Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-26
OUR NAVAL PROGRESS.
Wonderful ARRANGEMENTS Which Give
United States High Rank.

From the Marine Review.
The greatest hero In the naval history
of America returns from the victory that
won his fame to find the navy of his coun-
try at the end of the first epoch of de-
velopment which for rapidity and scope Is
without a parallel among the nations or
the earth. In the comparatively brie1
space of time since Admiral Dewey depart
ed from this country for the orient the tan
gible effective naval strength of the United
States has increased almost one-thlrd.
Much of the increase, it is true, was ne
cessitated by the exigencies of suddenly
precipitated war. The conflict, snort IN
duration. would nave been of inestlmap.e
benefit had the result been nothing more
than the arousal Of general pupllc interest
in the growth and welfare of the navy so
strikingly portrayed by the addition since
made to our lighting strength upon the
water i,
To all intents and purposes the United
States is now the third naval power OF the
world. Germany Is a vigilant, active, ag-
gressive rival whose energy in this direc-
ton constantly fostered by ruling power,
may be expected to increase rather than
diminish Japan. the coming commercial
power of the other hemisphere, Is amin.
lating with giant strides the modlcum OF
our supremacy. But for all that the
United States will continue for some time
at least to be excelled as a naval power
only by Great Britain and France.
The full strength OF the navy OF the
United States now amounts to 81 vessels
of all kinds, built and building. OF THIS
number lS9 are in the regular navy and LIB
constitute the auxiliary force, for the ac-
cumu alton of which we are largely IN
do bted to the necessities Of the Spanish
American war. Something of the pace at
which we moving forward may be I'M
agined when it is stated that roughly eS-
tiuated the existing naval fleet represents
iii - ri q
S12J.t-u.tsN, and yet there are now under
construction or awaiting formal acceptance
by the government more than half num-
dred war vessels. the contract price for
which. exclusive of armor and armament,
is in the neighbOrhood of S+no00,uDO.
The war almost doubled the aggregate of
men on our war vessels At its outset the
complement 12,.tb men, but in the
summer OF 1875 il reached the maximum
figure of n. 12S men. Since that time ii has
of course decreased considerably, but the
incoming Congress is expected to authorize
q permanent naval strength OF upward oil
2n,opp men. Nor. in passing, should men
ton be omitted of the success which has
attended the amalgamation of the line and
staff. An experiment. watched by students
OF naval administration everywhere, its
beneficial effects have been discernabe in
simultaneously.
For the future. bright hopes may be
based upon the most favorable of indca-
lions. Congressman have been spending
the summer of 1899 in the study of naval
science abroad. Places on the naval COM
mittee have been eagerly sought. Already
a new atmosphere of liberality and intel
Hgence cnaracterlZes the consideration of
naval problems and affords ground for
hope that never again will the march of
progress be retarded by such q lack of
knowledge as made possible the late fasco
relative 10 the limitation of armor prices.
New battle ships. armored and protected
cruisers are to he constructed. Each class
is quite certain 10 mark a step forward in
the science of building vessels of war.
Rear Admiral George w. Melville declares
to the Review that the new battle ships
should be of twenty knots speed; that they
should carry large batteries of rapid fire
guns: have ample coal bunker capacity and
be fitted with triple screws-radical revolu-
tionary measures, all, but vital III influence
II successful.
Already the eyes OF every naval officer