New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-20
SIZE NEEDS MORE SHIPS.
GREAT BRITAIN'S NAVY LARGER THAN THAT VI
THIS COUNTRY. But IT HAS MUCH MORE
WATEE TO COVER


A, officer Of the United States Navy. commenting
ur,n the excitement growing out OF the PRESIDENT
,,,ss,ro said Yesterday "Oicials cannot be ag!-
ts,ors but the present would seem to be an oc-
cosion that ought 10 be taken advantage OF loon
ing TO a reinforcement OF our fleets 1T Is OF the
greatest importance that We should nave strong
NAVY and no years OF our countrys history nave
seen so important and rapid development OF our
first great line of defence as those which nave
elansed since 1853 II Is not too much TO say that
unon the efficiency Of our Naval defences the peace
OF our country rests. As for the British Navy, IL
may be characterized "a an offensive deiehce'
Tnere IS no denyinS the fact Of It's superiority IN
point OF numbers ard guns bu that Navy Is necded
for other places than Venezuela or the United
c,,tes Hence we need not stand in s1ch great fear
as the overwhelming number of vesse.s ana guns
sch, at first Suggest Great Britain IS pouhd 10
ci,c 70 her colonies effective protection for, de-
perding as she does on Imported food. 1t IL es-
san,ial ibat hor supplies should be made secure.
at IS interesting TO note the progress OF Ideas IN
var-vcssc, construction. There are no indications
Of an Abandonment OF armor. which few years
ago was expected In the near future. SnlI. the
relative advantagos Of armored classmates, as
AGAINST complete protection with their arinor can
no; be determined without the experience of war
fare The accepted limit Of speed for battle-sh'ps
IS not above eighteen knots while the general
ayer,ee limit is not above seventeen knots. but
the swift cruisers In imitation Of the fast mail
boats. have a speed OF twenty-five knots and over.
The ordinary protected cruiser has also high
sneed of nineteen and twenty knots and there Is
n constantly increasing speed. The newest ar
rnored cruisers like the New-York and Brooklyn.
have a very high speed, a protection Of reco3-
n zed value. ara displacement at least oqua!,
IL not superior that Of most secondclass battle
ships ou,,,sor u.,,oh Combines
uide radius OF action and high speed, has real
mower of attack and Ies.siarce that w.ll be of much
more service tran some OF TIE larger vessels the
Laftle-ships for instance. especially IN these days
wren gh explosives have 70 be reckoned with.
Tben 100 the development O. the t0rpe Io-catcher
c.nnn mass unnoticed TseSc some Of the
oh srscteristics OF the last few years.
~ see that The Tribune noticed. In general
way IRIS morning the compara;ive strength of the
rrii,sh and american nlv.es. The last report OF
IN, 3ecrcfary Of the Navy gave table OF the
resent status of the principal foreign navies. but
il would take more than paso of The Tribune 10
90 mo details of even the two navies now or
Special interest The secretlry,s repori says;
her and strength OF ships IN the service and in
b,iIi'ng programme. vita IA SHIPS n service not
including torpedo boats; she has fOriy-two vessels
row under construction. OF which ten are battle
shios II will be observed that In accordance with
Engiand's policy OF placing her first line OF de-
sells are building for that country. The dsplace-