New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-02
THE NAVAL BOARD or CONSTRUCTION.

a
Criticism at this time Of any branch OF the
United States Navy is not a pleasant task
The Nation Is rghtfully proud Of the fleet
whose fighting In the war just ending recalls
the most splendid Of American achievements
on the seas. On shore TOO the Nays conduct
OF the recent war he's been admittedly without
fault. The censure which has been lavlshed.
Justly or not upon other departments Of the
Government during hostilities and since their
close is lacking wholly in the public comment
on the work in the war of the Secretary OF the
Navy and his advisers. In one particular,
however there has recently been wide de-
partu-e from the high standard which has
marked the administration OF Secretary Long
"a departure noticeable in the hating judg-
ment Of the Naval Board Of Construction with
regard 10 proposed additions 10 the feet, in Its
repeated blunders IL designs. and in It's fire.
uuent humiliating acceptance Of contractors
plans in lieu Of its own.
The Construction Board as Is well known,
comprises certain OF the chiefs OF bureaus in
The Navy Department. 1t exists for the pur-
pose Of advising the Secretary Of the Navy on
all technical matters particularly on the de-
tails Of plans for new vessels. Its members
are supposed TO be, and surely should be. ofh
GERS OF long experience and Of the highest tai
ent-men in touch with the best thought OF the
Navy and experts on the many factors when
enter into warshlp construction. That This
Board has in years gone by fulfilled Its mission
with success our rehabilitated feet fully proves.
That It's brilliant record Of the past finds no
counterpart in it's work Of the present year
must reluctantly he confessed.
Beginning with the first designs for the four
new battle ships one blundcr seems to have
followed another While the plans for these
vessels were yet uDdevcloped The Tribune re-
peatedly called attention to the all-importanf
element Of speed. an essential which was neg
lectcd in the design which the Board favored
s IN spite Of the fact that high speed was feat
IRE OF all foreign battle ships. proposed OF
bnIldlnr. and in defiance OF a wide popular ex
nressjon I'm favor Of its embodiment in the new
American vessels. The Tribune's efforts were
subsequently justified by the results OF thu
agl,, off Santiago and IN the end the country
was freed from the danger OF building SHIPS
ar s,ow thar in some battle Of the future they
r,;oh. hove brought discredit to the flag. Th'
4 4mnroved plans cmbodying high speed. did no
orioipote however with the Board or Con
struction. They were suggested by the snip
brna,po firms whose designs the Secretary &C
cen,cd in lieu Of those proposed by the Board
vext came the award OF contracts for six
teen torpedo-boat destroyers and twelve TOR
pedo-boats At the time Of the opening or I'M
bids for these boats The Tribune pointed OF
the great advantage which lay In absoiutei!
uniform designs for all OF the vessels OF eaci
ciass-a view which the naval tactician hold
on the ground that the units OF each grouI
( should have the same maximum speed, tactica
/ diameter and steaming radius, and a view
{ which the naval engineer advocates. since uni