The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-06
TOR MORE BATTLE SHIPS.
.,oRBTARY HERBERT TO RECON-
wEyD THEM TO CONGRESS.

Additional Torpedo Boats aud
'V...h,p. Two or Three small Cruisers
a.. Also on Hts ProErsmme-Bopub-
ns.. Opposition TO Inmediats Action.
~v.suyoroS. Jan. 5.-Secretary Herbert pro-
-. TO supplement- tho recommendation In
=. .,nual report OF the Navy Department for
:. Increase Of the navy by additional COM
Indications to Congress. in which he will argue
.,sonply FOR several moro battle ships. twelve
,.,rsdo boats, and possibly some two or three
mail cruisers.
Already the House Naval Committee has un-
Z asrtaken the preparation OF the annual bill, aud
.,pects TO have II ready to report to the House
-,,hln TWO or three weeks. The committee is
,.,d 70 DO disposed to grant the recommends
Nan made by MIR. Herbert In the annual report
ar three battle ships Of tho largest size. but
,hsr. is some question whether the House
IA Sneaker Reed will DO willing to add
"a the expenses OF the Government By au-
,horizing so largo an expenditure rs tho
~, one to be recommended. The Re
nrhI,oans realize that tho appropriations to
sorpl,ts the ships and to build entirely three
a, them must come from Congresses during the
,n.oming Administration. and that. whilo the
n.mocrats must lie credited with providing for
~. construction Of tho ships, tho annual appro-
citations must be increased by Republicans to
meat the cost OF building them. Mr.. Boutelle
,,p.c,s to carry through \ bill, as he did last
,,sr. containing provision for three and possi-
NJ, four battle ships and from half n dozen to
,v.lys torpedo boats Of tho sire and speed
a, those building under authority of the
assent Congress. Opposition Is expected to
s.v,lop in tho House, however, from members
vho have been heretofore friendly to tho navy.
mi, oppositlon is based on the belief that the
n,mocras have already received too much
cr.dit for building up the navy and that 10
,ould be advisable TO leave all provision for
y .h,ns until next winter or until an extra session
Il called In tho spring. when q Joint resolution
~ S.kspuSiicsns calculate. tho Mckinley Adj.
Tl. the new ships. whereas IL the Congress,
mi, winter authorizes three or four vessels and
ssmaiI heet Of torpedo boats tho Democratic
ISmInls,ratlon will get the credit while the
Republican Administrator will pay the bills,
Nr. m Mr., Meyer. and Mr.. Boutelle
s ara al ., ts'V vii advocate . bill increasing the
naval establishment 10 the extent urged BY Mr..
Herbert In his report to the President. In the
senate there Is q disposition moro favorable to
snisrSins the navy than was displayed last
summer. when Senator Gorman and q few 9th.
ss insisted on cutting the House b!ll in half,
cant the main features OF the House measure.
such senators as Frye and Morgan have real.
iIed that IL was the. rchulnebs anu ttleuEtu OF
he present feet which had n soothing effect
upon SPANS hostility to this Government.
With three more battle ships authorized the
navy would have in four years = round dozen OF
~dr.t.cla.s battle ships. or more than half the
number placed by the department several years
AGO a. sufficient 10 protect the coast line with
The system OF deiences then contemplated.
Twenty battle ships OF the highest class, II Is be-
lieyed by the leading naval men, would meet
ali the requirements OF q modern navy for some
Years TO come. but In order to reach this
humber Congress, they say. should not do less
than authorize three each year. Even then.
,key say, II will be several years before any
thing like 4 considerable navy will be availahle:
and mean while the leading naval powers OF the
world will continue 10 advance moro rapidly
than the United States.