The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-12
REPORT ON THENEW NAVY
SECRETARY HERBERT REC
OMMEMDS MORE EWARSHIPS.

He Advises tho Construction of Three
Battle-Ships and Twelve Torpedo
Boats-The Naval Estimates
The New Submarine Torpedo
Boat-Japan Teaches q Lesson.
The annual report o; the Navy Depart
ment has Just been made public.
The most important recommendation made
By Secretary Herbert is that Congress au-
tnosize the construction OF three great bat
tle-ships OF about 10000 tons displacement,
to cost. exclusive Of armament. not exceed
ing 81 ,000. .000 each. and twelve torpedo
boats of IRON 100 to 300 tons each, at the
discretion Of the SECRETARY. To cost not ex-
ceading an average OF 917O,OO
There are many features OF interest In this
report, not only.in the way OF review OF
naval progress at home and abroad but also
relating to great questions OF naval policy.
he shows that since his last report five
splendid ships have been completed, tried
and added to the naval list, three Of which
are capable OF speed In excess OF twenty-one
knots, while two OF them are the feetest
cruisers in the world. The five vessels are
the Marblehead. 1914 knots, Columbia.
22. 60 knots Olympia, 21.69 knots Mont.
23 076 knots.
One Important change OF naval policy is
noted in connection with the advertise
ments for three new torpedo boats soon to
be issued. The Secretary says that no speed
provisions will be allowed on these boats |;
that the premium system undoubtedly mad
its advantages when adopted, but the de-
partment is now convinced that the time
has come when, with the experience gained,
IA , ha hon
Still treating of torpedo boats, the report
shows the startling number OF these craft
now on hand in foreign countries to be 1888
and the number building 1872. Great Britain
has ITS on hand and sixty-four building,
willie France is even better of with 214 on
hand and forty-one building. OF seventeen
countries enumerated, not one has less than
twenty-five. OF these boats, the United
States. with more coasts and ports than any
other Nation, has but six, counting three yet
to be built.
The work on new ship construction has
proceeded satisfactorily and the deliveries
OF srmor which had retarded the work are
now being made at rate that promises to
bring In the full contract supply during the
next spring. The work on the new Runboats
at Newport News Is also going on rapidly,
and the Secretary ssys that these vessels
have been contracted for at price fully as
low as Is paid for similar work In France
and England. The Secretqry speaks in
terms OF deep regret OF the loss OF the Kear-
surge. and to prevent the famous name from
lapsing on the naval List. he suggests that q
battle-ship be built to perpetuate It. He also
suggests that the renowned old Constitution
be put In repair and placed on exhibition at
the Washington Navy Yard as an object OF
interest to patriotic Americans.
The Secretary has taken q cue from the
battle of the Yalu and says that he has
given instructions that all but the most
necessary woodwork must be removed from
our ships. As all the guns for our new
naval vessels are now nearly finished, the
report states that the work OF constructing
a sufficient reserve store should be COM
menced at once, and a proper estimate Is
submitted to that end. Attention is called
in this connection to fact that although the
Government is annually expending q large
subsidy for vessels. such as the Paris and
New York, to secure their use In time OF war,
1t has not q gun TO put on them. Apresent,
In case Of war, Great Britain could speedily
arm her merchant marine on the great
lakes and do US enormous damage, while II
we had reserve supply Of guns, we could
dominate these waters.
On this point Of preparation for war In
time Of peace, the Secretary makes this very
:. significant comment
siThe latest and one Of the most impressive
lessons In all history Is now being taught by
China and Japan. A Nation, the most pop
ulous In the world. able to put millions of
fighting men into the field, Is now. after suf-
fering many disasters, securing Europe and
America for munitions of war. It relied
upon it's numbers. Now It Is buying dis
carded guns and discarded ammunition,
whatever It can get, to aid in repelling the
assaults OF people vastly inferior to 1t IN
numbers" , r... ..,
The Secretary caused experiments to be
made at Newport to determine the probable
erect upon the crew of submarine boat
OF the explosion Of torpedo charges. Live
animals r-ere inclosed in an old Lay torpedo
case, which was submerged in fifteen feet
of water, and charges Of eighty pounds of
can cotton were exploded at various dis
tances from 431 feet to eighty feet. No
damage was done to the inmates and 1t has
been demonstrated that the crew of sub
marine boat will be safe so long as the hull
Is NOT ruptured.
The naval estimates for the ascal year end
ing June so. 1896, amount to $50, ,a52, ,020. 40,
of which S13 3,259, 1892 is to make payments
upon work hitherto authorizing the con-
structiop, steam machinery, armor and
armament Of the new vessels now approach
ing completion. This Appropriation, which
Is to meet an Indebtedness due before the
end Of the fiscal year, will be substantially
the last, for, with the expenditure OF $780,
600 in 1897, the existing new navy will be
entirely paid for.
THE CZAR MARRIED,