New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-06

IT IS DISCUSSED WITH GREAT INTEREST
IN WASHINGTON.
THE APPROPRIATE ONS ASKED FOR BY MR.
GOsCHEN REGARDED AS EXTRAORDINARY IN
TINE or PEACE-NAvAL OFFICERS
PROFIT BY TEE EXAMPLE.


PROFIT BY TEE EXAMPLE
[BY rELE iRAPH TO rRIBrNE.l
Washington. March THE Tribunes London dis
patch giving the substance OF the amazing Naval
bill. proposed in the English Parliament by M
Goschen. First Lord of the Admiralty. has attracted
serious attention In naval circles here to-day That
In time Of peace a country should ask Tor appro-
prations for year aggregating in amount
s70,GoCoo is thought to be extraordinary. The mat
ter spoken of this afternoon by nearly every
official In the Navy Department. Even S6ooVoO
which is the amount Of this years increase for the
English naval establishment over the sum provided
last year, IS a remarkably big appropriation. 1t Is
twice az much Congress annually votes for the
entire naval branch including ships supplies shore
stations. officers and men AS might be supposed,
naval officers do not look on Englnad's programme
with envy. on the contrary, they say this couh-
try would do well follow her example TO
greater extent than Is the case. for few years
at east or until the United States has COM
mensurate with the country's dignity and impor-
tanco More especially" said one officer. should
our construction programme be more extensive
than I, is in view OF the want of coast defencas
and the outlook that the shore fortlfications are
hereafter as in the past. to be improved only
little each year.
Naval officers agree that 1t is Englani's policy
to have a fleet when WI. be .arser and more pow
erful than that OF any other two countries OF the
globe. Particularly is her armada to be stronger
In ships officers and guns than France ana
Russia combined could put the seas. Recently
France has completed some splendid vessels ana
has aid down others. Russia. too has made some
forward strides and intends further TO improve
her navy. The British feet OF to-day would prob
ably be more than a match for the French and
Russian fleets but IT is evident that the party In
control in England Is determined that there shall
be no question in the case.
Englands strong arm is her fleet. not her army.
Her military branch Is small compared with those
For A
officers say. Great Britain has relied on her navy
AS her chief means OF offence and defence, and the
new programme while amazing In extent, Is III tine
direction OF wise and deliberate plan she Is
the mistress OF the seas. and it is her purpose
10 be SO in the future. one officer said to-day
that vast as Is the English Navy now. as T. will
be when the proposed additions are made to the
feet the of building and maintaining II Is less
added that It rarely the case when an English
man complained OF the big amount OF money an
Chief Constructor Hichborn who has spent mucn
time In England inspecting her docks and stuoyins
new British programme was remarkable one, anu
served show that Great Britains plan is to keep
sea force. She now has" he remarked, g mag;
IN array OF yssse y adds H He t %i
tle-ships-o only one less than we shall have Two
psdo boats. She has under construction eight
battleshps. twenty,one cruisers and torty t2rpeao
cans cans whose Navy is not as large az that which
| England has In hand ard talks OF building to say
nothing OF the powerful fleet now afoat. This
country needs such strong fleet as Great Brit:
ain requires. but must look with Interest and
pride on what is going on in England There is one
point TO be noted. In materially increasing her
navy she is providing work for laborng classes
and helping the great steel industries which con.
tribute to her greatness and wealth Every pound
of material used In the new construction Will OF
course be English NJ. the work Will be done by
Englishmen. The result will be beneficial to the
British working class. and OF course adds greatly
to the countrys protection.
Engineer-in-,'hief Melville regarded the news
from London OF much interes, to the naval
world He thought that European countries
would look on Mr.. Goschens plans with envy.
And" he added. they ought TO. for England is
forging ahead at a tremendous rate She means
to distance all rivals ,completely-any two rivals
in fact The effect will be. Of course. that other
European Powers Will give prompt attention to
their fleets and may soon expect TO hear OF
bigger appropriations being made by France and
Russia. Possibly the recent movement In Germany
to Increase the navy will now become more popu-
lar One fact is apparent-Great Britain has plenty
OF money in her Treasury
Professor Alger thought England was pursuing
a wise course. The money TO be spent on new
chips vas great deal he admitted but 1t was
TO be devoted Great Br.tain's best and strongest
arm He said: "Englishmen are right In giving at
tenton TO their navy and not their army. It Is
well understood that the British policy Is to have
a fleet stronger and swifter than any other two
Powers. Her navy Is her means OF commanding
peace"