Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1893-07-27
ENvIOUs BRlToNs.
Uncle Sans Naval improvements
Open Their Eyes
Tho Now American Navy 10 Regarded In
England a. IN Unnecessary Expense
-VShnt They Think OF Our
Big WSrshlps.

11O" GuC ubVI1 EcHulSSbuCCO VI LuO
United States results from any eonyic-
ton on tho part of the people that
warships arc required, or appeals to
national sentiment promoted by the
shipbuilding interest, is not worth in
quiry, says the London Standard. 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
least requisite. Her seaboard is OF
enormous extent. but is in little peril
from any enemy, and science within
the pnst ten or fifteen years has Gnu
blcd harbors to be defended by mines,
torpedocs and other deadly means
which were unknown in the days ''bc-
fore the war" One cannot we'll mag
inc the circumstances under which tho
United States need, unless by tho
most dcplorablc folly or intentional
aggrcssivcncss, DRIFT into hostilities
with any other great power. Tho re-
public is in the happy position of hay
ing-cxccpt in ono instance, and as
that instance is our Canadian fellow
subjects we decline to discuss my such
possibilities rs on Anglo-American
war-no ncighbors ut all fit to cope
with her. Tho nearest arc, indeed, no
vylcss, and all the rest know their own
resources too we'll to think, even if
there was the least chance for q quar-
rel, of trying conclusions with her.
Chilli, it was ut one time believed,
might perhaps give passing trouble.
But even Mt that period the United
States fleet in the Pacific was quite
equal to that of the smaller powers.
The good fortune of tho country
which recently made SO crcditablc q
display of sca-going fighting machines
IS that she can concentrate all her
fleets along her homo coasts. Sac docs
not possess colonies scattered all over
the world and requires none. She has
no fleets of corn ships to convoy
from the other side of the globe, as q
power like England must when by any
evil accident we arc threatened with
difficulties by one of the huge armed
states of Europe. The southern cruisers
almost ruined the merchant fleet, but
it WIS not the absence of Il navy that
for twenty years subsequently pre-
vented the Americans from recovering
their carrying trade. If, therefore,
the republic is prepared to continue
protect" and to refusc-in accord
apcc with the carly and, it seemed, the
fixed policy Of the republic-to form
any ''entangling alliances or acquire
any territory beyond the sea-"
much smaller navy than that she is SO
fcverishly building might serve all the
wants of the country. At present, in
Guiding Eunboats and other small
craft. the United States navy numbers
eighty vessels, mounting more than
eleven hundred guns, and including
among this generally Indifferent roll
of ships some very fine specimens of
the modern floating battery. Tho Chi
cago, Philadelphia, Newark, San Fran
cisco, Atlanta and yorktown arc oil
craft of n formidable description. In
addition there is the dynamite-gun
vessel Vesuvius, 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 de-
sire of every wcll-wishcr Cincluding her
inventory is that this outcome of
American ingenuity may forever re-
main speculative curiosity for such
friendly exhibitions as that of the Co
lumbar naval review,