The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-09-17

great interest, there are few persons who
realize that there are forty EIGHT warshps
now under construction for the United
States, for which the aggregate cost for
hull and machinery alone is not less than
So, $4,000. When equipped and ready for
service these vessels will represent an ex-
penditure of not less and probably much
more than s50OO0,OO0 Eight of these new
vessels are first-class battleships, fully as
good as any afloat in any navy in the world
Sixteen are torpedo boat destroyers, with
average speed of twenty-nine knots
eighteen are torpedo boats; one is a sister
cruiser to the New Orleans, and four are
heavy harbor defense monitors
To the experienced naval man all this is
very encouraging except in one particular,
for almost without exception there is a
feeling of regret at the fact that we are to
have four ships of the obsolete and
thoroughly diseredited type known as the
monitor. These ships, which are to be
known as the Connecticut, the Florida, the
Arkansas and the Wyoming, are nothing
but monitors. At the time when naval con-
structors were feeling their way towards
the realization of their ideal battle vessels,
this type might have been regarded as mod
ern.
Today they are valuable only as curiosi-
ties, and the four vessels that are now be-
ing constructed were ordered by congress,
sitting upon its own judgment, and in de-
fiance of the opinions and advice of the men
who had made sea fighting their life study.
The worst feature of the monitor is that
they roll so quickly that accurate shooting
with their guns is impossible After the
engagement at San Juan they were con-
demned by Admiral Sampson in his report
to the secretary of the navy, and there is
not a naval official of the modern school
who will not admit that their guns are out
of sight in the trough or the waves more
than half the time. Under such conditions
1t is not unreasonable to condemn congress
for its absurd action in this respect.
The grea test indications of the advance
ment that has been made In the construc-
ton of fighting ships may be seen in the
Maine, the Ohio ond the Missouri. In these
remarkably fine vessels the constructors
will take advantage of the experience OBJ
tanned during the late war. and some of
the good features that have heretofore been
restricted to foreign warships will be en-
bodied in them These advancements will
be shown in the speed and armament Of
the vessels.
The one defect that may be found with
the vessels that are about ready for service
is their low rate of speed. There are war
vessels building for foreign powers that
will show IS more knots, whereas our
new vessels cannot exceed Is knots. In the
Maine and her sister ships, however, this
defect will be obviated and they, too will
be able to steam at the rate of IS knots.
To accomplish this 1t has been necessary
to give them an increased length of twenty
feet, in order to make room for the more
powerful machinery required.
The other innovation, which practically
doubles her value fighting ship is the
introduction of smokeless powder and other
improvements in rapid-firing ordnance. The
Pinch guns that will be used will be of
great length, and will show the high Ve-
locity at the muzzle of 5000 feet per Sec