The morning call., 1893-08-20
OUR NEW NAVY.
The Policy Which Secretary Herbert
PROPOSES to Pursue.
Washington dispatch in New York Sun.


Washington dispatch in New York Sun.
The launch of the fine war vessel Mime
apolis and the approaching trial run of
ber prototype and sister ship, the Colum-
-biR, naturally bring to the front, for pub
lie admiration, the class of protected
cruisers Of which they are the latest and
highest development. With all that has
been said, and that can most justly be said
in favor of these splendid vessels, the
suggestion will naturally arise that the
country ought to have more ships of this
sort, and to have them as soon as possible
Secretary Tracy once said that they could
safely be counted on, in any ordi-
nary sea, to overtake any commerce
destroyer or any merchant vessel now
afoat." To that extraordinary superb
ority they sdd "a coal endurance
hlthsrtO unknown in ships of war;" thus
giving them an uneQualed speed radius.
Accordingly, such vessels, though built
for aggression. might fairly be classed
among the ahlest of defensive ships; and
this IS view that Mr.. Tracy emphasized
In saying that SIX OF them could eXterm-
inate the commerce of the country, under
the present conditions of commerce pro-
lection, so that they would, under these
conditions. absolutely preclude an attack
from commercial state, however threat
eHIDS III us UeMdHu, powerful III itS
Rrmored fleet or aggressive in its foreign
policy" IL would be very desirable, there
fore, TO have more such cruisers, since
only from a commercial power has this
country anything TO fear.
But it may safely be said that the Mime
apolis ard the Columbia are the last yes-
sells OF their type that the navy will see for
some years TO come. The ground for this
view may be found in the report which
Mr. Herbert, as chairman of the House
Committee on Naval Affairs, made no
longer ago than February Is of the present
year Congress has now provided for
cruisers" said the report. until, In the
opinion of your committee, no others
should at present be built if We are
to have battle-ships. In battle-ships con-
slsts the fighting strength of modern
navy" Accordingly Mr. Herbert recon-
mended the construction of seven or
eight more Of these, and their access
sorles, reasonable number Of torpedo
poats. The light-draught gunboats for
river service, actually provided for last
year, were an exceptional need, which
could be supplied at that time, since the
oelay Oh the aTmor-makers rendered it
useless 10 authorize another battle-Ship,
Whlle the condition Of the treasury was
such as to make economy desirable. But
the whole tone Of the report favored
battle-ships, and it is well understood that
Mr. Herbert. as Secretary. holds precisely
when a Congressman. Hence battle-ship
will doubtless be the chief If not the only
cali, in the way Of new construction, made
upon Congress by the Navy Department
next winter.
Batte-ships are the backbone of
modern navy. To the United States they
are especially servicea BILE from the present
lack of suitable land Notifications. A ship
Ike the Indiana, with its heady steel
:. water-line belt. barbette and turret, and
WIN guns larger than any found In our
land deiences. is floating fort and most
efncient coast defender. She can move
F.. from harbor TO harbor. and so help TO pro-
.:tect ports that have 10 adequate guns
mounted; she can also move out against
an enemys base OF operations, as. for eX-
ample, Halifax, Bermuda, Jamaica or
Havana. A dlstincuvely sea-going battle
ship like the Iowa adds to her coast line
functions the ability to cruise anywhere.
1t is not strange, therefore, that Secretary
Herbert should strongly favor battle-ship
Besides, the navy is beginning to accu-
mulate respectable body of cruisers for
the protection of our commerce and the de-
s1ructlon of an enemy's. Willie the great
racers of this class are the Columbia and
the Minneapolis,lon the Pacific Coast the
fine 5500-ton Olympia Is soon to have her
trial trip. She is guaranteed to make 20
knots, and likely 10 approach u. The New
York. an armored cruiser Of greater dis
placement than the Minneapolis. has al