New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-11
ANOTHER B1T1LESUIP.

The launch of the battleshp Massachusetts,
is another sign of the progressive ana sym
metrical development. Of the American Navy
Like her sister ship, the Indiana, now rapidly
nearing completion. she is virtually Il compro-
mise between the original Monitor ard the
modern French ard English bai'lcship; bat
she will be a most formidable Antagonist III
a sea fight. She will be u inyulncrablc a.
armor Of the best quality can render ship:
she will have main and auxiliary batteries OF
tremendous power, the guns being arranged 80
that fire can be concentrated on either bow or
quarter; AMI she will have a speed ranging
between 16 and II knot> - a. 10 give hef
high manoeuvring power. The Massachusetts
and the Indiana, while not as large as the most
ambitious European baitleshps, are designed
10 meet the extreme requirements of naval
warfare. As cast defenders their batteries
can be employed al long range against hos
tile fleet ard as baitle>hips they are prepared
for as hot an engagement a. that between the
Monitor and the McrI'imac in Hampton Ii ads.
The success of these fine vessels when sub
ected to the official tests of Their trial trips
will be the final proof that American designers
after "A long period Of Indifference 70 and neg
complex problems upon which their rivals in
England, France, Italy and Germany have
been engaged without interruption since the
doom of the wooden nayies was sealed by the
loss of the Cumberland and the Congress 1t
is barely ten years ago that the Dolphin At
lanta, Boston and Chicago were planned a
modest and conservative pioneer ships OF the
new Navy Finer cruisers cannot now be found
in any feet than the American ships; the New
York sets the pace for ships OF war under any
flag, and is incomparaby the best armord
cruiser afoat the Columbia and her sister
ship will be unique as commerce dcsroyers both
from their phenomenal speed and their remark
able coal endurance; and even in the highest
class of naval architecture, the batleship, the
superiority of American inventive skill and
practical Judgment has been disclosed While
every arm of the service has been developed,
very little, if any, of the work has been ex-
permertal like the many miscalculated failures
which have caused official disappointment and
public criticism in England.
This conspicuous success has been achieved
mainly through adherence to the time-hcnorcd
policy of encouraging American designers and
developing home industries. There are two or
three ships in the new Navy which are built
from English plans purchased By the first
Cleveland Administration; but with these ex-
cepti;ns the feet is designed by American ex-
pert talent, and every type of vessel bears
characteristic marks of originality. Ten years
ago there was no plant in the country for max
ing ship armor and modern guns of the highest
power, and the shipyards and navy yards alike
m rod To rpIo nj Of
highest class. Now everything is changed.
All the complex naval industries have been
introduced A great shipyaId like that of the
Cramps can build in the course Of three years
pair of batteshps Of the highest type. The
Nation not only has a modern feet, of which
it has no cause to be ashamed but IT has also
facilities for rapidly increasing its naval re-
sources in an emergency. 1t is UNNECESSARILY
more secure against the danger of foreign war
than it was a decade ago.