Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-29
ONE NEW BATTLE SHIP,
1t is Understood Secretary Herbert Recon-
mends Its Construction.
His Report TO he Ready on Friday
Ii VIII Contain Much
IL of Interest.

Secretary Herbert has completed his an.
nual report and it will be published next
Friday. 1t contains, IL lie understood,
complete statement Of the operations OF the
naval establishment during the past year
and dwells with commendable pride on the
many recent important additions to our
naval strength in the completion of the
Columbia, New York. Olympia, Detroit,
Montgomery, Marblehead, Machias and
Castine and the satisfactory progress made
on the battleships Indiana, Massachusetts.
oregon, Iowa, Maine and Texas. Recon-
mendations for an increase of the navy
are few. This is due to the depleted condi-
ton OF the national eXchequer and the
known opposition of Congress TO large ex-
penditures of any kind just at this time
All the naval estimates. therefore have
been reduced to the lowest notch
1t Is understood that he asks for au-
thority to build one additional battieship
and four torpedo boats CT the Ericsson
type. His well-known preference for battle
ships over other types. when he was chair
man of the House naval affairs committee.
resulted In the three battleships provided
two years ago. and the fourth, the Iowa.
authorized last Congress. He believes that
Tor the present. at least the navy is well
provided with vessels of the cruiser type.
which are intended TO show our flag ana
perform all necessary service I'm time OF
peace. Battleships, the Secretary believes
are me backbone of the navy. and the more
we nave The better and stronger the navy
VIII be. He has therefore decided TO ark
Tor one ship and six torpedo boats from this
GongIesS. The battieship. he believes.
should be of the same general design q.
the Indiana, Massachusetts and Oregon
ana not so large as the Iowa v hich nv her
great draaght will not be able TO enter some
OF cur seaports-
Submarine Boats.
The Secretary. it is said. approves the
recommendations OF Capt Sampson. chief
OF the ordnance bureau. that the s45O.Vvo
appropriated for duplicate OF the vesuvius
be used for the construction OF four torpedo
boats of the Ericsson type The appropria-
| ton was made conditlonally that the Ve-
suvius proved successful. but as there Is
much doubt as to the value of the dynamite
cruiser the Secretary believes that the
money had better be used for other pur-
poses. He also recommends that the $2o1,-
90 appropriated last Congress for a sub
marine boat and experiments be devoted TO
constructing torpedo boats. This Is recon-
mended by the chief of ordnance. The idea
| 10 construct the submarine boat has been
virtually abandoned for the present, IL is
said, on account of the uncertainty sur
rounding the efficiency and success of this
/ type Of craft. With authority TO devote
/ these two appropriations fo- torpedo boats
six could be built without any additional
I appropriation. All that would be necessary
Is a clause in the naval appropriation bill
| directing the Secretary to use the money In
this way.
The report is supposed to treat at length
OF the valuable lessons taught by the Co.
lumbar naval review. Ii also shows the
necessity for congressional action to put
an end TO the pSesent stagnation in promo
tons. so as to provide a more rapid ad-
vancement Of officers. especially in the
lower grades. The estimates of all the
naval bureaux are lower than last year
The largest estimate for any single bureau
| is S9o,0oo TO pay for armor already con-
| tracted for. This armor is for vessels un-
| der construction, and includes no new pur-
| chases. The bureaus of construction and
\ steam engineering require 81, JD.0p0 to pay
/ for ships and their engines now building
| 1t is said that the Secretary asks for an
appropriation to commence the building
of a new dry dock opposite New Orleans.
The ground has been selected and the land
purchased, but there is not enough money
available to do more than draw up the
plans. These contemplate a dry dock as
large as the one building at New York, and
with depth Of water Of about thirty feet