The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-01

| During the progress of the maneu-
vers seven days. frequent attacks
were made by these boats in groups
and the official decisions of the UNI,
pires recognized that they had de-
stroyed one battle ship and six cruis.
| ers The vessels decided to have been
destroyed were actually struck by tor
pedoes with dummy heads and nc
other claims were allowed. During this
period eighteen torpedo boats were de-
cided to have been destroyed by the
enemy. A rough calculation of the
difference in expenditure will give the
value Of the battle ship, which carried
400 men, as So, 100000, and Of the six
cruisers. which carried 1850 men, as
So, 900, an aggregate of 1850 men
and a total value of So $50 000 while
the value of eighteen torpedo boats was
| about $l,S00,000, and their crews aggre-
gated $50 men, the difference in losses
| being, in money, $7,950,00o and in
| men, 1880. Torpedo boats, however
can not be relied upon alone. They
must be accompanied by battle ships
as the enemy will be certain to come
with battle ships and torpedo boats
also.
No one can value economy more than
l do. and it's practice is certainly ne
cessary at this time when the govern
! ment expenditures are likely to be
more than its receipts but the safety
of the country, its honor, and its dig
nifty must rise above every other con-
sideration, and it is respectfully sub
mitted that the programme of author
izing the building of at least some
vessels at each session of Congress
ought not to be interrupted now
recommend that the construction of at
least one battle ship and six torpedo
boats be authorized by Congress at the
| coming session.
The authorization OF these vessels
would require the expenditure of very
little money during the coming fiscal
year F'irst-claSS torpedo boats can
now be built for $4,000 each, and not
more than S360000 of this sum, esti-
mating the total cost at $4,000, would
be expended within the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1895. So much time is re-
quired to perfect the plans of a battle
ship, put it under contract, and pro-
vide the material, that not more than
one-tenth of the cost Of such a vessel,
if it should be authorized, would need
to be appropriated for during the COM
ing session of Congress. Every vessel
now authorized may be expected to be
in commission by the first day of July,
1896, so that unless other ships be pro-
vided for now we shall at that date
not have a single ship in process of
construction. The question is there
fore presented whether on account of
the present condition of the treasury
the programme of building a moderate
sized navy shall be absolutely arrested.
It is not believed that the American
people, intent as they are in enforcing
economy in government expenditures
are willing that this great work SHOULD
be stopped short at this time. 1t may
be well, considering financial condi-
tons, to make only a moderate pro-
vision for new ships, but 1t would be
much regretted if Congress should, by
making none whatever, indicate an in
tention TO abandon entirely the work
of constructing the new navy at a time
when ali the plants are in operation
throughout the country, ready to
build in better style and at more eco
nomical rates than ever before.
It is necessary TO speak of our most
Intimate relations, in every phase of
national existence, with the great gov
ernments Of the old world, whose sub
jects are now in phenomenal numbers
becoming citizens of our country. AS
we receive them we assume the re-
sponsibility of protection, in many
cases against their former govern
ments. With the growth of our popu-
lation and our wonderful development,
it is beyond doubt that the energies
of our people will be more and more
directed to foreign trade and to the
extension of our interests in all direc-
tons, while the increasing fmmigra-
ton of subjects of foreign powers in
both Europe and the orient is all the
time complicating our relations to-
wards other governments 1t seems
certain, therefore, that the future is to
bring with it an increase Of inter-
national questions, to settlement of
which, in a manner which will be at
once peaceful and honorable, naval
strength will be absolutely essential.
We must make and keep our navy in
such a condition of efficiency as to
give weight and power to whatever
policy it may be thought wise on the
part of our government to assume.
The navy is to maintain an honorable
peace, begotten by an assured strength
to protect rights, enforce just claims,
beget security against foreign agrees
sion, and compel respect for any de-
clared policy of our people which may
affect foreign nations
With the increase of ships herein
outlined. our navy will still be one for
defense rather than offense. We would,
however, with this policy enforced,
have our ports adequately protected
and at the same time have sufficient
power on the high seas and in foreign
ports to maintain the rights and in
terests of our people, and to uphold
the honor and dignity of our flag
among the nations of the earth, with
out unduly burdening our people or
into any rivalry with those
great navies maintained by nations
who believe their existence depends on
their naval strength.
/ feel sure that this policy will have
the full and hearty approval of the
large majority of our people.