Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-16
UNCLE SANS NEW NAVY
Interesting Descriptive Address by Rspresen-
a tative Hilborn of California.
aptitude of Americans In Construct
Ships Yet to De Tested.

Representative 8. G. Hilborn of Califor-
mia, member of the naval committee of
the House of Representatives. delivered an
address last evening at the Eastern High
School on 1.-The New Navy"
very large audience was present, COM
prising not only pupils of the school, but
many citizens of Capitol Hill. Mr.. Hill
born's remarks were frequently interrupted
by enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. Hilborn said in part:
From colonial times Americans have
shown an aptitude for building and sail
ing ships which has not been equaled by
any other people or the globe. So long as
ships were made of wood the American
ships and frigates were the admiration Of
the world. but there came a time when
metal took the place of wood, and since
then American inventors have shown an
aptitude for development which has been
marvellous. and have produced fighting ma
chimes which. ship for ship, are equal to- If
they are not indeed better than, those Of
any other nation
After detailing the strength of the Amer
lean navy, Mr.. Hilborn continued: THE
modern battle ship is, to a great extent
experimental. She has never been in &C.
tual battle, unless a contest during the
recent war between Japan and China pro-
duces an exception. But from that we
learned nothing useful. Theoretically, the
great monster of 1900 horse power Is
powerful floating fortress, but what she
can accomplish is not yet known. 1t Is
known that she can be blown up by a
little torpedo of insignificant cost, pro-
vided the torpedo Is properly directed.
The Display of Power.
when the time comes that the vessels
CT two powerful nations shall meet in &C.
tual combat; when there shall have been
battle in which ships, torpedo boats and
other modern craft shall take part, and
the smoke of battle clears away, we shall
then be able to estimate the value of the
modern warship.
1t Is possible that such a battle will
bring about revolution in naval archi-
lecture. Such a revolution occurred the
day the Merrimac and Monitor met In
Hampton Roads, nearly forty years ago.
The battle did not last long. but the sound
Of the guns was heard around the world.
The next morning in every land where
wooden ships were being constructed by
the government work was stopped, nor
has wooden war vessel since been built.
An action such as that to which have
referred would also settle the question OF
the line and staff and the mechanical di-
visions. Naval architecture is no longer
nautical only, as was the case in the days
of the wooden vessels. 1t is now mixed
nautical and mechanical. If the great Mel
son or the greater FarragUt could be
brought back from his grave and put down
alongside the machinery of the Iowa, he
would, indeed. be all at sea-
Confidence ana Regret.
IT have very great confidence in the
American navy, and l greatly regret that
there is disposition in some quarters to
magnify every little accident that may oc-
cur to one of our vessels. No great acct
dent has ever happened to our navy except
with Kimberly's fleet at Samoa and the
al an No him n oh hsUn
prevented either"
Mr.. Hilborn then told of a number of
shocking accidents which had occurred to
vessels Of the English, Spanish and Ger
man navies, in which the aggregate loss Of
life amounted to thousands.
Just now, continued Mr.. HilbOrn,
Uncle Sam Is scurrying around to get out
his guns, and the question is whether he
will be able to get them out before the
other fellows get a shot at him"
The remainder of Mr.. Hilborn's address
was devoted to explaining series of illus
trations, of which more than one hundred
excellent object lesson of the developments
of the American navy during the last hun
bred years. Mr.. Hilborn's explanation of
how the Constitution, the Constellation and
the United States, the three greatest frig-
ates built in the early days of the republic,
came to be constructed was listened to
with the greatest attention. He told of the
battles in which each vessel was engaged,
out uWeiI more particularly OH THOSE won
by the Constitution. He also gave many
interesting incidents connected with each
Of the following, as the picture appeared
on the canvas: The Hartford, Admiral Far
sank the Alabama; the Alabama itself, the
Merrimac and the Monitor and many 9TH
ers.
Merrimac and Monitor.
Mr.. Hilborn recalled the scenes of the
battle between the Merrimac and the Moni-
tor, and said that the lines upon which the
Monitor was designed, as far as her fight
ing quality was concerned, have been pre-
served until the present day.
after the war;" said Mr.. Hilborn, I'VE
grew tired of paying debts, and the con-
struction of ships for the navy was neglect
ed. At last, however, the Dolphin was built
of those connected with the administration
who did not like MIR. Roach that the
Dolphin was structurally weak, she made
a voyage of $1,000 miles and lost less than
two hours by trouble to her machinery.
The result of this was vindication of Mr..
Roach's claim that the Dolphin was
practically perfect vessel, but 1t came too
late to prevent Mr.. Roach from going into
bankruptcy and dying of a broken heart"
The Maine Disaster.
Mr.. Hilborn explained in much detail the
destruction of the Maine, which ship, he
said. was first class in every respect and
he asserted his belief that the vessel was
blown up from the exterior. Diagrams
showing all the various sections of the
Maine were exhibited, in which the most
intense interest was displayed by the audi
ence. Mr.. Hilborn also spoke of all the
other vessels composing the American navy
and explained the manner of preparing
the armor for the various vessels, also the
way In which the different projectiles and
of Indi
and said he felt sure that should there
ever be war the American navy will give
good account of itself.
in conclusion. he told of the visit of
Lieutenant De Long to the arctic regions
to rescue the crew of the Jeonnette some
years ago. as illustrating the bravery of
the officers of the navy.
COLLEGE BOYS DEBATE,