The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-25
THE VIEW SATK.

| The Notable Addition. Made to It This
Year and the Unparalleled Pror,ise of 1894.
WARRINGTON. Sept %. Secretary Herbert's
forthcoming report will not need to dwell
much on any new construction begun since he
assumed control OF naval affairs. Congress at
tho last session provided for three eunboats
and submarine boat, but there have been
delays In regard to these The Secretary.
however. will be able to note good progress In
| completing and commissioning vessels begun
under his predecessor.
Tho great S.150-ton armored cruiser New
York. with her 81 knots and her Hno battery.
Is ut last in service. and is by far the finest all
around vessel our navy has ever possessed.
The 2.000.ton Detroit. with her gratifying
gain on the stipulated speed and her rapid fire
armament, is on regular station duty. and
before the end Of the year her two sister ships.
the Montgomery and the Marblehead. will have
had their trials The Bath-built I,O5O-ton
gunboat Machias, also great success in
speed. is q momber OF tho North Atlantic
squadron. while her sistor ship, the Castine
which made so remarkable record on her
recent trial run. can soon be put to routine
service. On the Pacific coast the lne 5. 800
ton protected cruiser Olympia. q thousand
tons larger than the Chicago. and possessing
IN excellent combination OF speed. coal on
DURANGO. battery power and protection for
guns as we'll as for motive machinery. is
awaiting her trial. The Columbia. the fastest
flyer among our cruisers, and with steaming
radius that exceeds the circumference Of the
globe. Is also awaiting trial. and this magnin-
cent 7.30O.ton vessel could be made ready for
duty before the end Of the year. although Jan.
10 is the date named.
These eight vessels represent noble addi-
ton to the navy: and although the credit for
80 A-lz
contracted for oil Of them. yet their actual
initiation into service will date from the first
year OF Mr.. Herbert's administration.
But there are other vessels coming along,
and the official memoranda upon their prog
ress. made at a recent date. show that the
year 1894 will see many OF them ready. Be-
ginning with the big battle ships. we find that
sea. has all OF her diagonal armor completed
and the barbettes well advanced. She Is four
next year and for final delivery in June. un.
less there should be some rI delay In her arpor
sister ship. Is only about one month behind
hcr. The Oregon, which makes up the trio. is
20 per cent, completed the outside plating be-
rets. She will be ready next autumn.
~, The MinneaP9lis sister ship Of the Column
and her msshinary we'll advanced SO th"t she
A Msnt ia AND u for Az asvey to IT, SSS5s
tOns es SsS
sSS'a PER 0S cent eom HS Snd Sne e1
pected to be ready for seq by Jan. /. Her sis
yard. has been delayed BY the non delivery Of
material promised. but her official trial is OK
The promise Of 1894 also requires a refer
encs to the double-turret monitors. The
Terror Is about IS per cent completed. and
armor is delivered she will be ready. The The
Amphitrte is is 40 per Gent completed. and il
Ready By April The same daae IS wiz xed
for the trial Of the Monadnock. The Puritan
will follow later. as she will require six m onths
now SO per cont finished. All Ave OF these i'm
portant hGrbor defenders three Of them be-
much larger. exceeding, 5000 tons dsplace-
be added to the service in 1904.
he 10 Ga sssse L, Maine nd
Of next yeaf. The Maine. st Brooklyn, 10 said
to be ninety-1ve per cent flni shed. but the de-
sprne s.as s eepE
he's been DELAYED In the same wSy and is not
sells whose com pletion may be hoped for dur
Ing the Coming year are the Ratahdn build
keyiew,ns this IS list Of fifteen vessels. exclu
signed to that year. we soc that 1t will make
are declared to be uneQpalled In their COM
bination Of enormous gun power with the de-
strength furnished by their thick |
nicke steel armor: two other battle ships less
remark able but exceeding L. 300 and I. 800 tons
respectively: and welcome additions to the
navy: four heavily armed monitors. one OF
.hem specially important: three swift protected
,ruisers. OF which one will probably be the
fastest in our navy: finally. a Western built
torpedo craft and am that adds new type
% naval construction.
Next year will probably be without parallel
n its crop OF important vessels for our navy.
l. he year 1875 may yield nothing except the
.hree 2OO-ton gunboats and submarine boats
Already spoken Of and perhaps not even these.
In 1895 the navy will have two OF its best YES
sells One is the Iowa. our largest battle ship.
the Indiana by about a Thousand
ons. Her keel was laid early in August. her
rames are ND. and she will probably be ready
or trial in the autumn OF 1895 and for deliv-
cry early in 1896 The other Is tho Brooklyn,
'ur largest armored cruiser. about 1000 tons
arger than the New York. which is expected
o be ready ior trial Oct. l. 1895. and for deliv-
The greatest drawback In this review OF the
'ich fruits OF the present year and the richer
lros poets OF the next is the accompanying dis
losure that very Inadequate preparations
rave been made for properly continuing the
work. The sackening in It at the last session
vas manifest. and the Fifty-third Congress
hould profit by the lesson.