New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-27
NEW COMPOSITE GUNBOATs.

THE NEW COMPOSITE GUNBOATS.
An important addition OF lght-draught and COM
posits sunboats TO the effective force OF the Navy
has been made since the last annual report. AT the
present time the three lghtdrausht gunboats built
at Newport News are In active service, as are all
the composite gunboats except the Princeton. which
will probably be completed In February. These yes
sells are r and fU 1 Gn
foreign waters. especially in times Of civil disturb
Ths s sS e hf or the or
more than the cost Of single hrst-class armor o
cuiariy in the Of the composite vessels should
not be excessive and the reports OF ther uias, as
have have 81 Been sne distinctly favorable
Tho composite gunboats are the hrst which nave
Of the general order placing the responspiiy tor
design srensh pad sap ma3s aep hs
approval Of designs upon the bureau OF ConsIrue
f.So anS msnS On
resulting from this order. and the desraoiiity OF
In speaking Of the vessels in commission the
Secretary gives in detail the work acSomPsssea 6y
ron. tho largest and most important. ne says
Tho North Atlantic Squadron. under command
ss.n under Sf scaf3 darns
the last year the benefits which result from ex-
ron Composed Of the New,York dag
ship; the Massachusetts, frs, rate; the Puritan.
rate; the Texas mrs, rate; the Maine drs. Ts,s
the hTsoy Fs second the Ts,d &
third rate: the Wilmington. third rate; the Detroit
vile, third rate; the Fern. fourth rate. and the
Embracing three battle-ships OF the FIRST class.
two Of the second and me q our best snc
ss is wa T6a has been able
during the last year for the first time TO exercise
during and
q. blockade of that port. The value Of exercises
az 1' is s the 0 ens Tee Department Utilize
the North Atlantic Squadron az far as possible IN
DATA cam am be- Obtained as 70 the, most enecive
Sf S'as 6e se Of s the Pacific
Rear-Admiral Miller; the Asiatic. Rear Admiral
sbd 81. sD one Hsso csDaH 4E
European Squadron has been engaged in protect
NE Whsse 's Of
Hsy h h'e sy a ssu, h pr Ss
desirable. and the Asatic Squadron has been been
deemed advisable 10 show our nag look after
American interests; during the summer an c me
ships except The Monocacy' rendezvouseo at che-
DOCKING FACILITIES NEEDED.
Secretary Long says that the most urgent need
Of the naval service to-day Is an Increase OF DOCK
ing facilities. He therefore recommends that the
following works be started at once observing that
the total cost of them would be less than that OF
ono additional frst-cass battle-ship. thing which
10 now Of less Importance than the docks;
That there should be dock at Boston. adapted
TO the needs Of the largest ocean-golng vessels
client OF stone laid over sixty yeas ago
A dock at Portsmouth, n. H.. commensurate with
That at New-York, as soon as timber dock No.
4 which 10 under repair, is ready for use
probably some time In March next. SO that timber
dock No. can be spared. the latter. which Is now
and widened sufficiently to accommodate our
That the present timber dock at League Island
be Wtdened and provided with concrete entrance,
so AZ to meet the requirements Of rIst-class dock
10 feet as recommended by the Board, which Will
enable II to accommodate all except the very
largest ships In the near future. unless the sug
gestion below Of the Newport News Shipbuilding
there should also be wdened and fitted with a
concrete entrance. In which case It will be large
enough for our largest ships.
That AT Port Royal proper wharf be constructed
That at Ilsiers New Orleans, a steel floating
dock, with necessary wharf and moorngs be con-
That at Mare Island q Hrst-cass dock be pro-
Wded soon az the depth OF water which is now
only twenty feet. shall be increased as It ought to
In this connection II should be said that at New
port News are ell the requisites for dock Of the
largest size. There Is no lack OF water as in the
approaches to Norfolk The Newport News Ship
building and Drydock Company has suggested It's
willingness 10 construct dock OF the very largest
capacity. and 10 be governed by the Department as
% ~ construction, size. materials and character,
oe6lnninS the work at once and completing IL In q
year. provided II be assured OF some agree
Also the International Drydock and Construction
company CT New-York--and II is claimed that tho
nature OF the soil ut the Navy Yard there Is not
ven adapted TO the maintenance OF dock for
vessels 81 great weight-propose TO construct and
also maintain q steel floating dryd0ck OF the pat
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