The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-01

abou, Sl25O 1000. and yet there are now
under construction or awaiting formal ac-
caotance by the government more than
half a hundred war vessels the eohtI"et
price for which. exclusive of armor ana
armament, is I'm the n~eishborhood OF
$4,000 900.
OF men ON our war vessels. { us outset lho
complement was 1880 men. but IN the
summer OF 1855 il reached the maximum
figure of 2A.l28 men. Since that time 1t has
of course decreased considerably, but the
incoming Congress is expected 70 authorize
r permanent naval strength OF upwards
of % 900 men. Nor. in passing. should men
ton be omitted o. the succe s which mas al
tended the amalgamation Of the line u
staff. An experiment. watched by stu
dents of naval administration everywhere,
lis beneficial effects have been di%scernable
instantancously.
For the future. bright hopes may be
based upon the most favorable OF indica-
lions. congressman have been spending
he 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 intelli-
gence characterizes 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 to the limitation OF armor
prices.
New battleshlps. armored and protected
cruisers are 10 be constructed. Each
class Is quite certain 10 mark a step for
ward in the science OF building vessels Of
war. Rear-Admiral George W. Melville
declares 10 the Review that the new bat
tleships should be OF % knots speed; that
they should carry large batteries OF rapid
IRE guns: have ample coal bunker capac-
ity and be fitted vii triple screws-radi-
cal revolutionary measures, al. out vital
In influence if successful.
Already the eyes Of every naval officer
across the Atlantic are upon us. Within
the past month two of our new battle
ships have exceeded contract speed. The
practicabl.ity Of that most novel OF ideas
the superinduced turrets OF the Kear-
sarge-will soon be put TO the test. We
are preparing To Guido the British In the
t-horoughness OF our experiments with
liquid fuel and wireless telegraphy. Final
~ We are investigating the possibiiit IS
Of the submarine boat, and our conclu-
siOns will nave enhanced value because
they will be characterized by neither the
enthusiastic optimism Of the French or
the cynicism OF the conservative Britons.
For well-rounded naval development
every essential must be adequate. Thus
there Is no greater cause for congratula-
ton than over the manner in which the
ship-yards OF America have met the re-
q%uirements imposed by new conditions.
The past few years have seen no less than
half a dozen firms actively engaged upon
naval contracts. although their previous
experience had been entirely confined TO
mercantile craft. Several Of them. at the
initial attempt. constructed vessels which
exceeded contract speed.
Heretofore the Powers have charged US
with being deficient In the matter Of diver
sity Of strength in our nava feet. This
Is true no longer. FOR with the completion
of the vessels now on the stocks we have
more than half a hundred torpedo-boats
and destroyers. Here. too. American
builders have been daring. for who will
contend hat Il IS not venturesome TO
guarantee a speed IA excess OF 80 knots
on a smaller displacement than has ever
before been attempted by any ship builder
the world Overland that. too. when the
contract IS the first OF the torpedo-boat |
kind for the firm undertaking Il.
Even down 10 the details the United J
States navy will be unique. No other ma |
ton has found so appropriate a form of |
designation for its fighting craft. Our !
States have given us names for two |
dozen; twoscore OF our cities have name \
sakeS In our navy. and finally no less than |
thirty % our naval heroes nave had their J
names commemorated by war vessels. IL |
is a novel navy and a magnificent one !
anc. with It's strength considered. II Is the |
most interesting on the waters OF the |
earth.-The Marine Review.