The times., 1897-11-27

the nav consists of 4 battle ships of I he first
class, 2hattle ships of the secondclass. . a.
morcd cruisers, I6 ICisers, . gunboa,s.
e double-turi eted monitors. i Iam, 'y-
Mantle gunbcat, dispatch boat, transport
steamer, and torpedo beats. There are
mder construction tattle ships uf the
first class, l6 torpedo beats and l sulna-
rlne boat.
There are Ga other naval vessels, in
Guiding those used as training, recei'iEg
and naNal reserve shIs, tugs, disGtec sll-
gle-turreted monitors and sCme uIascr'ioc-
able craft.
There is. further, tile auxiliary fleet
This consists, first. Of more than twenty
subsidized steamers which comply VITA
the requirements of the postal act Of
March 3, 1891, with regard t. their
adayta hility To naval service, and TO an
arma nlcnt of main and secondary bat
teries: second, of a very much greatr5
nemUer OF large merchant marine steaIn'
ers which can lie availed of at any time
of need.
Thcst auXiliaries, ranging from 1000
1000 tons, Will, if occasion require, form
a powerful fleet of ocean cruisers, capable
of swift and formidable attack upon an
cnemY's commerce. Their great coIi
caIacity win also ena bic them TO remain
a long time at sea in search Of the where
abouts OF hostile vessels.
The conutry is TO be congratulated upon
the results obtained in the rebuilding of
tie Navy. While its ships are not as
maryland 1t is hot necessary they should
be-as those OF some other great powers,
they are, class for class, In power, speed,
Workmanship, and offensive and defensive
qualities, the equal of vessels built any
where else in the world
Here follows a list of the vessels under
construction, which he says should he
completed during the coming year, eX-
cept the fiXe hattleshtps which VIII proha-
bly not be ready for service before the
latter part OF 500. OF the latter tie
KearSaGge and Kentucky are nearly hall
completed. About three-quarters OF their
armor has been delivered, part OF which
has been secured in place on the ships.
The other three, the A laiama. Illinois,
and Wisconsin, We're begun subsequent 10
the last annual report.
In compliance with the direction of Con
gress, that plans end estimates for the Is
tabIsnment OF an armoI plant be prepared,
the department appointed ali armor- factory
board, composed Of officers selected wi,n
-Sptcial regard to their fitness for this duty.
They have made u carefu! investigation of
the problems presented, aud have visited
some OF tue principal steel and iron manu-
featuring points in the country. The Result
Will be transmitted to Congress in a special
| report.
The department has during the past year
adopted the practice of placing in reserve
such vessels as H. deems advisable for auy
reason not to retain in active commission
Some such system is necessary to at once
avoid tie great cost OF keeping too many
vessels ia active service and yet keeping
enough ready for action at short notice.
The limited number OF officers and men IS
also an important consider ration.
Speaking OF other nations naval progress
he says:
The total number Of England's 8 vessels
Of all classes under construction during
the year amount To II, with ali ag-
gregate displacement of atout As, 900
tons, and with an aggregate indio ted
horsepower OF about 935 600. II is ;lntici-
patsd that during { he present fiscal year 66
of these vessels will be completed for
service, including 90 torpedo hoat destroy
ers. Naval construction in France is ais
large. The minister Of marine has been
authorized to commence the construc
OF total &C seventeen vessels, at a cost
of SIC, ,194,T20. Ia addition to these
there viii be under construction during
| the yeaI 1S9T-eS a total of sixty-nine
vessels of ali descriptions. Japan comes
next, leading Russia, Italy, Germany aud
| Spain.
There are now under construction fIr
| the Spanish government; 4arnored cruisers,
protected cruisers, 4 gunboats, / tor
pedo boats, and 3 battlesiips, to be fitted
with new Rollers and guns in France.
1t appears from the report of the bureau
OF Yards and docks that today the m9st
urgent need OF the naval service is an in
crease OF ducki ng facilities. On the
Pacific coast there is hut one dock If
sufficient size to dock modern battleship.
This lack OF docking facilities should be
remedied al the earliest possible momuut.
The necessity is imperative.
Spain has nineteen docks, anlv one )f
which is capable of docking the largest
battleships.
Progress has been made under the Bu
reau OF Ordnance in arning our vessels in
keeping With their increase in number
1t appears from its report that all the
guns, 54T in number, required for the main
| batteries of the modern ships of the Navy
have been completed, except those for
the five battleShipS now under construc
ton, and for the Hartford. These guns
| however, will be completed far in ailylLce
of the bsttieships. During the past year
! 81 guns of various calibers, from 20 I3
inches, for the main batteries of YES
| sells, have been completed at the ma val gun
factory, and 169 are now in proc ass of
| manufacture. For secondary batteries for
naval vessels the department has ordered
963 guns.
! Contracts have been made during the
taSt year FOR a quantity OF common and
larmor-piercing shells for 1-pounder and g.
/ FOUNDER GUNS and for guns OF from to
inch caliber.
Ten thousand 6 nm. Lee straight pull
| rifles have been supplied, and nearly all the
vessels in commission. except these on for.
eign stations, have been equipped with
| them.
Fifty automatic guns, firing small-arm
iammmition have been procured an d are in
| process OF issue to the service. Fifty more
are in process of mahufacturs.
When the present contracts for torpeeioes
are completed he department will have on
hand 800 Whitehead and 81 Howell tor
| pedoes.
CT the 9s3 guns required for the sec
EAk A~uG