The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-28
OUR NAVY DEPARTMENT
SECRETARY HERBERT'S RADICAL
CHANGE or POLICY.
Tho Composite Vessels will to be more
Efficient Than Ail-steei-A Move In
the Direction of Economy.


tary Herbert to-day took step that
marks a radical clar ge in the policy OF
the Navy Department in the matter OF
the construction OF the small cruisers
After mature consideration and full dis
cussion with the Beard Of Bureau Chiefs,
he has directed that two Of the three
l,20O.ton gun-boats authorized by Congress
be constructed OF the composite type.
For many years the construction bureau
OF the department, and notably Captain
Hichtorn, the assistant chief OK the
bureau, have urged upon the department
and upon Congress the advisibility Of
sheathing the cruisers intended for SER
vice In foreign waters, particularly those
that would probably be sent TO tropical
waters. where the marine growth is In
credibly rapid upon the bottom OF steel
vessels But because Of the larger iirst
cost Of sheathing steel vessels, Congress
has made II impossible TO carry OUT this
idea by limiting the appropriations very
closely. In the case Of the small gun
boats there is one resort, and that Is
the Cne which Secretary Herbert has
adopted to-day in directing that two
of the new vessels be constructed OF the
composite type. That means that the
frames Of the vessels and the part OF the
structure above the water line Will be
made Of steel, but that the lnll VIII
be covered with wood planking. RMS
wood planking. i'm turn, VIII be sheathed
with copper and thus the vessels VIII
be enabled TO make long cruises In trop-
ical waters, without going through the
expensive process Of docking and scraping.
rrf. -
likely to be I'm excess Of the cost ol Il
steel vessel Of similar size.
The return to the use Of wooden nuns
In this day Of steel and ron ships ap-
pears at first glance TO be out or the
line Of progress but as a matter or tact
Secretary Herbert has fully satisfied HIM
self that the composite vessels will prove
10 be more efficient than all steel vessels
for the purposes for which these small
gun-boats are needed and that the new
move is distinctly in the direction OF econ
omy. Inasmuch as one or the three
vessels will be built Of steel throughout,
there will be a fair opportunity TO COM
pare the respective types. Data prepared
at the department, which may have IN
fuenced the Secretary I'm coming 70 the
decision he reached to-day, show that
the British navy is now building many
Of these composite vessels for foreign
cruising purposes. At present the navy
includes I'm it's list vessels Of this con-
structiOn to the following extent; SIX
cruisers Of 212O tons each, seven cruisers
Of 42O tons each. fifteen sloops of 1,l3O
tons each. twenty gun-boats Of from 800
TO 900 tons each, and thirty-six gun
boats Of from 400 to 500 tons each.
The general dimensions Of the new COM
posite gl1n-boats will be as follows:
Length. 22O feet; beam. SO feet; draft
10 bottom Of keel II feet; displacement,
200 tons; horsepower, LOO; estimated
speed. 1i knots; coal supply. normal, laO
tons: full capacity. $50 tons; sail spread,
IA foot. The armament will consist
of eight four-lnch rapid-fire breech-load-
ing rifles four six-pounders. two one
FOUNDERS. and one torpedo tube.
The coal capacity Of the all-steel boat,
which is intended mainly for service In
Chinese rivers, IS slightly larger than In
the case Of the composite boats
The Construction Bureau will proceed
Immediately to prepare the designs In de-
tau for the construction Of the vessels.
and Chief Wilson believes that they will
be completed i'm 120 days. Secretary Her
bert has given strict orders that the
plans be prepared I'm the greatest detail,
and I'm such form that alterations In the
designs will be unnecessary. He has
found that the first cost OF new vessels
,s much Increased by the adoption Of
changes as the building Of the vessels
goes on. He has determined TO econo-
mize I'm this respect, and expects that
considerable saving in time will also be
effected by allowing the contractors 10
proceed uninterruptedly under the orlgl-
nal plans.
The Navy Department to-day author
tied payment TO the Bethlehem Iron
Works OF $4,000 for armon-plates fur
nished for the battle-ship Texas, now
building at the Norfolk nayy-yard.
Late this afternoon Secretary Herbert
received a telegram from Commodore
Relknap as follows: "Speed OF the New
York. from close computation and cor
rected for tidal currents was twenty-one
knots"
Admiral Gherardi's Congratulations.
NEW YORK, May T-Admirai Cher
ardi. who has been relieved from sea
duty, has received a communication from
Secretary Herbert, consratulating nm on
the successful conduct OF the naval re-
view.
The communication is as follows;
Navy Department, Washington, y. -
Nav % lSg3-Rear Admiral Bancroft
Gherardi: Sir,-Upon issuing the order
detaching YOU from the command anoat'
the department desires to express It's hlgh
annreciation of your efficient and valuable
services while exercising the command
from which you are now relieved since
the creation Of the rank you so hohoIaply
eniov. no officer Of the United states
Navy has ever held command or a ne,
for so long a period as that wnlch VIII
be terminated by the department or9er
of this date. You have had the sing 'll1r T
falicifv of closing your career afioat by
era-anizing and successfully conducting
a., international review and land parade
alone unique and I'm many respects uh-
rrecedented. The department congratu-
iates YOU upon the manner in whieh you
have, discharged the difficult and detaileI
duties imposed upon you by thls nov -
undertaking. With best wishes. lin,
,,onrs regpectfully, II. Herbert, Secretary
of the Navy.