The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
THREE 0 BATTLE SHIPS.
sECRETAR RI HERBERT,s PLANS FOR
INCREASING THE NAVY.

he Recommend That Its battle ships Be
Planned for n Deep-I.ond Drnught OF Not
More Than aa Feet-Tweive Torpedo
Boats Also Recommended-Tho Progress
Made In tho UPsuiidinE OF the Navy.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Secretary Herbert in
his annual report asks Congress Mt the coming
session to authorize three light drought battle
ships and twelve torpedo boats. He recon-
mends that the battle ships be planned for an
extreme deep load drAught OF not moro than %
feet and suggests that considerations OF strategy
upon our Atlantic and Gulf coasts render this
an essential to the success of naval campaigns.
This reasoning" he says. us the final result
81 much careful study by able officers OF condi-
tons as they exist on our Southern coast. Bat
tie ships that could enter the harbors of Savan-
nah. Brunswick. Key West, Tampa, Pensacola,
Mobile, aud the mouth Of the Mississippi at all
times would have an Immense advantage over
the battle ships OF foreign nations, few, II any.
Of which could enter these ports. Light-draught
battle ships, II we had them, could make any OF
these ports bases OF supply, could sally forth
from them or retire into them at will. and could
therefore almost always offer battle on their
own terms. There are also many Of our ports
further north which would give the same ad-
vantages TO such ships"
An interesting feature of the report 10 q
resume of the progress of the upbuiiding Of the
new navy from tho time of Its Inauguration
under Secretary Chandler. Congress has au-
thorized during the present Adninistratt1n
twenty-eight vessels. with a total tonnage of
65, 500 tons; of these five are frst-class battle
ships and sixteen torpedo boats. Large as the
above increase appears" says the Secretary.
lit yet does not suffice TO place the United
States navy In a satisfactory condition II We
mean to be able at AL times to defend our long
~ % ..oa.t ny,ry pnryaatfnn hlA trntn
tion to our citizens in foreign lands, render
efficient aid 10 our diplomacy. and maintain
under all circumstances our national honor"
The Secretary says that during the present
Administrator there will have been placed in
commission three lrst-class and two second
GLASS battle ships, two armored cruisers. four
double-turreted monitors, and one harbor-de-
fence ram. making a total Of twelve new ar
mored vessels, having ar aggregate displace-
ment Of Sl,517 tons. In addition to the above
mentioned armored ships. eight cruisers and
three runboats will have received their first
commission. making a grand total of twenty
three vessels, with an aggregate displacement
or 1854 tons, placed in commission dur
ing tho present Administration this being by
Tar the largest amount of tonnage put in COM
mission during any Presidential administration
since 1865. These include the seagoinR coast
line battle ships Indiana. Massachusetts and
Oregon, the second-class battle ships Maine and
Texas, the armored cruisers New York, Olym-
pia, and Brooklyn, the coast defence mon
itors Amphitrite. Monadnock, Terror. and
Puritan. the cruisers Cincinnati, Raleigh.
Columbia, Minneapolis. Detroit, Marblehead.
and Montgomery. the gunboats C~astine.
Machias. and Annapolis. and the armored ram
Katahdin. with a total displacement OF l1S.l2+
tons. The Katahdin failed to realize on trial
tine contract speed OF seventeen knots, but as
Nhfa vaSspl yDns nf very nnuSnal design and tho
tributable to the builders. Congress passed q
special act authorizing Its acceptance.
paratiye naval strength OF the principal powers,
United States are highly creditablo 10 the
country. yet 1t Is clear that the great
close relationship largely exceed us not
only in the number Of battle ships and
in their naval. programmes for the future.
The work of adding to their strength In baltic
ships and torpedo boats goes on steadily from
year 10 year. 1t is not contended that we should
attempt to compete in numbers with the great
navies of England and France. but we ought
ahieher rank than that we now occupy. and
into the place, Of nations whose necessities
are far less than ours. There are now not
only in Europe. but in Asia, strong and
growing navies belonging to nations with
intimate and delicate relations. and where
our citizens are to be found in. great NUMBERS
prosecuting their Legitimate businesses. Our
recognized by the world, and cannot be met
unless we are possessed of naval strength. II
and no doubt will. the present naval strength
will be very. far from what it should be. Nothing
abroad aid security at home as a substantial
navy constructed OF the best materials and
Referring to the battle ships Illinois. Ala
bama. and Wisconsin. the report says:
for the naval service for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1897, made provision for three
seagoinG eoast.line battle ships, to cost,
100000 each. The act also provided that
the contracts for the construction of these
vessels should be made on or before
Oct. s. 1896. Anticipating the passage OF
such an act, I hsd appointed a SPECIAL board.
er President, Commodore r. l.. Phyth-
ian. Chief Engineer Edward Farmer. Capt.
J. Woodward. and Lieut.. $. 4. stanton,
to investigate the questions Of general outlines
This Board. on May ls. 1896, submitted n report
In which. among other things, u recommended
i3.inch guns, mounted in two turrets in pairs.
these turrets to be placed as close To each other
As the general arra9Eement OF the ship would
Hilary battery OF fourteen rapid-tire 8-inch guns.
ten on the main deck and four on the upper
the omission of s-inch turrets. The
substantial features Of the recommenda-
approved, instructions were given to the Bureau
of Construction and Repair to prepare specific
IlHu5. j lb "uTk WIS lHfuouluttlS TAKEN IN
hand and prosecuted with unusual vigor. so
that. although the contracts were 10 be signed
on or before Oct. X, 1t was found possible To is-
sue a circnIar defining the chief characteristics
of the vessels in ample time to enable prospec-
tive bidders tn prepare their estimates,
In compliance with the terms or Tho adver-
tiBement. bids for the construction of these
vessels were opened at the Navy Department on
Sept. 10, and contracts were awarded to the
lowest bidders as follows: lliipois. to the New
port News Sn 'phnilding and Drv Dock Com
pany OF Newport News. Va. at 81, 595. 900: Ala
hama, to William Cramp& sons. PHILADELPHIA.
Ct $1,000. 000: Wisconsin,. to the Union Iron
Works of San Francisco at S".G74,05O. These
vessels are TO be completed each within three
years from date of signing of contract.
THE act making appropriations for tho naval
service for the tiScal year ending June 80. 1897,
also made provisions for three torpedo boats. u
cost In all no, exceeding 100000, and NOT to
exceed ten torpedo boats, to cost in Rl not ex-
ceeding $500 600. and 20 have tie highest prac-
ticable speed for vessels OF their class. In in
yiting pr0po- ais for the b0-knot torpedo boats.
It was deemed advisable. in view OF the
very high speed to be- obtained, to leave
contractors as much latitude as possible.
and for this. reason the department did
not prepare designs for these vessels. ex-
acting only the most general requirements.
and leaving the details of designs CENTRALLY in