The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-18
A BIG NAVAL INCREASE.
PROGRAMME ADOPTED BF THE
BOARD ON CONSTRUCTION

1t Recommends Three Armorod Cruisers of
1880 Tons, Three Protect ed Cruisers of
5000 Tons. and Twelve Lisht-Draueht
Gunbcsts--The Armored Cruisers In-
tended to De Second to None in tho World.
WARRINGTON. Nov. 17.-So far as II was within
Its ability to do so. the Naval Board on Con-
structon to-day adopted a programme VI
naval increase which numerically Is greater
than any heretofore entered upon by the
United States. The programme Is A. 'ollows:
Three armUred cruisers OF about 1880 tons
displacement; three protected cruisers Of
about 5000 tons displacement: six light
drauRht gunboats OF about 1000 tons dis
placement: and ak light draught gunboats OF
about 300 tons displacement
At the meeting OF the board to-day an agree
ment was quickly reached and report recom-
mending the adoption OF the prog ramme mem
toned was signed and laid before Acting Sec-
rotary OF the Navy Allen. Tho report. which
isvery brief. will be presented TO Secretary Long
on his return from Colorado. He " expected
here BY Monday. and before the end OF next
week the programme to be recommended to
Congress will probably Re determined by the
Secretary All the decisions Of the Board on
Construction are ad referendum. 80 that to-
days action cannot DO regarded az final II Is
customary. however. for the Navy Department
to follow the advice Of the board.
One gratifying feature Of the boards report
While there were differences 10 10 the charao-
tor OF the vessels that should he built and as to
the adyisabili.y Of co struct,ng more armor.
clads while the controversy with the armor
f. ate makers remained unsettled. there was q
unanimous feeling that the steady progress OF
The three arnorci cruisers comtem plated
are to be much larger than the b -ooklyp.wnich
class in the United States Navy. the iiagsRir
New York. They are to be even larger than
any arT9bref srIsirs 10 the B5.lsh Navy ana
1000 tons Of their projected dspiacemept
tons. OF the bHtteships Illinois. " ,sconsin and
Alahama. IL ,525 IONS. and Of the kenrsaRe ant
wa. the. largest vessel that participated in the
wnI with spain. has Tonnage OF IL 80
T dIS Of ine c SSsa 10 PST%s sFcs
ship and tbs spe.d Of the aImored cruiser.
armored cruisers, Just as in The battlsship the
arnor and the armament are the most i'm
have a trio OF vessels second TO none in the
world In respect to speed and armament
Of 70 aqv. es @
armor end armament must be pared down
| the strength OF the battleship. would result
the Offensive aaallte. o Of the propose
vessels were. not determined by the
, hard they yn win carry rs9 o. s[aG
BT9"klyn ani the New York have s.inch guns
aud those OF the Indiana class have guns OF ID
new Sattie-hips are to he q II inches cslihrs
bee been aSsnSopsi On her tr" sriS the Bre"H.
10 made 81 80 knot. Il Is, c3nte plated tina.
the new armored cruisers shall he even fas'er
The three protected cruisers recomIn.. led
ss " be sSr snss S the sss ns lie
from tho NayaI bin Tor thisyesr. Those r"com,
be- about II 600 tons. fhose favored by tho
board in It's report to The Departm. ut are Of
his and the Minneapolis. the largest vessels Of
sn. Of cruiser ,Sns ws e.. TIC Ss
,,he Colum bia and The Minneapolis being more
0S SG ,Ss fsu.
the protected cruisers proposed VIII be larger
Sew York and Brookiyn and the, itleshLp
men, by hi. radical departure from nT previous
| ideas affords ~ opportunity 81 making the
thrra protected cruisers sp.srior To many ar
The recommendation n reHhr To the twelve
guuhoats was made by the board at the sug-
gestion OF Admiral Dewey. These lIttlc ships
| are intended for service in the Philippines.
! They are to be OF light dTaught. tho Fix smaller
| ones drawing not more than y 'cet. Like
! the armorei cruisers and the rrotected
| cruisers recommended. IL IL intended that
| they they shall he sheathcd and copperod To
| prevent fouling
| There will be two reports 81 the board con-
corning the bids for tho construc ion OF the ak
| gress In tho last Naval act Tn" majority re-
port will recommend that contracts be awarded
| T. the ak lowest bidders on the plans OF tho
Navy Department. The minority report will
recommend awards To- bidders who proml 80
| grentsr speed on thei- own plans than de-
manded by the Department