The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-04

The rebuilding OF the navy commenced
III iSs3. and upon tie completion OF the
ships now allowed by conTegss We viii be
the fifth naval power. with England.
France, Italy and Russia ahead of as. The
building OF our new navy has been the
best evidence of the genius of our people
and the resources Of our country the
world has ever seea. When we COM
menced the new navy the material for
the shafts for the ships and forgings for
the tubes. Jackets and hoops for the guns
had 10 be bought IN England and France.
There was not steel plant In this coun-
try that could furnish the foTgings for
the eight-inch suns. But after IL was
shown that we were bound 90 have "a mod
ern navy. steel works were built. giving
employment 20 thousands az men. and
during the twelve years we have been en-
gagged in rebuilding the navy we have
shown the world from RGtual experimental
work that We already have the best ships.
armor. guns. powder ana shells, and
should the country demand il We will no
doubt find that among the officers and
men we also have the best fighters.
The organization Of Our new fleet Is prac-
tically the same as THAT Of the other great
powers II consists OF gunboats, crIiis-
ers protected cruisers. coast defense yes
sells. armored cruisers and second and
first-ciaSs hattieshps Zach type Is built
for a particular work. brief descrp
tion Of them will enable one 10 understand
the use of each class.
The gunhoat class. like the Yorktown.
liza tons displacement are maintained at
small expense. and are as useful on any
station during peace as larger ship.
Their battery 81 fifteen guns, six siN-inch
for the primary and nine ~ different cal
tbers foI the secondary battery. Ike all
OF our new ships. are heavier than ships
Of thotf class IN other navies
The cruisers and protected cruisers. as
their names Indicate. are designed for the
purpose OF being able 70 remain az sea
81 long time The Detroit. Of the cruiser
class. is s,es9 tons displacement. ana like
The gunhoats has Httccn guns. nine five
ineh rapii-nrlns gums and six smaller Tor
the secondary battery.
The next ship IN sse IS the protected
cruiser, which varies i'm tonnage frola
5ea. the Atlanta Ciass, 20 the Columbia.
or 100 tons displacement. This class djs-
sers essentially from the cruiser class in
having steel curved deck which eN-
tends from bow - stern. curyiu- down 10
meet the ships sides below the water
lire. This deck passes over tAc Nitals Il
tho siam. the boilers. engines. maya
zines torpedo rooms ard stcariuE eea~
furthcr protection Is given 10y means os
the coal burkefs. which are also place3
over ana around tho vitals 70 SECURE
double bottoms ana many compartments
eut Ike The cruisers ana suutoats. they
have 10 arrDor Their sides arc 81 ste.I
fve-eichths 81 an tnch IN thickness.
which IS about the thickness 81 q mans
finger. This 3iVe-cishths 81 an jach az
steel. however. gives as nuch protection
against shot and s3iell as sac FORTY inches
or oak 81 our Old wooden fstEatcs.
As TIE uuarmore3 cruiser is ier.crs,s as
q commerce destroyer hcs ch.ef charae-
tertstic must De high speed To secure
this al ether features are sshlr1Ioatea
The battery depends upon tho aiepia-e-
meet - the ship ana the Speclal work .he
snip Is hui,t fer. TIE main battery e
unarfaoced cruisers IS mounted 50 as III
give a good bow ana stern Gre. as they
chase err run sway from she enemy II lie
81 he aU armorC3 saip.
Ra9i3-eve GUNS ~ fro,n four 20 SIX
inches calher are preferred for IRE mala
battery. hut among the larger ships S-{uca
suns are mounted. the nenaNer II suns IL
Tie main batteries varying from 30 "a
TIE secondary battery ran scarcely be tea
numerous. as the SAFETY 90 The sNtp
against TORPEDO beats depends unor thar,
consequently they are placed rs close L.
geTaer as possible, wherevsr they Will f,t
Be in range CT the larger guns the member