The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-06
SHALL WE GO ON WITH OUR NAVY ?

We print elsewhere this morning a very
clever and most readable article from the
New York Evening Post upon the les
sons that our naval officers are disposed
10 draw from the battle between the
Japanese and Chinese ships off the mouth
OF the Yalu river. Clever humorous and
pathetic also as the Posts article is
it's logic Is that IL would be just as well
II this country took less interest In sup
plying itself with all the means neces-
sary for contending with firstNclass
naval power upon the ocean III case
circumstances forced us into such a
contest. and. upon that point, we take
the most decided issue with the Post.
We have already gone far enough in
the construction of a modern navy to
have four hrst-class battle ships equal
TO an encounter with any battle ships
In the world, we have two of the sec
ond-class, the Texas and the Maine, and
we have a number-just how many is
not now recolected-of cruisers that COM
pare favorably with the best cruisers that
any other power has. The question which
the United States has now TO consider
IL. shall we stop in our most favorable
progress towards navy equal to pro-
tecting American interests whenever they
may be assailed, or shall we go on in
our movement towards a navy proper
toned to the demands upon 1t that may
arise.
There is. indeed. n still further ques-
ton involved in case II be decided 10
build more ships, and that is what shall
be the character of these ships. The
Times says 20 on with the construction
OF all the ships necessary to make us a
navy that can protect our coast from
foreigner and make those ships battle
ships OF the first order until we have
all OF them that our case requires. We
have pretty we'll reached the end of a
policy that calls for pensions TO desert
ers. bounty jumpers and camp followers,
and we can, therefore, see just how
far we are TO be involved by that policy.
We see that our liability will so no fur
Their than IL has already attained TO. and
II win steadily decrease from this time
This gives us a starting point from
which We can reckon with the navy and
find out just what we can spend upon
an adequate ore. We know. therefore,
that we can so on with the Co: struction
OF ships without running any risk that
they and the bounty Jumpers together
will swamp us.
Upon the question whether we should
build more battle ships, the article which
Secretary OF the Navy Herbert has
contributed TO the current number Of
the North American Review should be
carefully. studied by all who are inter-
ested In the subject lie takes strong
ground for hrst-class battle ships. and
his argument, which is entirely satisfac-
tory to us, is about as follows:
Unprotected ships. II they accomplish
anything In war. must at some time
come within the influence OF the enemy :
powerful guns. When that case arises
&c Is, goodbye TO the unprotected ships.
The heavily protected battle ships may
sYccumb TO the destructive attack of the
enemy's heavy guns. but. in the mean
time. 1t. IL dealing out havoc 10 the enemy
and IL has as good chance TO survive
az the enemy has. The one must GER
tainly be destroyed. the other may sur
vive.
Our information concerning the battle
at rhe mouth OF the Yalu river Is so
meagre and unsatisfactory that gener-
alisations from II are dangerous. We
may fairly infer. however. that our Navy
Department has all the reliable informa-
ten Atfsipabis Mr.. Herbert gives US