The evening times., 1900-03-07
The NAVAL PROGRAMME
Satisfaction Over the Prospective
Increase of Fighting Vessels.
fsyO Battleships, Six Cruisers, and
Four Gunboats Decided Upon by
plain the Reasons Why Larger
Force of War Craft Is Needed.

In naval circles qualification is being ex
pressed over the announcement that the
House Committee on Naval Affairs has
adopted a programme calling for the con-
struction Of two battleships, three ar
mored cruisers, three protected cruisers,
and four gunboats.
This action OF the committee is espe-
cially important, according to the officials.
because Of the large shipbuilding pro-
grammes which foreign governments are
adopting. The British Government pro-
poses to lay down two battleships, six
first-class armored cruisers, one second
class cruiser, two sloops, two gunboats,
and two torpedo boats. The German EN-
peror is strongly recommending pro-
gramme which will double the German
feet. and France and Russia also have
large programmes
With three battieships and three armur-
ed cruisers authorized last year, work on
which has not been begun on account of
the failure of Congress to provide the nee
essary money for armor, the department
will be able to lay down, in case Congress
adopts the committees recommendation,
five battleships, six armored cruisers,
three protected cruisers, and four gun
boats.
There are now under construction six
battleships, excluding the Kentucky near
ly completed and the Kearsarge which Is
receiving the finishing touches so that the
vessels under construction will be eleven
battleships. six armored cruisers, three
protected cruisers. and six unprotected
y 1nt-r hn IL. hr,r
pedo boat destToyers now building
The adoption OF the British programme
will mean that the English Government
VIII have under construction seventeen
battleships, twenty armored cruisers. one
protected cruiser two second class pro-
tected cruisers. one third class cruiser.
eight sloops, two gunboats. four torpedo
boats. twenty-one torpedo boat destroyeTs
and one royal yacht.
Secretary Long said this afternoon ne
was very much gratfed at the intention
of the committee to recommend the pro-
gramme stated,
Il stated in my testimony before the
committee" he continued that the de-
partment would have recommended three
batlteships had it thought Congress favor
able to their authorization. The Depart
ment recommended the construction of
twelve gunboats. which Admiral Dewey
believed at that time were needed for serv-
ice in the Philippines. Their number can
properly be reduced now, as the three gun
boats sunk in the battle Of Manila Bay
raised and repaired, are ready for duty
and the army has turned over 10 the Navy
several small guubOats especially fitted for
work in the archipelago The programme
is an excellent one and / hope it will be
adopted by Congress
Rear Admiral Philip Hichborn. Chief
Constructor said he was satisfied the pres
ent programme was the best that could be
prepared. THE construction of gunboa,s
is a comparatively small matter" he con-
tinued, while it takes four years to build
battleships In the case of the Kearsargs
and the Kentucky. the Newport News
Company was four vars and half in con-
structing them. Gunboats can be impro-
vised. / sincerely hope Congress will
adopt the committees programme
Rear Admiral Charles ONen Chief 0i
Ordnance also expressed qualification al
the proposed action Of the committee. we
must consider" he said that some day
the feet CT another nation may sail into
Manila Bay, and it behooves us 10 be pre-
pared to meet it. President Cleveland said
in one OF his messages that a nation IN
prepared for war invites aggression"