Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-01-02
OUR FIGHTING SHIPS
THEY DO NOT COMPARE WITH THOSE
 OF GREAT BRITAIN.

The most enthusiastic and patriotic officer can make no equitable eompari- sch of the strength of this country and Great Britain OH the ocean without it becoming apparent to the most intense opponent of naval construction that this country is scarcely i'll position to as sert itself to point where war may fol- low. They are content to show that as at present constituted Admiral Bunee's feet with the Texas and Maine, is probably stronger for fighting purposes than Britain's fleet 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 cers, however, who are of the opinion that the country has been misled into belief that the new navy is more for midable than it is, and that reports of the fine squadron of Admiral Bunce make such men as Senator Villas, who once proclaimed that tho United States had 10 ironelads, 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 60 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 ! ,q l.. 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 chased as actual fighting ships These include three monitors, the armered cruiser New York and the battleships Texas and Maine The cruiser type Nas 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 Go Inmbia and Minneapolis, 1t is admit ted, would be of the highest importance to a 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 MeAdoo had pre- pared list of the ships now attached to the British fleet ill North American waters. and while it is smaller than usual i'll number it exceeds that which Admiral Banee will take to the West Indies next week unless the administra- tion recalls his orders He said that as rn1e the two fleets had about balanced i'll 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 i'll Turkish waters had reduced it to II ships. but even this is twice the size of the north Atlan. 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 Bnnce had three battle ships and the New York k generally regarded as efficient for fighting pur- poses as any second class battleship abroad. England s squadron is now di- Eided between West Indian ports, Hali- fax and Bermuda, but with the cable connecting Bermuda with Halifax un- der control of the British government it would take but very few days for her to mobilize the full strength at any point i'll the islands.
 On Dec. 1 . 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 England 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 1 strength displayed by England at St, Lu- caand Kingston, where she has modern masked batteries OH eminences concealed | by trees and sm.d pits, and about which from the sea there Is no indication of the power behind. Both of these sta tons, 1t is asserted by army experts, are more strongly fortified than New York CT San Francisco. Bermuda Is the oldest of her stations and was fortified over 30 years ago. Her garrison here consists of about 300 men, and one of the best lloating docks i3 pyrt of the naval sta tla1 Practically Il, ming is known by lme.ah governments of tho number of suhs mannted 5n any of these stations ei tho vateaf of the mining casemates or torpedo equipment except that they
 ase certainly stronger than people of
 uils country lnow anything of or even l iaolize
 At the war department it was said
 u@t Whether there were any serious con- S4nenees growing out of the Venezuelan aAalf or not, the presidents message T