The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-02
iMpxovasG Tns NAVE.
Secretary Wesb~Ss Win C~ossooo shs
WSyk On Modified 6eaes.

Secretary Wesh~Ss Win C~ssssse shs
Wssk an No1sAed Gesss-
TEw Yoxx. July 3l--Ths Heyaids Wash
tngton City special says regarding the ns-
vel f.oglcy OF the present administration :
ssft may he stated With authority that
Secretary Herbert will advocate the con-
ssruetion o4 mofs shipa. lie will be con-
oeyvatsvs in his estimates. bnt hs still -
Heses 20 sse some distance from the point
where ws can afford 10 sop the work OF
chip construction. He estimates shst tli.-
o00.000 will be required Ia compiete The
foYry-;wo vessels built and building for
the new navy. A. this amount will b
Distributed over the coming three years.
he can advocate m addition Of . ship or
tuo esch year during the present admins
tsation without adding materially 10 the
annual appropriatios for ship conssrnc-
tion. He - on record - sdvocating
deet Of AZ least ten hattieships. and told
me short time ago that his visss In thss
respect had not changed since he came to
81 head Of the navy departments II In ai-
most certain that his influence viii BE- ex-
ersed In the direction Of NJ least one battle
ahip By this coming congress. IL - under.
stood also 10 bs the intention OF the secre-
tary 70 outline . definite policy ~ 10 just
what oux new navy should comprise.
There will not be any radical departures
HON the t3H&H t3fkt 03Bn o1thH INV
Rey's administration and continued
throughout Traey's. bat Herbert viii.
Is ~ believed. mark a line
where we should stop with each type Of
vesseI. Il 10 his opinion that before cali
ing halt We should at least reach the
p0tnt where We stood AZ the close or the
war. This was sixth among the naval
powers Of the world.
ssrl,e programme for action by the com.
ing congress will, 10 II believed. call
Tor battieship and several gum
boats or small cruisers. IL - the
secretary's idea that for the proper
representation Of the United Hates
In foreign waters a vessel OF 900 tons Is
~ valuable as one Of four or i've times
that size. aud Herbert feels that the proper
naval policy must include power 70 pro-
fect our citizens wherever they may be.
The extraordinary performances Of the Do
troit last April suggested TO the kecrstary
the idea Of adopting its type OF displace-
ment and speed. and il II probable that
the navy department will recommend YES
eels Of not moro than 1000 nor less than
l,50o tons displacement, with speed Of
fourteen or fifteen knots per hour,
their coal ,n capacity e b .s sus'sn:
like 1870 knots. and a. experience
hiss shown the necessity for ability to keep
at Sea without docking, it 10 presumed
that sheathed bottoms or composite con-
ssruction will be insisted upon. Careful!
note has been made by the secretary Of the
large amount OF coal required by the auxil-
larry machinery on the new cruisers. An
effort will DO made to reduce this ex.
penditurc to the lowest limits compatible
with effective service, and To cruise with
out steam power will receive considerable
attention. IL il likely that In sevsra! in-
stances attempts will be made to intro
ducs saii power to an extent sufiic'ent for
will be considered In this connection. A
somewhat radical idea 10 held by the Sec
sstary on the subject OF armament. which
will, no doubt. be considerably modified
by the ordnance bureau, but 1t IL believed
that larger calibers of rapid firing guns will
form. th: batteries Of the ships recon-
Fuansled"