Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-27
NEW Tsrpsdo Boats and psstrsysrs.

At the outset OF the war, our navy
possessed no torpedo boat destroysrs
and only two dozen torpedo boats In
commission and building. This entire
lack Of the one and the small number
of the other type was regarded as the
weak point in our coming contest with
Spain. for the latter country was we'll
supplied with both. Torpedo boats and
destroyers were looked upon by naval
men as the most dangerous and effec-
tive craft against the enemy afloat. and
Congress, taking alarm, authorized the
construction of 1g torpedo boats and 16
destroyers, to cost in the aggregate
not over $6.9O0,0OO. The boats were to
have speed Of not less than 26 knots.
and cost each not more than $40, 1000.
while the destroyers were to have
speed OF not less than % knots. and the
cost of each was not to exceed 1926, 900.
There was some criticism over the
figures set for the destroyers, as such
craft have before cost other countries
considerably more, but none Of the bids
opened this week exceeded the figures
and in one or two instances they were
much less. These % war craft will
constitute the largest single addition
ever made to our navy.
1t was anticipated that the bidding
Of the different ship building firms for
these craft would be spirited and gen.
eral. and anticipation was not disap-
pointed, for nearly all the large firms
We're represented, the only notable ex-
ceptions being the Cramps and the
Herreshoffs. The former had previous
ly announced an intention not to bid,
because of bidding for the larger ships
of war provided for in the same act.
but the absence of the latter was sur
prising. because they are the chief
builder Of the torpedo boat type, and
were regarded as sure competitors.
With three exceptions there was very
little difference in the amount bid for
either type Of boat, particularly where
two or more boats were bid for by a
single firm. and this was equally true,
whether the designs were those fur
nished by the navy department or by
the builders. The bids for the most
part on destroyers ranged from $2S2. 0CO
to $685. and in the neighborhood of
$4,000 for the smaller boats. The first
bids opened were from Bath and they
We're among the lowest and most salts
factory in all respects. No doubt two
or three of the new craft will be built
at the famous yards Of the Bath Iron
Works. The destroyers must be COM
pleted in IS months and the torpedo
boats in II months
But it was a Pennsylvania who
caused the !, most comment, according
to report. and it would have been
strange if he did not when his bid was
read. Disregarding the plans prepared
by the navy department, he offered to
build four destroyers of 40 knots speed
for the limit OF the amount authorized,
four Of 30knots at $3.50, 900 each and one
to four of So knots at $275,O 900 each. 1t
may be understood better how surpris.
ing this offer is when it is stated that
the highest speed boat proposed is
greater by seven knots than the swift
est boat of the kind in the world, and
the proposed 35-knot boats exceed the
next swiftest by three. There are but
nine torpedo boats or destroyers built
or building with a maximum speed Of
over 30 knots. Japan has one not
finished. which is to have a speed of 81
knots. and France has one in commits
sion which exceeds this by a fraction.
which must have a speed OF 80 knots.
while England has one Of the same
sort in commission and one of 80 knots.
Several Of the builders submitted bids
for both boats and destroyers of their
own design in addition to those under
the designs prepared by the navy de-
partment, but there was very little
variation in the amounts in these in
stances, and none were as startling as
that of the Williamsport firm.
The torpedo boat destroyers Of Spain
made such poor showing against our
fleet that there is disposition now 20
decry the usefulness of this form of
craft, and not to build any more for
this government beyond those for
which bids have been received. 1t is
probable that the effectiveness of this |
form Of craft against an enemy has
been overrated, but at the same time |
it iS- not at all sure that this war has
SHOWN them to be of little or no ac-
count. Those who cite the ease with |
which the st. Paul, the Gloucester, the |
Olympia and the McCulloch smashed |
the destroxers should remember that |
the splendid armored and protected |
cruisers of Spain were almost as easily |