The record-union., 1895-09-14
AMERICAN NAVY Is THE BEST
This Expression of English News
napers PleaseS 0fficiaIs.

This Expression of English News
papers Pleases Officials.
| The complimentary references of the
| London Post to the hOmogeneity OF the
American navy, and its Increased eff
| ciency by reason of that fact, are highly
| appreciated by the officials of the Navy
| Department. One of these said to-day:
This commendation of the American
navy from a high official authority is the
more to be appreciated because of its
! rarity. 1t is true that the American navy
! is more effective, so far as it goes, than
| that of any other country. In the first
| place our ships are all new. The oldest
| was not commenced much more than ten
| years ago. We have constantly aimed,
| also, to secure the best results. The de-
! signs of some of our ships are original, to
a great extent, with this country. We
! have no prejudices. We do not hesitate
| to copy the best designs wherever we
| find them.
ut is different with the great maritime
| Powers OF Europe. The French Govern
ment will not model a warship on Ger
man lines, and the German Government
| will not model one on French lines, be-
! cause the two hate each other. The Eng
! lish Government Will not adopt the sug-
| gestions of Germany or of France or of
| the United States, because the English
| Admiralty thinks that what it does not
know about shipbuilding is not worth
! knowing We Americans, on the other
| hand, are not hidebound. We recognize
| a good thing wherever we see it, and we
| adopt it without caring with whom it
/ originated. AS a result, the American
navy is, ship by ship, class by class, the
finest of any atioat"
Chief Constructor Hichborn of the Navy
| Department asserts that the historic old
| Hartford, which was Farraguts flagship
at the battle of Mobile. and which is now
! being remodeled at the Mare Island yard,
| will, when in commission again, prove to
| be one of the most serviceable vessels in
| the navy. Her boilers, machinery, and
batteries will be of modern construction.
| She will be to some extent composite
| ship since her spar deck beams, hatch
com bing and hammock waist will be of
steel. The purpose of the steel deck
| beams is to give greater space between
the decks and add to the structural
strength of the boat.
| She'will carry thirteen five-inch rapid
| fire guns, very efficient battery IN LIS
way, as the naval battles fought during
| the Chino-Japanese war demonstrated
that the rapid-fire gun, while possessing
no great penetrating qualities. was
| powerful auxiliary to the heavy arma-
| ment in destroying the unprotected parts
| of an enemy's vessel, and throwing the
crew into confusion as result OF Its
| continuous and gazing nre. ne haTL-
| ford will also be supplied with ample sail
| power, which can be utilized In emerg-
! encies and add enormously TO the saving
! in the consumption of coal. She Will
| have a steaming capacity OF thirteen
| knots an hour She will be an econom-
ical vessel in that her hull, being wood,
she can be kept afoat indefinitely, and
thus avoid the continued expense Of
docking.
The Hartford will carry crew OF 25O
men, and can be made available for any
duty. She will probably be retained In
Pacific waters. She Will be placed in
commission about two years hence. The
name as we'll as the material outlines OF
the old craft will not only be preserved,
but she will perform for many years to
come q service for the navy fully equal to
that of any vessel now flying the United
States flag.