats. the Cushing cost for
hull and machinery Ss275O. and the Erics-
son $4,000. Congress some time ago au-
thorized the construction of second
pneumatic cruiser. ut u cost OF S45OO00 IL
the Vesuvius should prove success. The
last Chief Of Ordnance and the present Chief
have both regarded the pneumatic system
OF the Vesuvius as unprotected. the former
recommending that she should DO fitted
up with rapid-hre guns in place OF her
bubto' anu llit lutltI uutNll1
proposing that tho appropriation for
second Vesuvius should 10 applied to
building four torpedo boats. This latter
recommendation Secretary HERBERT has
adopted. In addition. there Is an appro-
priation Of s2OO.OOO for submarine boat
and while the Holland type of such craft
was approved by an examining board. yet
the opinion OF the present ordnance authori-
ties is understood to be that it is not yet
sufficiently developed for adoption. The
funds for this craft would give two more
torpedo boats in it's place.
In his last report Secretary TRACY said |
that France possessed 2is torpedo boats;
England, 2Os; Italy. 1856; Germany. $50:
Russia. 16S; even China, GO; Austria. G5; lit |
tie Holland. 63; Greece. 81. Possibly that |
included boats building as well |
as built, but the contrast between such |
an array and our total Of three. one Of
which, the Stiletto. is only of the second
class. is very striking. The need of torpedo
boats is still more urgent from the fact that
our seacoasts are enormous in extent COM
pared with those of some European coun-
tries having far greater supplies OF such |
craft. Such boats can be built rapidly. and |
will thus furnish the nucleus OF defence for |
ports which must wait years for adequate
shore batteries. Again. while n single tor
pedo boat might perish in q desperate at
tack upon an enemy's flect. flotilla OF them
might do damage enough to repay more
than their entire cost.
Congress should give hearty support to
the measures thus advocated by Secretary
HERBERT. His record at tho last session
should convince IL that he has cert ainlv not
demanded more than the country needs.
The battle ship. which Is the chief require
ment. will make only one in period OF two
years. whereas at n single previous session
Congress authorized three such vessels. At
one time. Secretary HEEBERTs committee
when nine Of them were needed,
we might well authorize all these bat
lie ships in four years" If this be so. GER
.ainly one such ship in two years is not too
much to demand now.