The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-27
The Sen Power.

The question Of our correct army policy
/ after the war IS to a considerable extent
/ an open one Whether we shall have a
| large or a small standing army is being
| discus sed and there are strong arguments
| to be advanced on each side. But there
! seems to be no ques ton With regard to
| our naval policy. We are to have navy
! commensurate with the wealth and dig
nifty of the nation. Just how large it will
be cannot, of course, be foretold. but it
will take high rank. lifting US in the scale
of naval powers and placing us in a posi-
ton to follow our own inclinations in mat
tiers of foreign policy
Persons who have not kept a close watch
upon our naval progress lately may be
| SURPRISED to know that we have now in
commission no less than 15S vessels of all
classes, with about a dozen more to go into
commission shortly. number of these,
of course, are auxiliary cruisers and
craft of the mosquito feet; still the show
ing is a very brave one, and our fighting
strength on the sea is by no means to be
despised. even by greater power than
the decadent nation with which we are at
war.
To our present force we shall before
great while add five new battleshlps, six
torpedo boats and several vessels of 9TH
er types. Besides these vessels, which
are now building and well advanced to-
wards completion, the new naval ball au-
thorizes three first-class battleships four
monitors. sixteen destroyers, twelve tor
pedo boats, and one gunboat for the lakes.
This gives US an additional feet of forty
seven modern high class ships already 'in
sight for the navy. We have also one
other ship, the Albany sister TO the New
Orleans, in England where she is tied up
by the neutrality Law. Counting up all
classes, we find that our navy within
few years-probably before another presi-
Dental inauguration-will amount 10 con-
siderably more than 200 vessels. This does
not take into account other naval ap-
preparations which may be made by the
present Congress, or possible appropria-
tons by the next Congress. The golden
opinions our navy is now winning for it.
self viii be pretty sure to influence liberal
appropriations for naval extensions in flu
ture
Our own country, however, is not the on
ly one which is exercising great activity in
navy building. Indeed, every virile gov
eminent of the world is looking to and
building up it's sea power. Great Britain
is building or is to build as rapidly as pos
sible no less than los warships, at a cost
approximating $l07. GOO In the num-
Der will be fourteen battleships, eight
first-class cruisers and nine second-class
cruisers, besides a large number of tor
pedo boats and destroyers.
Germanys naval programme involves
the construction of seventeen
ships-of-the-line, eight armored coast
defense vessels and a large num-
Der of other craft. In all, it
is the plan of the Emperor to expend up
on his navy about $24O, 200, Co., France will
add $1A 100000 worth of ships to her navy,
constructing battleshipi, heavy cruz ers
and torpedo boats. Russia contemplates
spending $31S,OOO.OC0 in strengthening her
sea power Like the others, she will
build great floating fortresses and small
and swift torpedo boats and destroyers.
Several of Russia's monster battleships
will probably be built in this country.
Japan, which has only recently come into
International notice as a naval power.
has adopted a naval policy which contem-
plates the expenditure of $l93, 100000 for
fighting ships. She already has a very
respectable navy With the additions
which she will make, her sea power will
be the first in Asia. Italy and Austria
will not build so extensively, but will
make additions to their forces.
Spain, however, will be forced to con-
| tent herself with patching up whatever
she may have left after the American
| fleets get through with her navy. She Is
not credited with any policy of construc-
ton; most likely for the excellent reason
that she has nothing to build with.
1t will be seen, from the foregoing that
the next few years will witness remarka-
bic activity in the shipyards where war
vessels are constructed. on both sides of
the ocean. If the United States mean to
keep up with the procession, they must
loosen their purse strings. At present it
looks as If that would be done. .