The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-12-07
AMERICAN NAVY.
The Annual Report of Secretary
Long Is a Document of Un-
usual Interest.
EIGHTEEN new WAR SHIPS NEEDED.
Experience the Past Year Shows the
Need of Several Smaller Vessels.
Usually Classed as Gunboats.
He Recomm mends Three Armored Cruisers
Of $4,000 Tons, Twelve Gunboats
OF 300 rons, and Three Protect-
ed Cruisers of 5000 Tons.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4-The annual re-
port of the secretary of the navy just
made public is a document of unusual
interest, dealing not only with the
work OF the navy during the past year,
and important recommendations for
future, but also discussing important
questions relating to the navy, includ-
ing the authorization of Is new war
ships, the imperative need of
special legislation in the early
days OF congress for armor of the
best quality that can be obtained, and
the proposition that the thanks of
congress be given to the commander
in.chief of the North Atlantic squad
ron and to the officers anu men under
his command for the part they took in
the naval operations at Santiago.
These larger items of the report
receive extended attention at the
hands Of Secretary Long. AS to the
increase of the navy he says:
"The number of large. swift and
powerful armored cruisers of great
coal endurance in our navy is largely
disproportionate to the rest of the
naval establishment. The experience
of the last year has also shown the
need of several smaller vessels, usually
classed as gunboats. 1t is therefore,
recommended that congress be re-
quired to authorize the construction
of the following vessels:
"First-Three armored cruisers of
about $4,000 tons trial displace ment.
| of a ma ximum draft at deep load not
| to exceed 26 feet, carrying the heaviest
| armor and most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class, to be SO sheathed
| and to have the highest practicable
speed and great radius of action.
"Second-Twelve gunboats of about
900 tons trial displacement. to be
sheathed and coppered.
''And third. as recommended a year
ago, three protected cruisers of about
s. 900 tons trial displacement. carrying
the most powerful ordnance for ves-
sels,of this class. to be sheathed and
| coppered and to have the highest
| practical speed and great radius of
| action"
The secretary adtis in this communi-
cation that the 5000 ton protected
cruisers are considered better adapted
to the present needs of the navy than
the l6, 600 ton ships required last year.
He also asks that if satisfactory bids
can not be obtained for the new ships
authority be given to build them at
the United States navy yards.
Concerning more war ships, the sec.
retary says:
The most important question per-
tanning to naval construction at the
present time, and one that demands
prompt attention, is that of the armor
for vessels now building and for others
authorized but not vet contracted for,
on account of the provision in the act
of March s. 1899, prohibiting the
department from contracting for
the vessels therein authorized until
contract has been made for the armor
therefore within $500 ton. The price
fixed is one for which even inferio,
armor can not be obtained and the de-
partment therefore has been unable te
invite proposals for the three battle
ships and the three armored cruisers
authorized by the act of March 8, 1899
ut is urgently recommended that
the early days of its next session con
gress enact such special legislation, by
joint resolution or otherwise, as may
be necessary to enable the department
to make contracts early in the coming
year for 1853 tons of armor of the bes
country for the Maine, OHIO and Mis-
souri,. and that the provision of the &C
of March 5. 1899, limiting the price o
armor to $500 per ton, and the restriC
tion preventing the armored vessel
therein authorized from being con
tracted for until the armor therefor i
contracted for, be removed.
Whatever may be the future actor
of congress regarding the establish
ment of a government armor factory
it can hardly affect the supply of armo
! for the Maine. Ohio and Missouri, as
will under any circumstances be i'm
practicable to obtain it from such
sou rec in reasonable time to complet
the vessels above referred to-"
Booth ucksr In the South.