Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-08

battle shipY
Mr.. Simpson, think perhaps the
gentleman 10 right; and II shows the
superiority and the wisdom Of the Jap.
anese In selecting the swift armoredI
cruisep and torpedo boats instead Of
spending enormous sums OF money 10
the construction OF unwieldy battle
ships. Japan has no battle ships with
armor TO exceed nine inches, That We
would call light armored vessel. But
you propose here In this bill TO con-
atruot big llne-oibattle ships with
these enormously thick steel armor
plates.
Besides that, Mr.. Chairman, such
vessels are not seagoiug vessele. They
are not intended for such purposes, and
are III only for coast defense. Few ma
tions avail themselves of the battle
ships TO send TO foreign ports. Great
Britain Is the only exception Of any OF
the maritime nations that sends any
number Of her 81 heavy battle ships to
foreign ports. They are used mainly
for coast defense.
Mr.. Money. II the gentleman will
pardon an interruption, / did not catch
his statement accurately. Did under
stand the gentleman TO cay that the
armored battle ships we're not seagoing
vesselsp
Mr.. Simpson, Not considered as
such
Mr.. Money. Not considered by
whomp
Mr.. Simpson (contlnuing) Because
the heavy armor plates make them top
heavy In addition to the immense arm
anent they carry; and what | have just
stated with reference to the use of these
battle ships is true Of every nation ex-
cept Great Britain, who sends few Of
them to foreign ports.
Mr.. Sayers. The gentleman Is speak
ing now Of the heaviest class Of battle
ships, $3.50
Mr.. Simpson. Yes, sir; the heaviest
armored shipsY
Now, the only reason why we want
these ships is to be enabled TO use them
for coast defense. Let us see how prac-
tical that is. This class OF ships, OF the
displacement mentioned Ia the bill, Is
In the neighborhood OF 10000 tons; and
they will draw probably not less than
20 feet, How many ports In the United
States can vessels enter with such q
heavy draft, and be utilized as means
OF coast deiensep venture to say that
there is not half dozen ports in the
United States in which they can safely
enter; and so, as a means Of coast de-
tense, they will be useless. For the
protection Of our long line Of coast and
the numerous small bays and harbors
that indent 1t we want light-draft ves-
sells, quick, active, speedy, and which
can defend the coast by being able to
enter the smaller ports, or those hav-
ing less depth Of water, with facility.
So, repeat, as means Of coast defense,
vessels OF this class, ,light-draft vessels
and swift cruisers are invaluable.
But, sir, there is another phase Of
this question to be considered; that Is
whether the battle ship when built will
not be useless on account of the rapid
development and'discovery in the shape
of inventions increasing the already
powerful ordnance we have already in
this country. We go TO work now and
construct battle ship at an immense
cost, sheathe 1t with enormous steel
plates, and then at once produce a gun
that will shoot ball right through
her. We have today ordnance that
will shoot through the most powerful
ironclad that has been built.
| cut from the daily press the other
day paragraph which throws light on
the subject. 1t says:
The Golden Gate is to be protected by three
of the biggest guns in use in the United States.
They will be pointed aeaward from vantage
} positions on either side OF the gate and they
are calculated to furnish complete defense
against any craft that might escape the shells
which the new mortar batteries will send out
to sea for the distance of six miles These guns
are as long as seven aYeragc-sized guns, and
two men might easily crawl into the bore of
one Of the wonders.
Mr.. Loud. When is that to bep
Mr.. Simpson Right away.