The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-26
Tha AnxiliarY Navy.

What the Heterogeneous feet Of PEIxoTo.
extemporized In New York. will really be
able to do, no one can yet tell: but It has
already furnished an object lesson for the
United States. The rapidity with which
the merchantmen FL Cid was converted
into the war ship Nlctheroy, points out
the degree OF reliance we may place upon
an auxiliary navy. to be formed out Of O
commercial marine. provided all the ele-
ments are ready to be shaped and combined.
In q recent address before the Society OF
Naval Architects and Engineers, Mr..
GRANT spoke Of the approaching launch OF
the two big American liners he Is now
building. Their length OF 500 feet and their
quadruplo expansion engines developing
10000 indicated horse power will insure
them high sustained speed In all weathers,
even compared with the cruisers Columbia
and Minneapolis, which. although they
have still more engine power. are only ala
feet long. These new vessels are larger
than the New York and the Paris, and they
are to be followed by other ships which will
not shrink from any comparison or compe-
tition." The result Is. according to Mr..
CRAMP. that the conditions OF the Govern
ment's mail contract with n single COM
pany "plaoe at the disposal Of the navy
seven great ships, almost instantly con-
vertible into commerce destroyers. aver
aging greater performance than che o.
lumbia and Minneapolis. This practically
reJnforces the navy by $21. 900 900 worth of
ships" without the cost OF building or
Of maintenance. except In time OF war.
And although this is by far the richest
and most promising source OF supply for
our auxiliary navy. 1t Is not the only one.
During our little trouble with Chill. half a
dozen other steamship lines from which
vessels could be drawn were counted up.
One list included eight vessels OF the New
York and Cuba line. Of from 1880 to 1854
tons each: five Of the Southern Pacific.
from 1850 to s.O2l tons: five Of
the Brazil. from 1909 to 1854 tons;
four of the Clyde. from 1867 to
1888 tons. and fifth Of 1879 tons: four OF
tho Red d line. from 1.l9s to 2.Os7 tons:
three Of the Metropolitan, from 1859 to 1.799
tons. and fourth Of 1196 tons. This was a
list on the Atlantic coast, suggested at that
time. and Of course 1t could be extended.
There would also be the Pacific coast re-
sources. the yachts that could be fitted up
as torpedo boats. and the tugs that could
be used as rams.
1t Ia clear. therefore. that the aim OF Con-
gress should he to continue the kind OF
legislation which gives the Government the
splendid resources of the International
Navigation Company. with It's seven great
ships. Such Legislation provides reserve
for the navy. as beneficial acts for the
militia foster an auxiliary of the army.
At the same time 1t must be understood.
as Secretary HERBERT points out. that
commerce destroyers do not take the place
Of battle ships. We have only to imagine
the result OF duel between the Nictheroy
and the Aquldaban to SEQ tho force OF this
point. What can now be said Is that, with
three flyers like the Columbia, Minneapolis.
and Olympia, and many other fast war
ships. like the New York. Brooklyn, Ra-
leigh. Cincinnati. and San Francisco. we can
trust TO the auxiliary navy. possible under
wise and fostering legislation. to give us
vessels enough OF the commerce-destroylng
type. and that all available money can be
laid out on battle ships and torpedo boats.
But it must not be forgotten that reserve
batteries are needed for arming these
auxiliary vessels when called into service.
The reason why the Nictheroy was fitted
out so quickly with rapid-fire and machine
guns was simply that she secured her ord
nance and even her search lights from
exhibits at the Chicago Fair. That
was pure piece OF good fortune, and
in order to insure like rapidlty under Or
binary conditions. the Government must
have In reserve it's own extra guns OF 4-inch
and 5-inch calibres. its secondary batteries
Of 6-pounders or 8-pouL ,ors. as the case
may be. its torpedoes and their tubes. its
projeetiles. Its plates for strengthening. its
search lights. and SO on. Then the
work OF converting merchant ships into
war vessels can be carried on as briskly as
in the case OF PEIxoTo's fleet. The rapid
growth OF the Naval Reserve also shows
that there would be mon to rely on. while 1t
was good sign that for the PEIxOTO yes
sells there was no trouble In finding crews.