The record-union., 1894-12-31
THE NEW NAVY AND IT'S IN
CREASE,

4 w NAV AND lis IN
CREASE.
The United States is making excellent
progress in the development of the new
navy, in some respects. According to the
report of the Secretary of the Navy, we
have four first-class battle-ships building,
or built and being outftted; two second
class in the same condition: two armored
cruisers, one of which is building; six
coast-defense vessels are either ready for
service or nearly so: one harbor defense
vessel building; two protected cruisers
building, and eleven others, iD service or
under repair; three cruisers of the pat
tern of the Detroit; nine gunboats, three
of which are building; one dynamite gun
vessel; one dispatch boat; one cadet prac-
tice cruiser; three torpedo boats in service
and three others are being planned for
speedy construction.
This will give us forty-two vessels fit
for fighting when all are completed, one
that could do some light service and one
that could do none, as it is used as train
ing ship. These are exclusive of six
torpedo boats, three of which are not yet
constructed, though ordered.
But this is even then very small navy
for nation with a greater length of sea-
board and more ports than any other.
Indeed, the list gives so few serviceable
ships that we cannot make decent show
ing in Japanese and Chinese waters,
where American interests demanding
protection are large, and for months we
had in those waters, where war was in
progress, only the old scow Monocacy
and one cruiser, and our citizens residing
in China were compelled to accept the
protection of the French fleet. This is
humiliating, and the complaint concern
ing it is bitter and loud.
While torpedo boats are now every
where recognized as absolute necessities
for any naval force that proposes to COM
mand respect for the nation it represent,
we have provision for but six of these
small vessels, while the Argentine Re-
public has %, Austria "a, Brazil and Chile
% each, China 81, Denmark %, England
10, France pa, Germany III, Italy III,
Turkey So, Sweden aud Norway 90, Spain
"a, Japan 26, Holland SO, and even weak
Greece has 81; Russia has 163 and Ii more
building, while Italy has ordered 10 more
England 64. France Al, Japan %, Russia
Ii, Spain 24 and Turkey 3. Yet, the
United States, as Secretary Her bert points
out, has more seacoast and more ports
than any of these nations.
The Secretary holds that our navy is
sufficient, perhaps. in times of peace for
cruising purposes. but it is not equal to
much fighting, since unarmored cruisers
can contend with ships of their own class
only, and if ours were distributed over the
seas against an enemy's commerce our
unfortified sea coast would be left to reIy
upon six battle-ships, seven coast defense
vessels and six little torpedo boats. If
all these were concentrated, says the Sec
retary, they would scarcely be able to
create diversion in an eneny's fleet.
and if scattered would not furnish one
boat to each of our chief sea-coast cities,
Secretary Herbert says:
II our Government in the future is to have
naval strength enough to command the peace
and be in condition to ''enforce the terms die
tated by its sense OF right and justice" il
must have more battle-ships, and must build
a reasonable mum ber OF torpedo boats.
But unless Congress provides the
means naval ship-building will practi-
cally cease early in 1895, and on that point
he adds:
Without considering the effect Of the cessa-
tion OF this work on industrial conditions
and disclaiming all obligation of the Govern
ment to engage in public works for the sole
purpose OF giving employment to any class,
however deserving, L respectfully urge tnat
from the standpoint of national defense it
will be unwise 10 stop entirely the work OF
naval upbuilding; that wisdom and expert
euce demand that the present well organized,
highly trained, and exceedingly efficient body
OF mechanics and skilled laborers engaged in