The morning call., 1893-03-28
OUR NAVAL PROGRESS.

At the dinner given in his honor by the
Hamilton Club Of Brooklyn Mr.. B. f.
Tracy. ex-Secretary of the Navy, made
remarkable comparison between the status
of the navy when be entered upon offioe
and when he left II. At the close of 1889
our navy ranked only as twelfth in the scale
of maritime strength. 8 number of very
inferior powers were on the high seas su-
perior to us. Four years prior ship-building
for war purposes In the modern sense had
scarcely been attempted in the United States.
1t is. perhaps, well that we have waited.
We have the benefit of hard-earned expert
enee elsewhere and are now so far ahead
that, as Mr.. Tracy remarked. we are the
fifth naval power, ranking next to England,
France, Italy and Russia, and stand IN the
foremost position with reference to the de-
sign, construction and equipment of vessels.
We have succeeded in producing armoT
which has turned the scale of advantage
against the artilerist. The thickest steel
faced armor of the ordinary type is easily
penetrable or can be shattered by the heavy
ordnance of to-day, but armor of steel al
loyed with nickel resists the impact Of shot
from the most powerful guns. Some of our
vessels are. therefore. stronger than any
afioat belonging to other nations. In other
features our progress is not less evident.
The United States can now undertake TO
supply itself with the best types of every
thing appertainng TO naval warfare,
whether in design or construction of hulls
and engines. armor, guns or torpedoes. A
beginning has been made in battle-ships-
pOnderous castles almost invulneTable to
artillery fire, but not of excessive speed,
and we are not lacking in swift cruisers.
formidable in attack and riyaling in speed
the finest passenger steamers. As cruiser
the New York has hardly rival, either in
quality of armor or speed, if the latter be
sustained while in commission. Runs of
20 80 knots per hour equal those of the fast
est steamers of commerce.
To have achieved all this within a few
years is a striking proof of our resources.
energy, organizing capacity and skill.
Changes in the Government dOckyards to
secure efficiency in the staff of engineers
aud artifcers have resulted in decided ad
vantages When the Maine and Texas
were built the one at Brooklyn and the
other at Norfolk, it was not considered ex-
pedient to intrust the engines to these
naYy-yards. But it is no longer necessary
to go TO private firms for engines. The
private ship-building yards have also ad-
yanced to an extraordinary extent. San
Francisco is proud of the position attained
by the Union Iron Works, which is pro
nounced second only in capacity to the
yard of Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia. AT
this moment the Cramps have in hand the
construction of war and merchant vessels
which win cost 100000 OO No other ship
building establishment in the world has
contracts to that enorm Gus extent in pro-
cess of execution.
MIR. Secretary Herbert gives unsilnted
praise to the achievements of his predeces-
sors in the Navy Department, Mr.. Whitney
and Mr. Tracy. WHAT his programme will
be has not been disclosed. but the assump-
ton is justified that he will earnestly give
attention TO the duty Of maintaining the
efficiency Of tire navy and raising its status.
We are spared the luxury OF keeping mp
huge army, but we do require navy which
will make the power Of the United States
felt and respected when there is occasion TO
speak in menacng tones. The naval pro-
gramme at this moment is satisfactory but
moderate. Twenty-seyen vessels are au-
thorized OIL under construction which have
yet to 60 for the first time into commission.
Two OF these, the Indiana and New York,
are practically completed and ready for the
pennant but number of the others will be
year or more in the builders hands. But
without doubt our navy is advancing rap
idly.