The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-09-09

s. s.:
will be incurred under the head of Increase
of the Navy" to July list, 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 o short
of the quota are needed to supply full crew
to the Olympia commissioned on the 5th in
stant
In your message you only ask for the esti-
mated cost of the armament of the three new
battle ships, and IN consequence 1 have not
included in the above estimate anything for
the hull armor of the vessels in question.
The estimate for armament (7215 ,OOo) does
include, however, the sum of 3,O15 900 for
armor known as gun protection which
according to decision of the Attorney Cen
as the estimate for the hull for the
three battle ships is 81. 911 900 the total es-
timated cost for armor and armament for the
three vessels is S9, &c 900.
Very Respectfully,
HILARY A. HERBERT, Secretary.
HON. JOSEPH SAVERS,
Chairman Committee on Appropriations
House of Representatives,
Mr.. Simpson. Now, Mr.. Chairman,
this bill provides that these battle
ships shall not cost, 'exclusive of arm
anent,' more than 81 900, 900 each. The
letter just read discloses the fact that
the cost of the armor will be S9,OOO,O0u
and more, making, as 1 haye stated, an
increased cost eventually for the con-
struction of these ships and the torpedo
pats of more than $23, 900, 900.
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? 1t is very
grave question among those who are
best informed on naval affairs whether
the battle ships have come up to the
expectations of the people as means
of defense.
pecially the last year, has developed
the fact that they have not 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 and weight of artillery,yet
the swift unarmOred cruiser of Japan,
with rapid-fring guns, proved to lie
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:
papers. the fight off the Yulu River seems to
have created somewhat widespread 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 correct prophecy.
I quote from the Scientific American
of this morning an account of the sink
ing of those two remaining battle ships
belonging to China by torpedo boats,
proving that such war vessels are not
torpedo boats.
1t reads as follows:
The najoripart of the Chinese navy, inelud-
ing the two principal ironclads, the Ting
Yuen and Chen-Yuen has almost been des-
troyed. They were both engaged in the great
battle at the mouth of the Yulu River from
which they escaped only to be sunk at Wei
Hai-Wei, after about ten days almost contin-
uous fighting, by the torpedos sent against
them by the Japanese They were sister ships,
and the most powerful vessels in either the
Japanese Chinese service, each having a
displacement of over 1000 tons and Delted
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 fly
ing squadron of japanese vessels and twelve
of them either sunk or driven ashore.
That, Mr.. Chairman. proves beyond
dispute, 1 think, that they have not
come up to the expectations which
were INDUCED in as a means of defense.
The little tordedo boats and swift arm
ored cruisers are more than a match
for these enormous battle ships, with
their unwiel6y bulk and enormous
draft.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois. If the gentle
man will permit me-does 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