Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-02-12
OUR FIGHTING SHIPS
THEY DO NOT COMPARE WITH THOSE
OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Admiral Bunce's Fleet Is More Formidable,
However, Than England's Present Squad
ron Attached to the North Atlantic and
West Indies Station-England's Force.
The most enthusiastio and patriotic
officer can make no equitable compari-
son of the strength Of this country and
Great Britain on the ocean without it
becoming apparent to the most intense
opponent of naval construction that this
country is scarcely in position to as
sert itself to point where war may fol-
low. They are content to show that as
at present constituted Admiral Bunoe's
feet, with the Texas and Maine, is
probably stronger for fighting purposes
than Britain's feet attached to the
North American and West Indies sta
tions, and that this is true for the first
time in ten years.
There are any number Of naval Off
GERS, however, who are of the opinion
that the country has been misled into a
belief that the new navy is more for
midable than it is, and that reports Of
the fine squadron of Admiral Bunoe
make such men as Senator Villas, who
once proclaimed that the United States
had 40 ironclads, when he had included
every vessel borne ON the naval rolls,
disposed to rest content with the present
strength of the service. Former Watch
dog Holman two years ago, when oppos-
ing the annual naval appropriation bill,
said that Commodore Perry had raised
fine feet ON Lake Erie in 90 days, and
that If it was necessary the country
could do it again in the same time.
The report of the secretary Of the navy
and those of his bureau chiefs all indi-
cate that the navy has fairly good sup
ply Of warships, but an examination
shows that of the entire number there
are but half dozen which should be
elassed as actual fighting ships These
include three monitors. the armored
cruiser New York and the battleships
Texas and Maine. The cruiser type was
never designed to engage in actual bat
tie, but rather for peace purposes in for
eign countries where it was necessary to
show the flag Such ships as the Co
lumbia and Minneapolis, it is admit
ted, would be of the highest Importance
to squadron for some purposes, but no
admiral would ever think of pitting
either against an armored ship Of the
Blake or New York type.
Assistant Secretary McAdoo had pre-
pared list Of the ships now attached to
h. D~.t -.
waters. and while it is smaller than
usual in number it exceeds that which
Admiral Bunce will take to the West
Indies next week unless the administra-
tion recalls his orders. He said that as
q rule the two fleets had about balanced
in the past two years, but previously
the English had almost doubled the
number under command of the admiral
on the home station. Withdrawals last
summer for service in Turkish waters
had reduced it to II ships, but even
this is twice the size of the north Allan
tic squadron, exclusive of two monitors.
Great Britain's squadron, however,
he expressly stated, would be no match
should the two countries by any chance
decide to settle the Venezuela question
through the fleets on this station. While
Great Britain had but one protected
cruiser Admiral Bunce had three battle
ships, and the New York is generally
regarded as efficient for fighting pur-
poses as any second class battleship
abroad. England's squadron is now di
vided between West Indian ports, Hall
fax and Bermuda, but with the cable
connecting Bermuda with Halifax un
der control of the British government it
would take but a very few days for her
to mobilize the full strength at any
point in the islands.
On Dec. 3 the fleet consisted of these
ships: Crescent, an armored cruiser and
flagship; Cordelia, Canada, Magicienne,
which WAS seen at the naval review /;
Mohawk, Tartar, Buzzard, Partridge,
all protected cruisers, Tourmaline and
Pelican, cruisers, and the Rambler, a
gunboat. The Crescent is vessel Of the
New York class, but not so formidable.
The Canada and Magicienne are smaller
cruisers, but every vessel is well armed,
and most of them compare favorably
with the best cruisers of the United
States navy.
The fact that EnDland maintains So
strong fleet, considering that there is
little actual work or necessity for the
presence of its vessels in North Ameri-
can waters. as there is in other parts of
the world, is not surprising when it is
considered that her naval stations. dock
yards and Notifications within three and
five days sailing of the seaboard are
more powerful and better equipped than
those of this country. Mr.. McAdoo re-
marked that he was astonished at the
strength displayed by England at st. Lu-
cia and Kingston, where she has modern
masked batteries on eminences concealed
by trees and sand pits, and about which
from the sea there is no indication of
the power behind. Both of these sta
tions, it is asserted by army experts, are
more strongly fortified than New York
or San Francisco. Bermuda is the Oldest
of her stations and was fortified over so
years ago. Her garrison here consists
of obout 500 men, and one of the best