The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-01
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
srcRxrxgr HERBERT's REVIEW
AND REcoMMESDATIoNs.
rhs Policy OF the Navy-Essima'es IN"
Appropristioos-Nsw Vessels ana
Preliminary Trials.


nortant recommendations.
The report opens with list OF me YES
.as that have been launched since the
date of the last report as follows
commissioning 1850; date OF iaunch'
duly 18th. 1892; Marblehead. 1000 August
,tb. 1872: Olympia, $500; NOV 9TH, bsz' Cih'
c,nnati. s.lS; November 10th, 1872; hatan-
din. 2IsS; February 4th, 1888; inoiana'
NJ 900. February 18Th 1898; Massachusetts
1890; June 10th, 1885; Minneapolis ''Sgo,
August 18th. 1888; oregon, 1921 Octooei
2sth. 1898 -,
The following new vessels have peei
completed. accepted by the government
and placed I'm commission during the cur
rent calendar year:
Monterey-tonnage. 4.lSS: date OF com
mission. February 18th. 1888; Bancroft, No.
March I'd. 1893: Machias 1850; July 2Oth'
1se3; Detroit. 1900; July 10th, 49, Ne"
Work. $50: August LIST. 1898; Castine, 1850;
not yet commissioned.
Preliminary TrisIs.
The preliminary trials OF the Monterey
Bancroft Detroit. New YORK, Machias'
Castine. and Columbia resulted success
fully, as did also the final trials OF the
Monterey, Bancroft, and Detroit. III IS
a source OF kIAliittdtloi w AA' ~
10 state that on the preliminary trials
the speeds attained were. in most cases,
I'm excess Of the minimum speeds required
by the several contracts, as VIII be seen
by the following:
Monterey-trial of speed in knots per
hour. 1876; contract speed In knots, Z o,4Vp)'
l6; Bancroft, l4.31; II, Detroit, 1871; H. New
York. no: 90 Machias. 15i6; IL, Castine'
1851; IL, Columbia, ESQ: n.
Indicated horsepower.
The progress thus far made in our naval
development is clearly shown in the elab-
crate tables. which give the number and
type OF effective war vessels which this
country will possess when those nov build
ing are completed, and also a similar list
OF vessels OF the principal foreign naval
powers. A comparison OF these tables
shows that the United States now ranks
seventh as naval power.
New Vessels.
Under authority conferred by an act of
Congress. sealed proposals were invited
for the construction OF these vessels. which,
for the purpose Of distinguishing them.
were designated as gunboats Nos. z, s,
and g. under two general classes, each
class embracing all three vessels. In
class the "hull and machinery, includ-
ing engines, boilers. and appurtenances
and equipment, complete in all respects,
in accordance with the drawings. plans,
and specifications provided by the Secre-
tary Of the Navy" Glass 2. the hull and
machinery, including engines boilers, and
appurtenarces and equipment, complete
in all respects, in accordance with the
drawings, plans, and specifications pro-
yided by the bidder"
Two designs were determined upon by
the department; the one for No. being
that Of a hght-draft protected gunboat
OF abuot 100 tons displacement, having
a speed Of IA knots per hour; and that
for Nos. 8 and 9, being OF a lght-draft
protected gunboat for special service, hav-
Ing q speed OF ID knots per hour. These
vessels are designed for the use in Chinese
waters and for river service elsewhere.
In the report a great deal OF space is
devoted to the CONSTRUCTION Of the ships"
and ordnance" These distractions do
not differ materially from the advance re-
ports of them already published
The Secretary devotes several pages 10
discussion OF the model policy. He
says:
I'VE have not even in commission n
Single vessel OF war that could keep the
seas against a frst-class vessel of any
Foreign power although we have four
such In process Of construction. When
your message was written the United
armored cruisers, the Chicago Boston.
and Atlanta, and one dispatch boat. the
Dolphin. But there was no establishment
In the United States that could turn out
armor for modern vessels. and not one
That could furnish the forgings for a
modern gun larger than six inches cali
brc. No automobile torpedoes had ever
been manufactured in this country: no
modern rapid-fire guns, and not a grain
OF powder for high-power gun. Your
Sls'inguished Secretary of the Navy, MIR.
whitney following out the suggestions
OF your message, applied himself at once |
70 the task OF laying broad and deep |
the foundations upon which the construc- |
ZION or modern navy has progressed |
steadily and methodically up to this day |
IL was not his purpose, nor has IL al |
any time been the intention of Congress
10 build navy equal to those of such |
great naval powers as France and Eng |
laho, but IL Is certainly sound policy TO
maintain navy at least as efficient |
when compared with others, as that which |
our country was I'm possession of in the |
Gays before the era of modern navies,
and when our seaports were deemed 10
be. as they certainly are not now, amply
provided with Notifications fully up 20
the requirements of the age. Our navy
mas not yet come up to that standard
Secretary Whitney was throughly |
aware OF the magnitude of the task be- |
1ore him. Every step in the undertaking |
was carefully considered. Not only were |
we 10 have ships and guns, but they |
were 10 be equal, If not superior TO the |
best In the world. Anything short OF |
this would violate the traditional policy |
or our government and be unworthy OF |
the American people. The ships built |
the armor and gun forgings turned out |
Under the contracts made by Mr.. Whit |
ney, the great guns assembled at the |
magnificent plant he established and the |
rapid-fire guns made by the industry he |
domesticated In this country, all testify |
70 his wisdom and foresight. The great |
work thus begun fortunately fell after |
wards into competent hands. and Secre- |
tary Tracy carried IL forward with dis |
tinguished ability.
The work Must 60 On.
mo one can value economy more |
highly than do. and its practice is GER
tainly necessary at this time when the |
government expenditures are likely to be
more than its receipts, but the safety of
the country its honor. and it's dignity
must rise above every other considera-
ton, and IL is respectfully submitted that
the programme OF authorizing the building
OF at least some vessels al each session
or Congress ought not TO be INTERRUPTED
now. recommend that the construction
or at least one battle-ship and six torpedo
boats be authorized by Congress at the
coming session.
''The authorization OF these vessels
would require the expenditure of very
little money during the coming fiscal
year. First-class torpedo boats can now
be built for $1,000 each and not more |