San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-07
OUR NEW GUNBOATS.
Designed Especially for Service in
Chinese Waters.
No More Aliens to BE Employed In tho
Construction Department of Our
Nayy-Interesting Foreign
Naval Matters.

While pleased with the turn that our
diplomatic relations in China have
taken, and satisfied with the present
representation of our navy in the
waters of that country, the naval au-
thorities here are still looking forward
with eager interest to the completion
of the three olight-draught gunboats
now in process of construction at New
port News, Va. The names as selected
for the boats are as follows; No. Z will
be called the Nashville, after Nash
vile, Tenn; No. s, the Wilmington,
after Wilmington, Del, and No. 8, the
Helena, after Helena, Mont.
These vess els are designed especially
for Chinese service, and are expected
to be of great value in coast navigation
and in ascending the Chinese rivers. 1t
is felt that with so many interests CEN
tering in China as at present it is i'm
portant that the United States should
be prepared not only to protect Amer
lean citizens, but, if the opportunity
offers, to promote American COM
merce. These vessels are provided
with "overhangs" for the protection of
their propellers against the driftwood
and snags in the Chinese rivers, and it
is believed will be found to be especially
adapted for serving both these pur
poses. They will also enjoy the adj
vantage of being moved more econom-
ically than the larger vessels, and of
being more easily protected during
storms and in winter seasons. About
the middle of September has been set
as the date for their launching. After
they are launched from six to nine
months will elapse before they are
completed.
1t develops that the real reason why
the torpedo boats constructed for the
battleships Maine and Texas will not
heavy for the purpose, and cannot be
carried on the ships. The lines of the
boat have been changed, being made
shorter and wider than originally in
tended, and will be put to some use at
the naval academy.
Measures are being quietly taken for
the removal of all foreigners from the
construction department of the United
States navy. Hitherto the government
has been unique in the fact that it per-
mitted the employment of aliens in
positions of trust as regards national
secrets, and more particularly where
plans and designs of naval and military
defense work might be copied and sent
to other governments. Several re-
movals have been made, and it is I'M
derstood that all new appointments in
volving knowledge of the construc-
ton of our warships, ordnance, maya
zines and projectiles will only be given
to native Americans, and that the de-
partments will be weeded of all for
eigners as rapidly as possible.
In connection with information con-
corning our own navy it will be inter
esting to note that the new navy esti-
mates of Great Britain provide for S.
$50 me n, which is an increase of $3.50
over the estimate of last year. Be-
sides the expenditures under the pro-
visions of the naval defense act it is
proposed to lay out 95,393,642 on the
construction of ships and e7S0,00O on
ornaments.
Japan is alive to the value of a strong
navy and has contracted with a Glas-
glow finn of ship-builders for five war
ships, the cost of which win be nearly
G5 600 600.