The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-04-24
Our New Navy and its Equipneats.

Vur New N4ty ana us equipments
or the importance of an efficient
Navy too much cannot be urged. A
glance at the worlds history will show
the student that those nations which
have had the best navys have always
been the leaders in commerce and
prosperity. A few nations may be
noted to prove this proposition.
Phoenicia, located upon an island
on the eastern shore of the Mediter-
ranean, built her navy; she controlled
the commerce of the Mediterranean
and adjacent seas; her people became
powerful and prosperous.
The Athenean republic, when she
became mistress of the seas, extended
her commerce. and her people became
fabulously rich.
So soon as Carthage had become
great maritime power, her victorious
armies knocked at the very gates Of
Rome. Venice by her navy alone for
nine centuries controlled the money
and commerce of the world. England
to-day is the mistress of the sea she
has held this position for more than
100 years. Her merchants and capt.
talists draw tribute from every civil
lied government on the face of the
earth: and her possessions are so
great that the sun never ceases to
shine on English dominions.
The United States must be a mari
time power, or she must sink back
among the third and fourth rate pow
ers of the world. Our Atlantic coast
from the northeast coast of Maine to
the mouth of the Rio Grande, and our
western coast from the northwestern
corner OF Washington, to San Diego,
CAL, make us more favorably situa-
ted to become great maritime power
than any government on the face of
the earth.
The construction of our new Navy
has already placed the prestige of our
government very much higher among
the nations of the earth, and this will
continue as long as we continue TO in-
crease its availability.
The construction and strength of
war ships, to-day, as compared with
those OF earlier times is most remark
able.
For instance, suppose we compare
the great Armada, which Philip of
Spain, in 1888, sent against the Eng
fish Queen Elizabeth, with the deter
mination to crush out the British
Isles. This Spanish Armada is treat
ed in history as one OF the most won
derful aggregations that the world
had ever seen, being composed of 1870
vessels in all, go of which were gal
Icons. The entire tonnage OF that
fleet was 75,S7s, or about what seven
of our modern battie-ships would car
ry. The entire armament was 2, 431
guns, with 1884, round shot, and
5, IFS pounds OF powder; not enough
powder for the Massachusetts or the
Iowa, battle-ships OF our fleet. to eff
fectiyely fire five 16-inch shells. This
vast armament had 10, 295 fighting
men, with 1870 priests to do the pray
ing for them, little more than an
average OF one priest to a ship. The
battle-ship Massachusetts could have
destroyed that entire fleet in 10 hours,
and her hull would not have been
even scratched, nor man upon her
decks injured. Such is maritime
power Of the present age, as compared
with that few centuries ago. The
trend of events is forward and on
ward, and the nation which lags be-
hind is sure to be left.
The building OF ships has been
greatly improved since the earliest
historic times.
The first known Of war ships so
called were dug-outs, made from the
trunks of the largest trees. Stanley,
in his travels in Africa, met with
number Of these formidable fleets,
which were easily held in defiance by
a few Henry rifles.
The Phoenecians, the Greeks, the
Romans, the Carthagenians and the
Spanish, and the early English ships,
as compared with the present war
ships Of civilized nations, were the
merest toys, and of no practical or
serviceable utility.
Our present ships are so construct
ed that il one portion of them should
be struck and filled with water the
residue of the ship is safe because of
its water-tight compartments. In
stead OF being made Of wood, every
part of them is made of finished steel
Their strength is such that the most
powerful seas connot even wrench
their frames. Their size and fighting
are so incredibly superior TO
known in ancient days that
is an absurdity for one
Of the great ships of modern times
would be sufficient to destroy all of
the ancient navys in the world.