New-York tribune., 1897-01-01
TVARSHIPS FOR JAPAN.
AMERICAN SUPERIORITY RECOGNIZED
BY THE MIKADO's GOVERNMENT.


CONTRACTS FOR TWO SWIFT CRUISERS SIGNED
WITH THE CRAMPS AND THE UNION IRoN
woRKs-DEsCRIPTIoN OF THE VESSELS
Washington. Dec. 31.-Two years from this
date the rapidly growing japanese Navy Will
he increased by the addition Of two swift cruisers
OF American build. The contracts were signed
to-day at the japanese Legation by Minister
Hoshi. representing the Japanese Government
and by Henry Scott, OF san Francisco, and
Charles ~. Cramp OF Philadelphia. representing
the Union Iron Works ard the Cramps Ship
yard. respectively.
Shortly after the termination of the war be
tween China and japan. whom IT became known
that Japan purposed building a large navy the
two American firms sent agents 10 Toxic To
part OF the work. Their efforts were
for time unsuccessful but they were ably Sec
onded by the Legation at Washington. particu-
larly by It's naval attaches. and by the furthn
fact that after a careful investigation OF the
European and American navies the Japanese
Government became satisfied that the Americans
had reached perfection in naval architecture
and that American engines and boilers were
superior to those of other nations. These inhu-
ences resulted to-day in the signing Of contracts
for two second-class protected cruisers one TO
be built at San Francisco and the other at Phil
adelphia both to be completed in two years
The two vessels will cost $3O0OO00. in round
numbers. and will represent the latest and best
type OF marine architecture. Each VIII have Il
displacement Of 4. 80 TONS 2G0 tons more than
the Chicago which one OF the original quar-
tet OF steel vessels that marked the renaissance
OF the Navy Their length over all VIII be "'t
feet, with breadth of ~ feet, an extreme depth
OF 30 feet and draught OF II feet inches.
n
the American Navy except the Minneapolis.
which steams trife more than ~ knots an
hour. The new vessels will make 22ia knots un-
der forced draught which is fraction faster
than the Columbia. the sister ship OF the Mill
neapolis
They VII be constructed with longitudinal ana
transverse bukheads. divided into compart-
ments with an armored coming tower. The
engine and boiler rooms will be protected under
meath by a double bottom. Their batteries VIII
consist of two S-inch guns. one in the lore
castle and the other in the poop. wi;h secondary
batteries Of ten 12-centimetre guns. twelve u
Founders and six 2l2-pounders. The l--cenu-
metre guns and the 12-pounders Will nave
broadsde fire. Their offensive qualities VIII bt
completed by the addition OF ive torpedo tuoes:
The vessels will be built of the best nuallty OF
American steel and represent the newer types oi
American construction.
The engines VIII DE trlple-eNidHSioH' "t.'
cylindrical boilers In the arrangement OF tne
crews quarters and the galleys they VIII dlrfer
somewhat from American-built ships ana pe
made to conform more 10 the japanese idea or
utility and comfort Some of the guns VIII be
manufactured in England and the remainder IN
the Imperial yards OF Japan The steering gear
can be worked by electricity or by hand as may
be desired. &
A similar contract will be given to an Eng
lish shipbuilding Arm. with view TO testing the
relative merits Of American and English Skill
II the two vessels in question prove satisfactory
they will, II II believed point the way TO futale
| contracts for American builders. 1t was SAID
this afternoon by Commander Marta. OF the
japanese Legation. that the vessels comprising
the American fleet in Eastern waters during the
last year have proved an instructive obJect-les-
son to the japanese Government. as showing the
capabilities of the Americans in the art or snip
building The Olympia. a superb protected
cruiser OF nearly 5000 tons displacement. and
carving a battery Of four S-inch and ten D.
inch rapid firing guns, was sent to the China
Station year ago. where her fine seagOing
qualities won for her, and incidentally for her
builders unstinted praise. and aided materially
I'm satisfying the Japanese that the Americans
are building the best ships in the world
Ii Is an Interesting circumstance that the con-
tracts made to-day the first Japan has given
Before the war contracts were placed in England
been made there although. as previously said.
a sister ship 10 the two American vessels will
now be built in that country.