Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-02-06

of Elmer F. Murch, delivered at the close Of the
term last June. In view of recent international
complications Its publication at this time is a
propos.
The new navy Was commenced under
Secretary Whitney, and the building of
the first vessel was authorized in 1888
The work has been carried on with such
rapidity that we have astonshed the
world. From practically no navy in 1883,
We have built and equipped new vessels
each year, until We now hold the sixth
place among the nations Of the world as
naval power. The first vessel to be
completed was the dispatch boat "Dol-
phin,' of about ! 500 tons.
Ten years ago neither shafts, gun -forg-
Ings nor armor could be made in this
country and we were dependent upon
England and Germany for them. At the
present time we have reached not only
the height of foreign achievement in
ships,i guns and armor, but have i'm
proved upon them, and il navy building
Is allowed to go on establishments will
multiply and improve, so as to make it
not only possible, but quite probable,
nv NV" '''"''9 "4ii "eeoi''' '''
'"N WY u var 7"Pi'Ie9 ioi Sueh countries
as now 90 to England France and
'T ~, ii'"'iS'
The most important thing is the estab-
''"' % 'ne 7Hi'ou'lu'hs P'aii'7'
Comparing our ships with foreign ships
of Hike tonnage, We find ours to be vastly
''F'i W. ih4S country ~ Ioiio" ilis
very CONSTR N"'lNe poIIcy LOT 'he naval m
o''"s'.' - men - sh'lFeiS Unlike 'il"' oi
r''S '''''l S''"' pow ''' ih ANU anu
l t'i.' eaNo NJ t'"" III tHe amount VI
''7't'' eAi'eh"'U Ga 'hs'F HaN 'es
The-e two countries are continually
STRIVING 10 Guido taea other. England
saa- 70 maintain her Lead, bat how long
she SIS FIJI continue TO de SO It Is hard to
s3N Eng,aud's annual naval eNpeadI-
tuae about Si00.G0G,u00.
.Hthe number oil torpedo boat, France
eAre.9 England. having nearly 390, while
tie United states has only Twelve. 1t Is
tae general policy among other powers to
tItd one torpedo boat for every other
vessel tuIlt. The nitod states seems to
have paid LITTLE attention to these, which
-gehI- all lie more strange on account of
their aGartaAtIty TO our needs, Eamely,
That OF protecting our sea-coast against q
foreign Hee;. The cost of one Of these
torpedo boats j. a tgltie when compared
with that OF a hattieshlp.
That these torpedo crafts are OF great
ttiity IN actual war can not be doubted.
An instance OIL thIs Is afforded in he hate
Chilian revolution, n " hich two Of these
torpedo vessels, without much injury TO
themselves, destroyed one of the best
cruisers the enemy possessed.
Our ships must be manned - efficient
ee"meH and "eIi-tra!ned officers, in order
TO SHOW to the best advantage in time of
war or peace. These officers are to be had
only by thorough training, either i'll Il
naval college or on board ship.
We have IN the United States naval
academy model institution for this pur
pose, and there Is also less noted but
very efficient war college at Newport,
Rhode Island. From both of these, the
United states = constantly sending out
officers o! hIgh Standing TO take charge of
Its ships.
In case OF a war Win European state
our navy would do most Of the lighting.
Our coast defenaes are at present III about
the same condition rs the navy far in
ferior to !" hat they should be, And As
in the case OF the navy the government
has lately been adding new ordnance and
supplies, building new Notifications, etc
Our government has lately set up at
Sandy Hook the most improved and pow
erful electric -eareh-llght in the world.
1t Will throw beam o. l9i,ooo,ooo candle
power
The search-llght, having proved SO sue
cessful on our men-of-war, it was some
time ago suggested that it might prove
OF great utility in coast defense, but no
good opportunity presented itself until
1873, " hen German firm of electricians