The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-28

port Is tnat Congress authorize tue con-
struction Of three great battleships OF
about 10000 tons displacement each, to
cost exclusive OF armament not exceed
ing 81, 100000 each, and twelve torpedo
boats of from 100 to 800 tons each, at
the discretion OF the secretary, to cost
not exceeding an average ot$l7o,ooo.
There are many features Of interest in
this report, not only in the way Of re-
view OF naval progress ut home and
abroad, but also relating TO tho great
questions Of naval policy To begin
with, he shows that since his last re-
port FIVE splendid ships have bean com.
pleled and tried aud added TO the naval
list, three Of which are capable OF speed
in excess OF q knots, while two Of them
are the feeteat cruisers in the world.
The five vessels are the Marblshead,
1874 knots; Columbia, 22.S0 knots;
Olympia, 2L69 knots; Montgomery,
1906 knots, and Minneapolis, 23.Oo8
knets. One important change OF naval
policy is noted In connection with the
advertisements for three new torpedo
boats, soon to be issued. The secretary
saysthat no speed premiums will be
allowed on these boats; that the pre-.
MUM system undoubtedly had its ad.
vantage when adopted. but the depast-
ment is now convinced. that the time
has come when, with the experiencs
gained, it may with profit be aban-
doned.
TORPEDO BOATS.
Still treating OF torpedo boats, the re.
port shows the number ortaess crafts
now on hand in foreign Countries 1888,
and the number building LIZ. Great
Britain has It's on hand and et build
ing, while France 10 even better of with
2l4 on hand and Al building. or seven.
teen countries enumerated not one has
less than twenty-five OF these boats.
while the United States, with more
coasts and ports than my nation. has
but six, counting those yet to be built.
The work on new ship construction has
proceeded satisfactorily, and the deliv.
cries OF armor which had retarded the
work, are now being made at a rate that
promises to bring in full contract sup.
ply during the next spring. The work
ou the new gunboats at Newport News
is also going on rapidly, and the secre-
tary says that these vessels have been
contracted for at price fully as low as
is paid for similar work in France and
England.
The secretary has taken a cue from
the battle OF Yalu and says that he has
given instructions that all but the most
necessary woodwork must be removed
from our ships. Attention ia called to
the fact that although the government
is annually expending large subsidy
for vessels such as the Paris and New
York to secure their use in time OF war,
it has not gun to put on them. Al
present in case Of war Great Britain
could speedily arm her merchant
marine on the great lakes and do us
enormous damage, whils II we had
reserve supply Of guns We could DOM
inate these waters.
AN IMPRESSIVE Lesson.
On this point-ot preparation for war
in time OF peace-the secretary makes.
this very significant comment:
"The latest and one OF the most i'm.
pressive lessons in all history is now
being taught by China aud Japan. A
nation, the most populous 10 the world,
able to put millions OF fighting mon into
the field, is now suffering many disas.
ters, securing Europe and America for
munitions OF war. 1t relied upon its
numbers. Now it ia buyiag discarded
guns and discarded ammunition, what.
ever il can get, to aid II in repelling the
assaults of people vastly inferior to it
in numbers"
The secretary caused experiments to
be made at Newport TO determine the
probable effect upon the crew OF sub.
marine boats otthe explosion OF torpedo
charges. Live animals were enclosed
in an old lay torpedo case which was
submerged in fifteen feet OF water, and
charges OF eighty pounds OF gun cotton
were exploded at various distances
from 43i feet to SO feet. No damage
yaS done to the inmates and it has been
demonstrated that the crew OF q sub.
marine boat will he safe 90 long as the
hull Is not ruptured. OF naval armor
secretary Herbert says we have the best
ia the world, and the progress OF our
manufacturers has been remarkable as
they have led all European makers
NRwEAvAL STATION.
Notice OF Secretary HOrberrs inten.
ton to create a now naval Gtation-the
South Paciac-is found in a paragraph
announcing lis purpose, now that
nearly all OF our cruisers are ready for
service, TO put into operation q policy
which will keep n number OF cruising
vessels sufficient for tho ordinary needs
OF our interests abroad on each Of six
stations-North Atlantic. South Allan
tic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Asiatic
and European.
The secretary recommends that tho
enlisted forces be increased by 1000
men, and he cites many strong reasons
for this increase. The naval militia now
numbers 2,5i0 men, MaGIachuSetts lead.
ing with 44S; its efficiency Is said to
have materially increased. and the in
terest in it continues unabatod.
The secretary speaks in terms OF
high praise Of the workings OF the civil
service system in navy yards aud he
says tho labor has so increased in pro.
ticiency rs to make it possible for tue
government TO fairly compete with
private concerns in ship construction.
In conclusion tho secretary submits
estimates for tho next year aggrcgatlng
S27,SS5,0li, exceeding the current
appropriations by Sj.l05.l95, caused
mainly by tho necsIsity OF paying for
vessels now under contract. 1t IL stated
that after this year tho appropriations
on this score will rapidly diminish
falling from Si3,25o,302 Eext yOar 10
$4,000 In tho following year