Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-12-02
THE NAVY.
Interesting Summary of Herbert's
Department.
MUCH MORE WORK REQUIRED,
Recent Additions Still Leave the Country
In Bad shape In the Event OF Hosti-
lities-A Moribund sys-
tenn.

report of Secretary Hilary A. Herbert
is an interesting summary OF the pro-
gress made in naval construction since
the Inauguration Of the new American
steel navy, with the result of re-
placing with high powered steel
ships nearly all the old timber sides
that made up the navy lists at the
close of the war. The report shows
that the total number of serv-
iceable war vessels in the United
States navy is forty-one, fifteen Of
which are armored. In addition there
are sixty-four vessels on the lists, most
ly wooden cruisers, tugs and anti
quated monitors that are set down as
unserviceable for war purposes. Tables
are given, showing the naval strength
OF the leading powers, and COMPARE
son from them places the United States
seventh in the rank OF naval powers.
The delays experienced in building
ships as result of the failure OF the
steel companies to furnish the neces-
sary armor is alluded TO- OF 1880 tons
covered by the two principal contracts,
only 1,949 tons had been delivered on
the first day of March last. The great
difficulties experienced by the armor
makers have. however, all been over
come and deliveries of armor are now
being made with satisfactory rapidity.
Reference is made to the remarka BILE
success of the steel makers in produc-
ing armor-piercing projectiles in this
country. and it is said that they are
equal. If not superior, to any such made
at other places. A higher development
of these projectiles has been made
necessary by the discovery that they
will not penetrate curved nickel plate
at angles of As degrees.
The armor plate tests during the past
year have in cases exceeded in severity
any ever attempted, either in this coun-
try or abroad. The results have con-
clusively demonstrated the desirability
of using the Harvey process for the ar
NOR of all vessels now under construc-
ton. and having induced the secretary
to expect that all of the armor already
ordered and not too far advanced
should be ire tied by the Harveyized
process.
The department is conducting care
full investigation to ascertain what
would be the effect upon the crew OF a
submerged boat of the detonation of a
high explosive under water near by.
1t appears that the department is wait
ing for the result OF the experiments
with the fifteen-inch pneumatic guns
now being constructed for the war de-
partment before proceeding further
with the test of the Vesuvius. Should
the war department experiments show
these guns to be of little value for
naval purposes. it would be in the in
terests of economy to transform the
Vesuvius into a torpedo cruiser.
Probably the most important chap
ter in the report treats of the naval
policy of the country. lie says that our
navy has not yet come up to the stand
ard; that our navy shall be as effective
when compared with Others as that
which the country possessed before the
era of modern improvement, and when
our seaports were deemed to be, as
they certainly are not now, amply pro-
vided with Notifications fully up to
the requirements of lineage. The Sec
retary saws we now have building only
four ssels which can properly
be denominated first-class battle ships
The cruisers and gun boats we
now have built and are building con-
stitute an efficient feet They can
destroy merchant ships" says the sec
retary; "thev can fight vessels of their
own class. but they can not meet ar
mored vessels with any reasonable
hope of success, and in time of war,
scattered abroad over the high seas as
they would be if we sent them against
an enemy's commerce, they would
leave our unfortified sea coast, with all
its cities. absolutely without reliance,
except upon our four tirst-class and
two second-class battleships, seven
coast defense vessels and two little tor
pedo boats"
The secretary says that no one can
value economy more highly than he
does, but that safety OF the country, its
honor and its dignity, must rise above
every other consideration, aud the pro-
gramme of authorizing the building of
at least some vessels ut each session of
congress ought. not to be interrupted
now. Therefore. he recommends that
81 - laoee ora ha 80 Ia