The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-22

been provided. covering the period up to
1904 In that time are authorized nineteen
battle ships. eight coast defense ships,
twelve cruisers and thirty small cruisers are
already under way. This may seem an un-
usually large authorization of war ships.
but IL is TO be remembered that II covers six
years, running some time into the future.
and on the whole is about the same as the
developments contemplated and now in pro-
cess of execution In the United States.
''Our facilities for naval shpbuilding are
probably greater than yours. we have
system of large shipbuilding plants. begin
ming with Dantzig, on the east. Then there
are the Vulcan works at Stettin, which is a
private institution capable of doing large
government contracts, aud those at Ham
burg and at Bremen. There are govern
ment yards at Dantzg, Kiel and Wilhelm
strause, and the government also makes use
of the private yards. For instance, at Ham,
burg the firm which built some of the largest
Atlantic lina-s is now building one of our
new battle ships with a tonnage of about
l2,000. The American shipbuilding facilities
appear TO be developing rapidly. for besides
the government yards at Brooklyn. there are
the big private plants at Newport News.
Philadelphia and San Francisco, besides the
healthy young yards, such as those at Eliz-
abethport, n. j. Your system of distribut-
ing the ships among the many builders. Civ
ing not more than one or two to a yard,
probably will have a good result in giving
the country number of well-equipped
plants on which it can rely: but on the other
hand it has the disadvantage so far as tor
pedo boats are concerned, of giving you
ships which not just alike. for each
,1,A AnA
expression in the ships 1t turns out
When the return of Admiral Dewey was
referred to. Captain Won Reuber-Paschwitz
spoke of the enthusiastic reception which
was being prepared for him and the devo-
ton felt for him by the American people.
Then referring to alleged friction in the
Philippines, he said:
II have never heard from any German
officer a word of ill feeling over affairs at
Manila. While at home recently 1 met
number of our officers who were just out
from the Philippines and who had been sta
tioi ed on our ships during the war. They
spoke most cordially of the American officers
and of the fraternizing of your sailors and
ours. There is no. the slightest feeling, 1
can assure you, among German naval Off
GERS towards their brother officers on this
side. Personally look on Dewey as a fine
type of the sailor gentleman; quiet modest,
but with plenty Of energy. And / wish your
people could understand that we look on Ad-
miral Won Diederich, whom know person
ally. in much the same way; not as he has
sometimes been represented in this country.
but as the quiet sailor; the last man in the
world TO give a needless offense, and a
splendid type Of the gentleman afioat. With
two such men it is unfortunate that exag-
geration has created some Ill telling, and 1
know German officers do not share il and
VIII be glad To see ii disappear. l would
like to see some of our naval training ships
come TO American waters, visiting Norfolk
and possibly Annapolis, that our young
sailors could get an idea Of the energy and
ingenuity shown all through the American
navy"