New-York tribune., 1899-11-14
FURTHER INCREASE OF NAVY.
PROJECT FOR EIGHTEEN ADDITIONAL
wARSHIPs.
CONGRESS TO BE ASKED TO AUTHORIZE
SIX CRUISERS AND TWELVE GUN
poATs-IMMEDIATE NEED
OF THE LATTER.
rsy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l


inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEI
uc...,n.,on Nov 13.-The project for further
nevs, increase. which Congress Will be asked 10
ar,horiza az the next session for immediate con
.,r,o,,or involves eighteen warships, three OF
tbem armored cruisers of the improved Brook
H., .,a hut double the size and formidable
noss ~ that excellent vessel; three Improved
O,,-,o,t,s one-third larger and proportionate!
roora nouerfu, than the fine flagship that leo
the way into Manila Bay. and twelve guiOoa'S
~ tvpe recommended by Admiral Dewey as
essential for the effective patrol OF the fhii-
ippine archipelago -
Tbe latter class. to use the AdmiraIs own
expression summing UP the results OF MS eA-
perience in Asatic waters must DC pui0ni'
bpilt. must be able to so out 10 Mahlia unuei
.hoir own steam must draw less water than
o,, ourboat now in the Navy, must maneuVre
ea s,Iv in tortuous channels, and above all must
have sufficient protection to resist capture !!
stranded Such boats, in his opinion are neeueu
now. and will always be needed TO paIoi 'ie
numerous channels between the less clVllized
islands.
Such vessels are intended to replace the sinah-
or gunboats which in several instances nave
proved unable TO take care of themselves "hen
attacked in force, although frequently Demon
strating their ability in the prevention OF ilcll
traffic between the islands carried on by small
native craft ,
This is the programme now under consid-
Grafton by the Naval Board on Construction
which was directed by Secretary Long several
weeks ago to study the needs of the Navy ana
to submit recommendations for required addi-
,iors 70 the feet. At the meeting Of the Board
to-day the members disposed to divide the
twelve gunboats equally into two classes, one or
200 tons about the displacement of the Wheei-
ing and the Marietta, and the other OF SUI TONS
which will make them smaller than any or the
steel vessels in the regular Navy, althoueh
larger than the Gloucester and other converted
Yacht gunboats For both these classes OF gun
boats maximum draught of eight feet is resarueo geo
as imperative which is nearly 1oul Ieet IesS
than that of the Helena and the Wllihinston'
which were designed particularly for river ser
vice and which up to this time are 'he HsH'VS'
draught vessels in the service .
The proposed improved Olympias represent a
tvne that was recommended TO Congress last
year, but which was crowded out by the authoI,
ization of three battleships three large armoreu
cruisers and six cruisers of 2o'O tons ne new "
cruisers are TO be of 5000 tons each and are TO
have the bow turret and battery arrangement,
which has proved so admirable an arrangeHlsn' sn
in the Olympia, the extra -'VVO tons s peins a ue
voted 10 increased coal carrying capacity anu
engine space and radius Of action, ana heaNler
guns.
The Board has shown some hesitancy ABOUT
recommending a further increase OF arlnoren
vessels at the present time, as SIX hlgher pow =
| cred and larger armored vessels than nave yet
| been built for the Navy were authorized ny the
! last Congress and have not yet been designed,
! and because 10000 tons Of armor are required
| for vessels already authorized, an amount Whlch
can scarcely be delivered in less than four years
after its manufacture begins.
The necessity Of more first'class armored
cruisers is however. fully recognized. and the
Board to-day favored three of about 13'OOO tons
displacement, Of type involving no marked
departures from the Brooklyn in arrangements,
though Of double that vessels power and ton
| mage and defensive qualities. At least one or
| the members favored a more formidable vessel,
| combining the salient features of the best
! cruisers and battleships abroad. which is de-
! scribed as the terrible, horrible, damnanr''
| class and this will have further consideration
| tomorrow.
| Every member Of the Board was emphatic for
| sheathing and ooppering all these vessels to
render them comparatively independent Of dry
|