The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-08
BuiIding Ia a Naxr.

Fifteen years ago the United States
stood practically at the bottom of the list
of naval powers. Indeed, it would have
been stretching a point TO call this coun-
try a naval power at all. Our whole naval
establishment consisted Of a few old
wooden tubs which were continually in
the repair shop. Naval repairs, as mat
ter of fact, became pretty much of a pub
lie scandal. Il was alleged in the public
prints that the chief purpose of the navy
was to afford a vehicle for jobs.
In 1888 the real beginning of the new
navy was witnessed In that year the
three cruisers, Chicago. Atlanta and Bos-
ton were authorized, and they were
launched two years later. At the same
time the dispatch boat Dolphin, which
later became a bone of contention, was
provided for.S In 1885, therefore, our navy
consisted of three vessels capable of do
Ing effective service against modern craft
of other countries. When the Cleveland
administration came in navy building re-
ceived remarkable impetus under the ad-
ministration of the naval secretaryship by
William c. Whitney. In those days no
armor was being manufactured in this
country, and very few of the high power
breech-loading rifles were of American
make. Now practically il not actually all
that goes into an American war vessel is
of American manufacture, from keel to
pennant; and we are making the best and
most powerful war vessels and guns in
the world.
Since 1883 the United States have built
and put into commission ia war vessels
of all classes. raising their position in the
list of naval powers from the bottom to
about the sixth or seventh place. There
are now authorized and building number
of vessels of splendid capacities, and the
new naval bill provides for thirty-six
more vessels, including three first class
battle ships. Naval experts claim that
when the ships now In course of construc-
ton and those provided for in the new.
bill shall have been completed, provided
we do not lose an unexpected number of
craft in the war with Spain, the United
States will be raised to third position
among the maritime powers. Great Britain
and France alone viii be ahead of US.
The superiority of these two powers, by
the way, will be rather nominal than act
ual They win have the greater number
of vessels, but that will not necessarily
mean that they will be relatively the
stronger. Great Britain and France have
been for much longer time than the Uni
ted States accommodating their fleets. A
number of their vessels are old, and of
patterns which would never be chosen for
new craft. on the other hand, the ships
of the United States will be practically all
of modern design, protection and arma-
ment. Our 1888 ships have recently been
remodeled and brought up 10 date. Some
of them, indeed, have not yet gone into
commission since the overhauling. Our
naval expenditures, that is for construc-
ton and repairs. has.in fifteen years been
s151, 11S, 900, including the new bill. To
show for this we shall have $50 of as fine
and effective fighters as float upon any
waters, fully able to sustain any position
taken by the American people through
their representatives in Congress. No
other nation can show such a remarkable
record in navy building.