The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-06-08
Another Navy to Be Built.


From St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Several times as many war vessels as
were ever ordered on any one occasion
before are soon to be in course of con-
struction. Contracts are to be let in a
few days for three first-class battle ships
four harbor defense monitors and thirty
torpedo boats and destroyers. The build
ing of these vessels has recently been
authorized 10y congress. There is strong
probability, too, that many other vessels
will be ordered by the present congress-
and perhaps in the present session. Rep
resentative Pierce of Missouri intro
duced bill few days ago providing for
the immediate construction of five first
class cruisers of greater displacement,
heavier armament and higher speed than
any now in the navy, ten torpedo boats
fifteen torpedo boat destroyers and fiji
teen steel gunboatS, all of these vessels
as we'll as the cruisers, to be of a better
type than any now in the possession of
the United States. Mr.. Pierces bill finds
favor among most of the country's in
fiuential newspapers, and it is reported
that a majority of the members of the
house are impressed with its wisdom.
The experience of the past four of five
weeks has shown the imperative neces-
sity for the United States to immedi-
ately and immensely increase its naval
establishment. At the beginning of the
present year the great nations of the
world ranked thus in naval power: En-
gland, France, Russia, Italy, Germany,
the United States, Japan, Austria, Spain
England heading the list. The United
States, which is sixth on the roll here,
very nearly tied Germany for fifth place.
Germany had, in the aggregate a few
more vessels and men than the United
States, though it was generally believed
on both sides of the Atlantic that the
United States navy was more effective
than the German. The recent purchases
and enlistments put the United States
fourth in general naval strength and
effectiveness, leading Italy and Germany,
and still led by England, France and
Russia in this order
But the United States will not be, and
should not be, content with the fourth
place in strength of naval establishment.
France, which has shown an unfrendly
disposition to this country in the present
war and many times in the past, is still
far ahead of the United States. True,
Frances fighting qualities on the water
have never been of high order. Frances
fleet rendered some aid to the United
States in the latter half of the American
war of independence, but the English
could always easily beat the French on
the water when the terms were equal.
In the quasi war of 179S-1S01 between
the United States and France, on the
ocean the United States was overwhelm-
ingly victorious. Probably in a naval war
between the United States and France
now the United States would be a win
ner, Notwithstanding Frances great pre-
ponderance of ships and men. But even
this technical superiority should be over
come. The great length of the United
States coast line, the value of its ocean
commerce and the probable extent of its
conquests in the present war demand
that its naval strength be Immediately
and largely increased. In 1860, three
years after Ericsson's "cheese box on
raft" revolutionized naval warfare, the
United States had the strongest navy in
the world, leading even England. Over
confidence and neglect to avail ourselves