New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-23

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME ADOPTED
BY SECRETARY LONG.
CONGRESS WILL BE ASKED TO AUTHORIZE
EIGHTEEN VESSELS COSTING NEAhNh
,xmocO. EXCLUSIVE OF ARMoR-

sS 900 600. EXCLUSlNb or AiNN
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpuNEl
Washington. Nov 22.-The programme
naval construction proposed by the
Rear AdmiraIs for recommendation u NH
"a a.scrihod at length in The Tribune or NO
vember IA. has been adopted by Seoie ,a
whose annual report was finished to-day anu
o,oor, ,,,,,h Tho minor change that the tweNe
eunboats will be of single type OF @V TONS
displacement, instead OF puiioihs siA VI
tons and six OF 500 tons the project mas not
been modified. SEQ
The estimated cost of the eighteen new yes
sells exclusive Of armor aggregates ie"i' F-O'
100000 divided as follows:
First-Three sheathed and coppered ARM ,r, T
cruisers OF about thirteen thousand TONS 10
disnlacement carrying the heaviest al A"o.
and most powerful ordnance for Vesseis ~, ~
their GLASS; and to have the highest aost eY-
sneed and great radius of action; 20 o Sost, -
ciuei,,e Of armor and armament, S4oVO.VOu eacH'
second-Three sheathed and coppere1d i rto
tected cruisers Of about eight thousanu Oii'
trial disbursement TO have the hlghest P,aC-
ticahle speed and great radius Of action, ana 10
carry the most powerful ordnance suitapIe 10.
vessels OF their class; TO cost e1cIusiNe %
armor and armament, S3,OOO,OOO each. .
Third-Twelve sheathed and coppereu Sc, Sc
going light draught gunboats OF about nine nun.
bred tons trial displacement. to nave the i.I
speed compatible with good crulsIns aua' 49,
most powerful ordnance suitable to their class;
TO cost exclusive Of armament S2'oooo each'
This programme is regarded by naval oincers
as altogether admirable, and particular praise
was accorded 10 the Secretary for his comoina-
ton of the two types OF gunboats In single
class. which is practically Identical with the
Marietta and the Wheeling. and which marks
distinct step in avoiding useless multphclty ol
classes in the Navy. The retention or the thIee
big cruisers OF enlarged Brooklyn character
istics was also gratifying to officers, VINO leareu
that the considerations of extreme ecohoinS
might operate to cause the postponemeh' VI
these ships until the Board on Construction mad
found time to design the three similar VesseiS
and the three battleshps authorized by Con-
gress last March.
URGENT NEED OF CRUISERS.
Secretary Long, in speaking OF his recon-
mendations TO a Tribune correspondent this
afternoon. was emphatic as to the necessity Oh
building these ships. which with the other three
now being planned will remedy omission
which is now notable in the naval organization
with its twelve batteships. The New-York
and the Brooklyn are not only the sole repre-
sentatives Of the armored cruiser type in the
American Navy, but with their displacements
of $500 tons and 5000 tons respectively are
deporably inferior to recent Japanese q ui9ei'
as we'll as to those Of every European Power
The cruisers now recommended Will be built III
all probability exactly on the lines or the can
fornia, the Nebraska and the west virginia,
plans of which are now nearing completion ana
the Navy with them will possess SIX speedy
formidable units unsurpassed by any Meet OF lts
character afoat on the globe. with them com
pleted the dream of progressive naval ofhcers
for the possession of an ultra terrible horrible,
damnable' class Will be fulfilled.
The 5000 ton protected cruiser class repre-
ID. hn M
merdation to Congress fasc year for three I'M
proved Olympias OF about 5000 tons displace-
ment. The additional 1000 tons represent
the growth Of the demand for larger SHIPS
which will carry more coal. more men, more
ammunition, more stores and keep the sea a
much greater length of time without frequent
resort TO ports Such ships will make longer
straightaWay voyages, Will stay longer on block
ade duty and will be able to land a complete
battalion to operate beyond the reach of the
ships guns. Congress in appropriating last
March for three battleships, three armored
cruisers and six smaller cruisers costing without
armor and armament more than S12oOoOOO
fully recognized the need Of these improved
Olympias," but postponed the authority for the
construction year through synlpatheuc re-
gard for the Treasury balance.
GUNBOATs RECOMMENDED BY DEWEY.
The twelve gunboats are those recommended
by Admiral Dewey Indispensable for the per-
nanent patrol Of the Philippines They will
be closely patterned dIltI w hNciiiie' "'''~''
has performed so much effective duty in the
archipelago and has proved Invaluable for SER
vice that all the other vessels in the Asiatic
fleet have been unsuited for. either by reason
of deep draught, small staying power. INSULT
cient armament or a dozen shortcomings which
might have never developed along the Atlantic
coast. but which are constantly met with In the
Philippines The new boats will be designed
10 draw not more than eight feet when loaded
for cruising which is four feet less than the
Wheeling draws. Several Of the naval experts
at Manila as well as in Washington, favored
vessels of about three hundred tons for patrol
duty in the new possessions slightly larger than
those built by the Spaniards for the same pur-
nose and declared they could be quickly built
and sent out to the station on the decks Of
golfers and merchant vessels in sections. If
necessary
The Admiral insisted that no vessels should
be sent unless Of sufficient size and endurance
10 cross the ocean without assistance. as nc
/ other vessels would live in the monsoons that
sweep the islands for long periods. No vessels
he declared that had not bunker capacity &c
cross the ocean could spend a month on guard
preventing Illicit traffic among the least civil
lied islands far away from coal piles and am
/ munition magazines, and unless vessels were
/ able to take care of themselves If attacked by
/ natives or pirates in force, II would be better
| not to build any at all.
n d"