Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-10-15
OUR NEW GUNBOATS.
Designed Especially for Service IN
Chinese Waters.
Ne More Aliens to Be Employed In tAs
Construction Department of Ous
Navy-Interesting Foreign
Naval Matters.

While pleased with the turn that on,
diplomatic relations in China have
taken, and satisfied with the present
representation of our navy in the
waters of that country, the naval AL,
thorities hers are still looking forward
with eager interest to the completion
OF h three nlight-draught gunboats
now In process OF construction at New.
port News, Va. The names as selected
for the boats are as follows; No. 7 will
be called the Nashville, after Nash
vile, Tenn; No. 8, the Wilmington.
after Wilmington, Del, and No. 8, the
Helena, after Helena, Mont.
These vess els are designed especially
for Chinese service, and are expected
to be of great value in coast navigation
and in ascending the Chinese rivers. 1t
is felt that with so many interests cen
tering in China as at present it is i'm
portant thai the United states should
be prepared not only to protect AMER
lean citizens, but, if the opportunity
offers, 70 promote American COM
merce. These vessels are provided
with ''overhangs" for the protection of
bli'll pIOptlltIS dRdllSt Vic uIlIlWoOA
and snags in the Chinese rivers, and it
is believed will be found 70 be especially
adapted for serving both these pur-
poses. They will also enjoy the adj
vantage of being moved more econom-
ically than the larger vessels, and of
being more easily protected during
storms and ia winter seasons. About
the middle Of September has been set
as the date for their launching. After
they are launched from six TO nine
months will elapse before they are
completed.
II develops that the real reason why
the torpedo boats constructed for the
battleships Maine and Texas will not
be used as such is that they are too
heavy for the purpose. and cannot be
carried on the ships. The lines of the
boat have been changed. being made
shorter and wider than originally in
tended. and will be put to some 5 at
the naval academy.
Measures are being quietly taken fo-
the removal of all foreigners from the
construction department of the United
States navy. Hitherto the government
has been unique in the fact that it per
mitted the employment OF aliens in
positions of trust as regards national
secrets. and moro particularly where
plans and designs of naval and military
defense work might be copied and sen
to other governments. Several re
movals have been made, and it is un.
derstood hat all new appointments in.
golving a knowledge of the construc.
ton of our warships, ordnance. maya.
zines and %projectiles will only be given
TO native Americans. and that the de.
partments will be weeded of all for
eigners as rapidly as possible.
In connection with information con
'erning " navy it will be inter
sting 70 note that tho new navy estt-
mates OF Great Britain provide for 49,
$50 men. which is an increase of $3.50
over the estimate of last year. Be
sides the expenditures under the pro,
visions of the naval defense act 1t is
proposed to lay out f5, 1898 ,642 on the
construction of ships and f73O,OoO on
ornaments.
japan is alive TO the value Of a strong
navy and has contracted with a Glas-
glow firm of ship-builders for five a
ships, the cost of which will be nearly
e5, 0o0, 0O0.