Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-01
WORK OF THE NAVY.
The First Annual Report Of Secre-
tary Herbert.
BATTLE SHIPS ARE NOW NEEDED.
Some important Recommendations
for Congressional Action.
T H E G N F Glory

ton since the Inauguration of the new
American steel navy, with the result Of
replacing with high-powered shift and for
midabie steel ships nearly all of the old
timbersides that made up the naval lists
at the close of the war. The report begins
with a statement Of the progress made
since the last report, disclosing the fact
that nine vessels have been launched in
that space of time, while six new vessels
have been completed, accepted and commits
stoned. The speeds attained on trial We're
in most cases in excess Of the require
ments.
The total number of serviceabie war YES
sells now in the United States navy is forty
one. fifteen Of which are armored In ad-
dition there are siXty-four vessels on the
list, mostly wooden cruisers, tugs and an
tiquated monitors. that are set down as
unserviceable for war purposes. Tables are
given showing the naval strength of lead
ing powers and a comparison drawn from
them places the United States seventh in
the rank Of naval powers. The Secretary
requests authority to devote the $450000
authorized for the construction of a vessel
similar to the Vesuvius to the construction
OF three torpedo boats. and also recon-
mends an increase of the limit of cost of
the swift torpedo cruiser authorized by the
act of 1890, so as to enable the department
next fiscal year.
delays in Building Ships.
The Secretary gives a long account of
the delays experienced in building ships
as result of the failure of the steel COM
panies to furnish the necessary armor. He
says that of 1880 tons covered by the
TWO principal contracts only $40 tons had
Deen delivered on the first day of March
last. Inc great difncultIes experienced by
the armor makers have, however, all been
overcome and deliveries OF armor are now
being made with satisfactory rapidity. II
appears that the department is waiting
Tor the result of the experiment with the
Ia-hch pneumatic guns now being con-
structed for the War Department before
proceeding further with the test of the
Vesuvius. The Secretary is evidently
doubtful OF the utility of this vessel as at
pleseht equipped and he suggests that in
case the War Department experiments show
these guns to be of little value for naval
purposes 1t would be in the interests of
economy to transform the Vesuvius into
q torpedo cruiser.
PROBABLY the most important chapter in
the report treats of the naval policy of the
country. Mr.. Herbert recalls President
Cleveland's recommendation to Congress
IN 1882 looking to the increase of the naval
establishment, and Secretary Whitney's
successful efforts to INACCURATE a new policy
IN this respect. He says that our navy has
not yet come up to the standard; that our
navy snail he as efficient, when compared
with others, as that which the country pos
sessed before the era of modern ships, and
wnen our seaports were deemed to be, as
they certainly are not now, amply provided
with fortifcations fully up to the require
ments of the age. The secretary says We
have now builling only four vessels which
can properly be denominated first-class bat
tie ships. The cruisers and glnboats we
now have built and are building constitute
an efficient fleet, and will prove sufficient
when they shall all be in commission for
cruising purposes in ordinary times, and to
look after our commerce abroad In time
or war these cruisers. aided by the Paris
the New York. and the other ships being
built by Cramp Brothers for the American
line, which constitute practically all of our
auxiliary navy that Is valuable, will be of
armored cruisers are not, properly sneak
ing, fighting vessels.
They can destroy merchant ships" says
the secretary, they can fight vessels of
their own class but they cannot meet ar
mored vessels with any reasonable hope of
success, and in time of war scattered
abroad over the high seas as they would be
II we sent them against an enemy's COM
merce, they would leave our unfortified
sea coast. with all its cities, absolutely
without reliance, except upon our four
hrst-class and two second-class battle ships
seven coast-defense vessels. and two little
torpedo boats. These, if they were all con-
centrated, would scarcely be able to create
diversion of an enemy's fleet and IL
scattered would not furnish battle ship
or even a torpedo boat for the defense of
each city. II We carried out such a pro-
gram during war; an enemy with fleet
Of battle ships could wreck cities while we
were robbing schooners.''
Battle Ships Now Needed.
The secretary makes a strong argument
in support of the contention that the navy
has now sufficient number of cruisers,
and should be further strengthened by bat
tie ships. He contends that the military
value of commerce destroying fleet is
easily overrated. In proof of this assertion
he points to the record of twenty years
from 1902 to 1S12-when French cruisers
and privateers preyed upon British COM
merce, notwithstanding which that COM
merce prospered, and the British were only
aroused to a more determined hostility.
He holds that the two great factors of the
downfall of Napoleon were Englands
mighty battle ships and her wealth He
also cites the cruises of the Alabama and
her sister Ship saying that the exploits of
Semmes rivaled those of Jean Bart and
Du-Guay Trouin, and that history will rank
him as one of the most famous rovers of
the sea.
His success delighted the confederates
but it did not benefit their cause Many,
indeed, were the complaints made against
President Lincoln, because he sent SO few
ships to search for the confederates' cruis-
clamor. The fleets of the United States
were not to be thus diverted from their
purpose They blockaded the ports of the
confederacy, they penetrated it's rivers cut
off its interior communications and thus il
was that the navy rendered services to the
cause of the Union which the public has
never yet fully appreciated. In the
meantime, in spite of depredations
American Commerce f1ourished. Me-
chants insured against war risks
and individual losses were borne by
communitej. Commerce destroying was ir-
ritating, but it decided nothing. 1t would
have been Intellectual even if the confeder-
Gte3 had possessed ten times as many cruis-
ers, unsupported as they Wee by line-of- bat
tie ships. If our government in the future is
to have naval strength enough to command
the peace and be in condition to enforce
the terms dictated by its sense of right and
justice it must have more battle ships. and
must build a reasonable number of torpedo
boats"
Effectiveness of Torpedo Boats
The Secretary argues that for fort defense
torpedo boats are more effective ac-
cording to cost than any other
class of vessels. The Secreretary
says that no one can value economy
more highly than he does, but the safety of
the country it's honor and it's dignity must
rise above every other consideration, and
the program of authorizing the building of
at least some vessels at each session of Con-
gress ought not to be interrupted now
Therefore he recommends that the con-
struction Of at least one battle ship and six