Evening journal., 1896-02-15
HERBERT ON THE NAVY
He Declares That Our Warships
Are Unsurpassed.
Oh IKTEREgTINa COMPABIsONs.

The seoretary of the Navy Enlightens the
House Committee on the Nations Needs.
We Build the Best vesseIs-The Indiana
Ha, No Equal.
WAsEINCvoN. Feb. 10. Secretary Her
bert was before the house comHittee on
naval affairs going over many questions
OF naval armament and outlining his views
on desirable features Of naval appropria-
tions Tho secretary submitted tables
showing the relative cost Of warships in
the United States and foreign countries
They disclosed that the United States Is
now able 10 build better ships at less cost
thnn any country In the world, save Great
Britain, and the latter country Is only
slightly ahead. IL was also made evident
that the cost OF building warships in the
United States has been greatly reduced In
recent years.
Mr. Herbert was questioned by Chair
man Boutelle and Others of the committee
concerning the need of additional battlo-
ships, torpedo boats, etc. He made IL clear
that ho desired the largest allowance for
the various CLASSES of vessels that congress
felt warranted In giving, but he did not
fix exact limits on the number Of ships
although it was the general understanding
that three battloships instead Of the two
recommended in the socretary's annual re-
port would be very acceptable TO the naval
authorities. The discussion took wide
range as to the relative merits Of battle
ships cruisers, torpedo boats, etc Mr..
Herbort's answers indicated that while
considering battleships and torpedo boats
Of more immediate need than cruisers, yet
-. ..,Nn ola ftltf ~,
another, regarding each essential in its
particular line.
American and British ships Compared.
Tho socretary's written data made an
interesting comparison between types of
American and British ships, type for type,
showing that our ships were equal TO the
best afoat. 1t was the first time that each
class Of ships Of each Of the great naval
powers had been placed side by side for
comparison. It showed that the United
States battleships Kearsarge and Ken
tucJy cost sl95. So per ton displacement,
the displacement boing II, 500 tons, while
the Magnificent Of Great Britain cost
Sl64. % per ton displacement, the displaco-
ment being / 4, 900 tons. The cost per ton
of the displacement was the least in Great
Britain, and the United States came next,
s212 20; Germany, 1901 .25; Italy, S3l2.69;
France, s41s. 20.
Mr.. Money OF the committee asked the
secretary II the difference I'm cost was not
duo In part to comparing large ship with
a small one, as in the case of the large
British ship Magnificent with the smaller
American ships Kontucky and Kearsarge.
Mr.. Herbert conceded that this was con-
siderable factor, as large ship would
naturally average less per ton than a
smaller ship. Mr.. Monroe also asked the
secretary how long it would take, in an
emergency, TO build battleship ready for
service.
mot less than three years." responded
Mr. Herbert
Mr. Money pointed out that in France
battloships had been begun launched,
equipped ana commissioned all within one
year.
eve can't do work that way in this
country, was the secretary's answer
Orally, also. the secretary stated I'm
most emphatic terms that American built
warships such as the Indiana, were equal
TO or superior to the best craft anoat under
other flags