Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-26
FIGHTING FORCES.
The Sen Power of spain and the
United states Compared.
Chicago Record

Chicago Record,
The question OF the sea power OF the
United states has very much more OF prac-
tical than academic interest In view of Ger.
tain contingencies toward which the pres
ent temper OF the people of this country and
OF Spain seems to be impelling the respective
governments. Fortunately Secretary Her
bert's recent report supplies full intorma-
tion on the subject and, while It is stll im-
possible to compare the American navy in
number of vessels to that of any of the great
powers of Europe the progress that has
been made in the last decade is great prob
ably as great in comparison to our possible
needs as that OF any other nation of the
world.
Between January 1. 1876, and January 80,
1895 Great Britain has launched thirty-i1y
battloshps; France, twenty-siN; Russia.
fourteen, while Secretary Herbert reports
that the United states has now available
for immediate service a total OF forty-oue,
or including the latest addition, the Puri-
tan, forty-two ships. Among these are five
battleshps, seven coast defense ships,
eighteen cruisers, nine gunboats and three
torpedo boats, Eight of these have been
added in the present year and twenty-three
during the present administration, making
record in naval construction in The United
states not surpassed since the civil war but
still leaving this country sixth in naval rank
among the great nations of the world. 1t is
this country will have passed Germany in
naval rank and will stand NTH among the
nations Of the world this, of course. sup
posing that present programs of naval
construction are adhered TO. Six battle
ships of the most formidable character
are now in construction, and also eight tor
podo boats. and when these are added 60
our navy 1t will be far stronger relatively
than the number of vessels would seem to
indicate as compared with the navcs of
some other countries, as it will contain
much higher percentage of improved war
vessels, modern In every respect; whereas
many OF the vessels of European naves.
especially Spain, are more CT less antquated,
aud some are unfit for service in actual
war. 1t is true that some of the new ves-
sells Of the United States navy-the Texas
for instanca-must he clasNed in the same
category, unless present defects can be
rcmeiiod. AS regards the Texas. however,
It is claimed by Admiral Brown Of the yard
building the ship that she has been under
FIRE at the navy department by those who
dsapproved the governments going abroad
for plans for the ship, and that The recent
accident when a ship costing over S3.OOO,OOO
calmly sank 60 the bottom at the navy yard
al New York. must have been due to negli-
genCe on the part OF some one.
As to Spain's navy, many OF her vessels
are said to he obsolete and most of them are
gunbcats while the few armored ships would
not te GDlP, IL IS UellENeus W uidht any
hCadway against the cruisers and battle
ships of the American navy. Spain's fight
ing strength. a. regards her navy, is be
leved to be practically in half a dozen
armored vessels of which only the Pelayo
Is considered UP to date, and about twenty
three unarmored vessels The Pelayo Is
altogether outclassed by the Indiana. The
three Spanish armored cruiscrs-the Infanta
Maria Teresa, the Almirante Oquendo and
the Vizcaya-which, together with the Pc
layo. are practically all of Spain's modern
war ships would make but a poor showing
against the powerful modern battle ships
and cruisers of the United states navy.
In addition Span's navy is scattered, and II
would require a long voyage on the part OF
many ships of the Spanish navy before
1t would be in a position to assume the
offensive for with a growing rebellion in
the Philippines, an almost successful revo-
luton in Cuba a>l a threatened outbreak
in Puerto Rico Span's navy has at present
quite as much work cut out for 1t as 1t
cares to accomplish.