Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-10-09
OUR NEW GUNBOATS.
Designed Especially for Service IL
Chinese Waters.
No More Aliens Ia Be Employed In tas
Construction Department of Ou1
Navy-Interesting Foreign
Naval Matters.

While pleased with the turn that on,
diplomatic relations in China have
taken, and satisfied with the present
representation of our navy in the
waters of that country, the naval All
thorities here are still looking forwai.
with eager interest 10 the completion
Of the three 1light-draught gunboata
now IN process of construction at New.
port News. Va. The names as selected
for the boats are as follows; Mo- will
be called the Nashville, after Nash
vile, Tenn; No. 8, the Wilmington.
after Wilmington, Del, and No. 0, the
Helena, after Helena, Mont.
These vess els are designed especially
for Chinese service, and are expected
to be of great value in coast navigation
and in ascending the Chinese rivers. 1t
Is felt that wish SO many interests cen.
tering in China as at present il is inn
pOrtant that the United States should
be prepared not only to protect Amer
lean citizens. but, if the opportunity
offers, 70 promote American com
merce. These vessels are provided
with 'overhangs" for the protection Of
their propellers against the driftwood
and snags in the Chinese rivers, and il
is believed will be found to be especially
adapted for serving both these pur-
poses. They will also enjoy the adj
vantage of being moved more econom-
ically than the larger vessels. and Of
being more easily protected during
storms and in winter seasons. About
the middle of September has been set
as the date for their launching. After
they are launched from six to nine
months will elapse before they are
completed.
1t develops that the real reason why
the torpedo boats constructed for the
battleships Maine and Texas will not
be used as such is that they are too
heavy for the purpose, and cannot be
carried on the ships. The lines of the
boat have been changed, being made
shorter and wider than originally ia-
tended, and will be put 20 some use at
the naval academy.
Measures are being quietly taken icF
the removal of all foreigners from the
construction department of the United
States navy. Hitherto the government
has been unique IN the fact that it per.
mitted the employment of aliens in
positions of trust as regards national
secrets, and more particularly where
plans and designs Of naval and military
defense work might be copied and sent
10 other governments. Several re-
movals have been made, and il is un-
derstood that all neV appointments in
volving a knowledge of the construc-
ton of our warshipS ordnance, maya
zines and projectiles will only be given
20 native Americans and that the de-
Partments will be weeded Of all for
eigners as rapidly as possible
In connection with information con
'erning our own Lavy il will be inter
osting TO note that the new navy est
mates OF Great Britain provide for S.
$50 me n. which is an Increase of 5.540
over the estimate of last year. Be.
sides the expenditures under the pro-
visions of the naval defense act it is
proposed to lay out E5. 1893, 642 on the
construction Of ships and 973O,OOO on
ornaments.
japan is alive 10 the value OF a strong
navy and has contracted with Glas-
glow firm of ship-buiders for five war
ships, the cost of which will be nearly
R5 900 900