Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-09-08

will be incurred under the head of Increase
OF the Navy" to July 1st, 1896. for construc-
ton and machinery upon vessels already
authorized.
$500 enlisted men in the Navy. Men are be-
ing enlisted each day; more than the 10 short
of the quota are needed to supply a full crew
to the Olympia, commissioned the 18th in
stant
In your message you only ask for the esti-
battle ships, and IN consequence I have not
included in the above estimate anything for
The estimate for armament (7,215, OOo) does
includes however, the of S3,O15. 900 for
according to decision of the Attorney Cen
eral, comes under the term armament" and
three battle ships is $1,e11 900. the total es-
timated cost for armor and arm anent for the
three vessels is S9,1 5000.
HILARY A. HERBERT, Secretary.
HON. JOSEPH SAVERS,
Chairman Committee Recommendations.
House of Representatives,
Mr.. Simpson. Now, Mr.. Chairman,
this bill provides that these battle
shi ps shall not cost, exclusive of arm
anent," more than s., 100000 each. The
letter just read discloses the fact that
the cost of the armor will be SO 900, O0e'
and more, making, as 1 haye stated, an
increased cost eventually for the con-
struc;ion of these ships and the torpedo
boats of more than $23 100000
Now, Mr.. Chairman, it is worth
while, perhaps, to consider whether it
is absolutely necessary to have these
battle ships constructed. Does the
history OF naval " warfare warrant us in
going on and constructing these enor
nous ironclad battle ships? It is a very
grave question among those who are
best informed on naval affairs whesher
|. the battle ships have come UP to the.
expectations of the people as a means
of defense. -
The history of recent years, and es-,
pecfal1y the last year, has developed
the fact that they have pot proved
equal to the fast cruisers. In the late
contest between China and Japan the
fact has been developed, at the battle
of Yulu River, that the unarmored
cruiser of Japan was more than equal
to the two great battle ships that China
had in line during that contest. The
vessels of China had the superior arm
anent both in regard to the thickness of
armor plate aud weight of-artiilery, yet
the swift unarmored cruiser of Japan,
with rapid-firing guns, proved to be
more than match for the great battle
ships. Mr.. Herbert, the honorable
Secretary of the Navy, in an article in
| the North American Review of last
| November, says:
Judging from what we see in the news
papers. the fight off the Yulu River seems to
! have created a somewhat widesprea impress
sion that they are, and that the naval battles
OF the future are TO be, won by swift, unarm
! ored cruisers. armed with powerful guns and
| fighting at long range.
Recent events have developed the
| fact that this was a correct prophecy.
I quote from the Scientific American
of this m morning an account of the sink
ing of those two rem aiming battle ships
belonging to China by torpedo boats,
proving that such war vessels are not
match either for the cruisers or for the
torpedo boats.
It reads as follows:
The majorfpart of the Chinese navy ;nelud-
ing the two principal ironelads, the Ting
troyed. They were both engaged in the great
battle at the mouth of the Yu1u River. from
Hai-wei after about ten days, almost conti1-
uous lighting, by the torpedos sent against
| them Dy the japanese IRey sister ships
and the most powerful vessels in either the
Japanese or Chinese service, each having a
/ displacement of over z 900 tons and belted
14-inch steel compound armor. 1t is reported
that the chinese torpedo fleet subsequently
attempted to escape from the harbor on Feb
ruary z, bnt that they were pursued by a fly
| ing squadron of Japanese vessels and twelve
ofthem either sunk or driven ashore.
| That, Mr.. Chairman. proves beyond
dispute, l think, that they have not
come up to the expectations which
were INDUCED in as means of defense
The little tordedo boats and swift arm
ored cruisers are more than a match
for these enormous battle ships, with
their uawieldy bulk and enormous
draft.
| Mr.. Cannon of Illinois. If the gentle
man will permit ne-d0es he consider
! the instance given there as fair test,
when he recalls at the same time the
extent of the Chinese Empire and the
great population they have as, COM