The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-12-05
AMERICAN NAVY
Annual Report of Secretary Long a
Document Of Unusual Interest.
He Recommends Three Armored Cruisers
of $4,000 Tons; Twelve Gunboats
Of9OO Tons, and Three Protect
ed Cruisers of 5000 Tons.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4-The annual re-
port of the secretary of the navy just
made public is a document. of unusual
interest, dealing not only with the
work Of the navy during the past year,
and important recommendations for
future, but also discussing important
questions relating to the navy, includ-
ing the authorization of IS new waE
ships, the imperative need of
special legislation in the early
days OF congress for armor of the
best quality that can be obtained, and
the proposition that the thanks of
congress be given to the commander
in-chief of the North Atlantic squad
ron and to the officers and men under
his command for the part they took in
the naval operations at Santiago.
These larger items of the report
receive extended attention at the
hands of Secretary Long. As to the
increase of the navy he says:
THE number of large, swift and
powerful armored cruisers of great
coal endurance in our navy is largely
disproportionate to the rest of the
naval establishment. The experience
of the last year has also shown the
need of several smaller vessels, usually
classed as gun boats It is therefore,
recommended that congress be re-
quired to authorize the construction
of the following vessels:
'First-Three armored cruisers of
about Is, 900 tons trial displacement,
of maximum draft at deep load not
to exceed &c feet, carrying the heaviest
armor and most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class, to be so sheathed
and to have the highest practicable
speed and great radius of action
"Second-Twelve gunboats of about
900 tons trial displacement to be
sheathed and coppered.
"And third, as recommended a year
ago, three protected cruisers of about
5000 tons trial displacement, carrying
the most powerful ordnance for ves-
sells of this class, to be sheathed and
coppered and to have the highest
practical speed and great radius of
| action"
The secretary adds in this commune
cation that the 5000 ton protected
cruisers are considered better adapted
to the present needs of the navy than
the 16, 600 ton ships required last year.
He also asks that if satisfactory bids
can not be obtained for the new ships
authority be given to build them at
the United States navy yards
Concerning more war ships, the Sec
rotary says:
THE most important question per-
tanning to naval construction at the
present time, and one that demands
prompt attention, is that of the armor
for vessels now building and for others
authorized but not yet contracted for,
on account of the provision in the act
of March 3, 1899, prohibiting the
department from contracting for
the vessels therein authorized until
contract has been made for the armor
therefore within $500 ton. The price
fixed is one for which even inferior
armor can not be obtained and the de.
partment therefore has been unable to
invite proposals for the three battle
ships and the three armored cruisers
authorized by the act of March g. 1899.
ut is urgently recommended that in
the early days eff its next session con-
gress enact such special legislation, by
joint resolution or otherwise, as may
be necessary to enable the department.
to make contracts early in the. coming
year for 2. S5s tons of armor of the best
quality that can be obtained in this
country for the Maine, Ohio and Mis-
souri,, and that the provision of the act
of March 8, 1899, limiting the price OF
armor to $500 per ton, and the restric-
ton preventing the armored vessels
therein authorized from being con-
tracted for until the armOr therefor is
contracted for, be removed.
"Whatever may be the future action
of congress regarding the establish
ment of government armor factory,
it can hardly affect the supply of armor
for the Maine. Ohio and Missouri. as if
will under any circumstances be i'm
practicable to obtain it from such a
source in reasonable time to complete
the vessels above referred to-"
An Orphan Asylum for Cuban Children.
New YORK, Dec. A movement for
the raising of funds for a memorial
orphan asylum for Cuban children,
which shall bear the name of Mrs.
Thurston, the first wife of Senator
John NJ. Thurston, and who died short
ly after a visit she made to Cuba, was
started Sunday night in the Madison
Avenue Presbyterian church under the
aucpioaS of the ThurStOn Memorial as.