The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-25

The total strength Of the United
States navy in officers. men and boys :
13, 400. OF which 1 100 are marines
These comparisons do not look
healthy for the United States Great
Britain, however, would not put all OF
these ships in action in American wax
ers- She occupies the unfortunate posi-
ton Of being the common foe OF all na-
tons. She could not leave her remote
holdings unprotected Possibly not
more than half of her ships could be
sent TO the war, while all the United
States vessels could be pressed into
service
Naval Constructor Hichborn today
gave out the following official state
ment, showing the percentage OF pro-
greSS ON the new ships of the navy, 100
per cent signifying completion:
Per cent
Indiana, at League Island. Fhila-
oelpnla --------.----- -lVo y
Massachusetts, at Cramps ship
yard, Philadelphia 50
Brooklyn. at Cramps shipyard,
PhAadeapthia --.------..-.-------. 6f
Iowa, at Cramps shipyard, Phila-
delpnla -----.---.--.--- ----..-.- %
Nashville, at Newport News, Va. SO
Wilmington, at Newport News. Va 60
I1c4-l1, -NOnpOEl News, 20
Oregon, Union Iron Works, San
FRANCISCO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. S4H2
Monadnock, at Mare Island, San
Puritan, New York navy yard. 81
Terror, New York navy Yard. Sl12
Unadilla, Mare Island, San Fran
cisco ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 20
None Of these vessels could be made
ready for service until two or three
months, while those under so per cent
could not be finished within year I'M
der the most favorable conditions.
On the other hand, nearly all the Brit
ISL ships under construction are so far
along that they could be sent TO sea IN
six weeks or Tess. There is an engineer
on every one of them, and on the larger
ones, al least, line officer and a ca =
penter and enough men TO keep the ma
chinery in order.
Besides there is the enormous mer-
cant marine of England. She possesses
something like 1900 ships, sail and
steam, and many of these would be fiji
ted out under her flag. The gross ton
mage of these vessels is over 1900, goo.
The United States possesses less than
one-fifth the number that England has,
and their tonnage is proportionately
less.
1t is presumed in case of war that pT-i-
Watering would receive a great i'm
petus, and small craft would be fitted
out at every American port to prey on
England's enormous commerce. The an
nual cargoes of British ships landed in
England alone last year were valued al
nearly 500 000, 900 pounds. These were
mostly carried in British ships. The
food products carried in British ships
last year were valued at $4,000. 0Ot
Privateering would be profitable
business in case of war.
The presence of Canada in case OF war
with Great Britain is not feared. II
cuts a small figure in the general situa-
ton. England could approach the great
lakes only by the Welland canal, and
the ability to make that impossible IS
not open 10 serious question. The Unit
ed States could soon oyerrun Canada
with volunteers, the army experts say
and the big fighting would not be
there. Congressman Grout of Vermont
said today that he believed the asseSsi-
bility of Canada was one of the grayest
things this government has to bear in
| its rela tons with Great Britain. 1t was
he who introduced the appropriation
bill of S100, 900 900 for frontier defense
| He thinks there should be some ade-
quate fortresses near the Welland canal
| in commanding positions, and In this
| belief he is joined by General Miles and
~ har eyO0d authorities