The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-28
SECRETARY HERBERr's REPORT.
Some Facts About New Navy Ez
penditures

since his last report the following vessels
have been completed aud tried, namely,
the NIarblehead, Columbia. Olympia,
Montgomery, Minneapolis. The Indiana.
Texas, and Oregon have had unofficial
preliminary trials under the direction of
| the contractors, and the Maine had her Of
fetal machinery trial on oct. Il, 1894 her
engines developing an indicated horse
power of 8, 224.3 for four hours. and showing
! and average speed of II. IS knots.
The last naval appropriation act con-
tanned provision authorizing the con-
struction of three additional torpedo boats.
The department has carefully considered
Ques lions relating to the development of
this type of vessel both al home and
abroad, and has finally decided upon the
construction of torpedo boats of the gen
eral type of the Ericsson, with a slightly
greater displacement and to attain an
average speed of not less than 24.5 knots
on the acceptance trial.
For seventeen countries there are at
present on hand l. S3 torpedo boats and
the number authorized and building is
1872. The smallest number of torpedo
boats possessed by any of them is %, while
the United States, with more seacoast,
and more ports than any one of these ma
tons. has of this class of naval vessels,
/ now everywhere recognized as indispensa-
BILE, only 6, and in this number are in
Guided the three now about to be built.
Progress in the construction of our
armored vessels was for many years
delayed by reason of the unexpected diff
| culties encountered by contractors in the
manufacture of armor. As was antici-
/ pated. however, in my last annual re-
port, armor is now being delivered at
/ such a rate as to justify the expectation
/ that both companies now under contract
/ with the government will complete their
| deliveries during the coming spring. The
statements made hereafter as to the pc
/ RODS at which vessels are expected to
! be completed are therefore advanced with
full assurance that they are reasonably
/ accurate"
The ordnance work at the Washington
| gun factory has progressed satisfactorily
during the past year. Our plant, all of the
! newest pattern and most approved design,
was selected with the greatest care, and
constructed with commendable foresight.
| 1t remains unsurpassed in the world.
From the commencement of the work of
manufacturing our modern ordnance the
system employed in the construction of
/ guns at this factory has remained I'M
| changed. While the weight of ordnance
| expert opinion still remains greatly in
| favor of the gun built up of steel forgings
| and assembled with shrinkage by heat,
/ the investigation of different designs has
not been neglected, and careful atten-
ton is now, and will hereafter be, given
to other systems as they appear, so that
at no time will this most important factor
in naval warfare be behind that of other
| nations"
THE manufacture of smokeless powder
at the naval torpedo station, Newport,
| r. l., is still progressing satisfactorily
the resulting powders showing ballistic
and keeping qualities quite equal to those
| which have been adopted for service
use by foreign powers. Smokeless pow
ders from abroad have also been tested,
| but none have given satisfactory results
"The progress made in this country in
the manufacture of armOr has been re-
markable. To make such armor requires
a plant costing millions of dollars, and
workmen of skill and experience. Two
great armOr manufacturing plants have
been established in this country The very
first plates produced are believed to have
been equal TO any then turned out in the
Oldest establishments of Europe THE de-
partment, however, was not satisfied with
this 1t demanded Improvement upon Eu-
ropean armor and improvements were
made first by the Introduction of an ad-
mixture of nickel with the steel and,
secondly, by face hardening by means of
the Harvey process. Thus, it is believed,
our armor became very early in the pro-
cess of its manufacture, far and away
the best in the world. European naYies
are now adopting similar methods.
AS both of the establishments making
armor for us now have their plants in
operation and their skilled workmen. as
sembled, ready, with the experience they
have acquired, to continue the manufac-
ture, the question now seems to present
itself for immediate solution, shall con-
gress authorize any more armored Vessels2
If not, then we need not concern ourselves
with the future of these plants; but if
we are to have more armored vessels,
then it would appear that we should make
other contracts for armor while these
L IL. In, inn
order, and their skilled operatives are as
sembled."
"Our new ships viii be of little value
without officers and men trained in eX-
ercising them. This should not however,
be for moment understood to mean
that the vessels now Building and those
the department is asking for in this re-
port ought all of them to be kept con-
stantly in commission. Battle ships and
coast-defense vessels, as well as other
ships, should be kept as nearly as may
be always ready for service Armored
ships. however, and some of the larger
cruisers, like the Minneapolis and the
Columbia, it would be desirable to keep
cruising in our own waters for not less
| than one year out Of three When not
cruising they might be laid up in fresh
water under care-talSers who would main
tain them in condition. Experience is
demonstrating that long cruises by our
I largest vessels are expensive, and there
is no question but that smaller vessels
better subserve all the purposes of cruis-
ing in foreign waters for the protection
Of American interests in time of peace
Economy is not to be lost sight Of by
those who would befriend the navy. It's
affairs should be so administered as to
entitle it to the continuing support Of
a people whose patriotism may always
be relied upon to respond to every reas-
enable demand.
II the naval policy ] have here ventured
to indicate and briefly outline be carried
out there will be no necessity, unless in
case of war to increase the force Of en-
listed men beyond that now asked for
many years to come This win make the
total number Of men authorized 1000"
The sums asked for this year for I'm
crease Navy" is $l3, 1892 ''The estimates
for this year for increase of the navy,
under armor and armament, and con-
struction and steam machinery, win be
the last of the large annual amounts
required for the building up Of the new
navy. so far as the same has been author
lied. II may therefore be stated that
this is substantially the last payment on