The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-27
THE LITTLE NAVY
Uncle Sans Toy War Vessels
in Washington.
Baby Cruisers and Baby Battleships
for Which Private Ocean
is to be Made.

washington Cor. New York Journal)
| Secretary Herbert's Christmas presents
began arriving some time ago. 1t is fully
month since a great truck drove up to
| mis- door, and, with much mystery and a
! great Juggling and straining, there was de-
| posted upon the sidewalk q long, bulky
piece of merchandise that took half
dozen men to convey 1t to the private
Office of the secretary. The bulky object
was the model of the newest great war
ship.
The miniature battleships now in pos
session Of the secretary are as great as
the number of the new war ships The
little Columbia is just being completed;
the tiny Indiana has been done, and is
now in his private navy yard" and the
other war ships, cruisers, rams and MEM
bers of the White Squadron, are plentiful
ly represented.
Do not suppose for a moment that the
models are useless. Important expert
ments are made with them at the mini
mum cost. Where 1t would cost hundreds
of dollars to conduct an experiment with
the ship itself. IL costs only a few dol
lars to make the test with the model, and
the general purpose is served just as
well.
Secretary Herbert. besides having these
model ships, is going to have very soon
private ocean upon which to sail them.
He is going to have a tank like the one
with which the Kaiser amuses himself,
and similar to the tanks OF the English
navy yard.
Secretary Herbert's private ocean will
be about 300 feet long and Is feet wide.
This is about the size OF one block Of
'ty street, say from crossing to crossing,
With the middle Of the street for a tank.
1t will be about ten feet deep, as even
the baby war ship draws plenty OF wa
ter. There will soon be an appropriation
sor this private ocean, and then II will be
quickly built. for In making a private
OCEAN one does not have to wait for "tbe
little drops Of water" to accumulate. The
water supply is turned on, and, hey pres
to! you have an ocean.
The size of Secretary Herbert's home !
navy is about five feet for each ship. |
The great guns of the little ships are
most interesting. They are the length Of |
your middle finger and the size around !
They are like bolts Of a storm door. In |
the center there is hole bored, and later |
all the little accoutrements OF the Maxim |
or whatever gun may be used upon the |
ship are added.
Not the least admirer of these war ships |
is the young man, Hilary Herbert Micou.
the small grandson Of Secretary Herbert,
and eldest child of his daughter, who
makes her home with him. This young
man is within a few days OF the age of
Esther Cleveland, and Is, therefore, blase
upon Christmases. having seen a couple
of them come and go. But upon warshlps
he is enthusiastic.
Every afternoon Miss Herbert, his pret-
ty aunt, escorts the young gentleman in
his carriage to the Office OF the secretary.
and the two, Hilary Herbert and Hilary
Herbert Micou, enjoy a romp and an in !
spection OF the ships. In several Of the 1
models the steam power is left out. These
will be propelled by a steam engine upon
dridge over the water. This gives the |
same rate Of speed and saves the cost OF !
putting steam in 30 many little ships.
When a real test Is made there Is as J
much preparation as for the launching Of |
the big boats. To make the little fellow \
go faster and to get their actual possi- |
bilities in iocomotion a thick coating Of |
parafne is spread upon all Of the parts |
under the water.
As the big feet grows In the navy /
yards and upon the ocean. the little fleet
grows also. Seven men are kept working !
upon IT, and q new ship. is turned out
every ten days. This viii continue urtiI
there n an entire navy IN miniatu'e.
with this IA the once of the secretary -
the navy. and with the ocean feet along
the coast. Uncle Sam will be quite ready
to entertain guests Of whatever descrip-l
ton.