The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-28
AMERICAS NEW NAVY.
An Interesting Comparison
With the 0lden Style.
REVOLUTION IN FORTY YEARS.
Lieut.. Ross Describes How Kified Guns
and Armor-Clads Have Replaced
Former Methods.

The feature OF the entertainment given
last evening 81 the regular monthly meet
ing OF Stevens Post, q. i. r., was an ad-
dress on The New Navy" by Lieut..
Wagdemar d. Ross. OF the coast defense
ship Monterey, now IN port. This was
preceded by piano duet by Mrs. Shepard
and Miss Harris and an address by VIII r
Humphrey.
In his address on "The New NAVY"
Lieut.. Ross pointed out the growth OF the
navy since the civil war and particularly
the growth since the Chilean episode.
when IL as said that the little nation OF
South America was considering the advis-
ability of attacking San Francisco ana
demanding ransom. lie then entered
into the histories of the navies OF the
world and pointed out the fact that since
October II, 1855 when the French armored
floating batteries silenced the forts OF
kinburn the manner of constructing
battleships had been revolutionized. Later
az Hampton Roads. when the Merrimac
sunk or dispersed the northern feet. the
utter futiiity Of unarmored ships against
armored ones was demonstrated. He then
told how the smooth-bore guns gave way
TO lied ones. with all the latest improve
ments facilitating rs loading and hand
ing, until no il IS possible TO harl ton
o. steel at the speed of 1000 feet second.
the shot beng able u pierce twenty-five
inches # steel al / 600 yards.
From projectIes the lieutenant turned
to armor. describing the march Of prog
ress in that line and the different charac-
tiers of the armor on men-of-war, and the
several kinds oil cruisers aud coast defense
hx aa1fsF n.xst.
and other arrangements for handling the
ship and loading the immense guns were
gone into and described at length. Con-
corning the American navy, he said:
'At the outbreak OF the civil war in 1861
the North commenced their contest with
the South with forty-two vessels, mostly
sailing vessels, and $40 men. There were
no Rrmored vessels. The country had
neglected the lesson taught in 1855 by the
action at hinburn and, as a matter of fact,
at the commencement of hostiIities there
were equipped and ready for service three
naval vessels From March /, 1861, TO
December, 1854, there we're 2J3 war vessels
constructed or then in course of
construction, Of which sixty-two
were iron cad, or armored
vessels. There were i49 screw vessels
added TO tbs navy either by capture or
purchase, and Ia paddle wheel steamers
sells of the navy were sailing vessels. In
all the navy had GIL vessels and 81, 500 men
in December. 1891. representing cost of
$3.50, 600, ooo or $50. 600 600 per annum. In
the report of an expert sent 10 this conn
stry TO observe our navy aud its vessels the
statement is made OF this period that the
United States possessed a navy equal TO
any in the world. From the change of
the diplomatic tone at that time do not
think that the expert was far out IN his
opinion.
"What fol owed? A period of retrench-
ment. 10 the utter neglect OF the navy. In
1851. which is generally conceded TO be the
commencement period of our new navy
there were on the naval list twenty moni-
tors. all of which had been lad down
during the war, and hity-two other vessels
Of all classes. twenty of which had been
pronounced unserviceable. OF these latter
vessels. one was built IN 1S44 one in 1850.
three in 1855, eight in ISIS. two in 1861 six
In iS62 two IN 1853. three in 1864 four in
1855, four in is6S. three IN 1878. seven in
1874. two IN 1879, one in 1876 one IN lS77,
two IN ISIS. one neing purchased ana one
was not com nleted. All those built sub
segment % ISIS. save one, were light cruis-
ers Of less than =. 900 tons displacement. and
there was not modern gun on any OF
them. and twenty-six of tn - vessels
are still on the naval list. Fortunately or
this country the personnel of the men in
the navy had not been allowed To decay as
had been the ships. aud when the re ppe