St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-14
NAVAL RENAISSANCE.
Our New Fleet as Viewed From O
British Standpoint.

Our New Fleet as Viewed From @
British Standpoint.
London Standard
How far the naval renaissance of the
United States results from any cOnvic-
ton on the part of the people that war
ships are required, or appeals to national
sentiment promoted by the ship-build-
ing interest, is not worth inquiry. The
Americans know their own business
best. Nevertheless, to an outsider, the
great republic seems to have begun to
build war vessels when they are ut least
requisite. Her Seab0ard is OF enormous
extent. but 1t is in little peril from any
enemy, ana science within the past ten
or fifteen years has enabled harDorS to
be defended by mined tOrpedos and
other deadly means which We're I'M
known In the days 'before the war"
One cannot well imagine the cIrcum-
stances under which the United States
heed, unless by the most deplUrable folly
or Intentional aggressiveneSS, drift into
hostllltleS with any other great power.
The republic is in the happy position of
having except Ill one instance. and as
that instance Is our Canadian fellow
subjects we decline to discuss any such
possibility as all Anglo-American war
no nelghbOrS at all fit to cope with her.
The nearest are, indeed, navyless, and
ali the rest know their own resources
too we'll to think. even if there was the
least chance OF quarrel, of trying con-
illusions with her. Chilli, it was at one
time believed, might perhaps give pass
ing trouble. But even at that period
the United States fleet i'll the Pacific
was quite equal to that of the smaller
powers.
The good fortune of the country
which yesterday made SO creditable
display of sea-gong lighting machines
is that She can concentrate all her fleets
along her home coasts. She does not
possess colonies scattered all over the
world and requires none. She has no
fleets of corn ships to convoy from the
other part of the globe, as power like
England must when 10y an evil accident
we are threatened with difficulties by
one of the huge armed states
of Europe. The Southern cruis-
ers almost ruined the mer-
chant fleet. but it was not the absence
of navy that for twenty years SUBJ
Sequently prevented the Americans
from recovering their carrying trade.
If, therefore, the republic is prepared
to continue a pacific career, neither to
annex nor protect" and to refuSe-ln
accordance with the early, and, it
Scclheu, Tie HXtu pOilCy vi lHe IcpuUllC
to form any 'entangling alliances or
acquire any ''territory beyond the sea-"
a much smaller navy than that she is so
fcyerishly building might serve all the
wants of the country.
At present, including gunboats and
other small craft, the United States
navy numbers eighty vessels, mounting
more than LOO guns, and including
among this generally indifferent roll OF
ships, some very fine specimens OF the
modern floating battery. The Chicago,
Philadelphia. Newark, San Francisco,
Atlanta and Yorktown are all craft of
formidable description. In addition
there is the dynamite gun vessel Vesu-
yious, the efficiency of which has still
to be proved, and, as it is not unlikely
to be quite as destructive to friends as
to foes, the most sincere desire of every
well-wisher Qncluding her inventory is
that this outcome OF American ingenuity
may forever remain speculative carlos
ity for such friendly exhibitions as that
of yesterday.