The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-05
EIGHT new WARSHlPS.
Recommended by the House Ma
val Committee.

Washington, April 5.-The naval ap-
preparation bill was today reported to
the house by Acting Chairman Foss of
the naval committee The amount car
ried by the bill is Ss1. 219. s16, the largest
ever reported to the house from the
naval committee.
Aside from this report which accom-
panies the bill is remarkable for its ar
rayal of facts regarding sea power, the
world over, foreign naval programmes,
and the comparative strength OF the
navieS of the great powers accompanied
by colored charts showing the upbuild-
ing of various great navies.
Under the head of naval programmes
the report sets forth as follows as to
new ships:
For the purpose of further increas-
ing the naval establishment of the
United States. the committee recon-
mends that the president be authorized
70 have built by contract two sea-going
coast line battleships. carrying the
heaviest armor and most powerful
ordnance for vessels of their class upon
a trial displacement of about 13 500 tons,
and to have the highest practicable
speed and great radius of action, and to
cost, exclusive of armor and armament,
not exceeding $500. 600 zach; three
armored cruisers of about 1900 tons
trial displacement carrying the heaviest
arInor and most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class, and to have the
of action and TO cost, exclusive Of armOr
and armament, not exceeding $4.25O,OO0
each; and three protected cruisers of
about 600 tons trial displacement, car
rying the most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class and to have the
highest speed compatible with good
cruising qualities and great radius Of
action and to cost exclusive of arma-
ment not exceeding g. 500, 600 each
Continuing the report says:
THE maximum cost of the ships here
in authorized, exclusive of armOr and
armament will be SIS, $780, 600. This is the
/ largest naval programme ever submit
ted by the committee on naval affairs
/ of the house and is in accord with the
/ wishes and recommendations OF the
secretary of the navy and Admiral
/ Dewey, and Will we believe meet the
/ just demands of public sentiment The
| past year in naval construction has been
/ marked by the most liberal naval pro-
/ grammeS on the part OF all foreign ma
( tfons At the present time there is
| pending in the reichstag of Germany
/ a naval bill which if passed will Increase
/ the tonnage of the present German navy
/ AZ. 900 tons, a larger tonnage than that
/ of her present navy"
AS to armor plate, the report tells OF
! the futile efforts to secure armor at
I $500 and $500 and says:
/ THE battIeShipS Maine, Ohio and Mis-
| souri, now in process of construction re-
/ quire ,359.42 tons of armOr. or 2,455-1
I for each vessel. 1t is believed by the
| committee that these battleSnlpS OF
! nearly 1900 tons displacement the
/ largest in design which have ever been
planned by the navy department should
1 have the best obtainable armor. and ac-
1 cOrdingly your committee recommend
/ that the secretary of the navy be author
! lied to contract for such armOr at a cost
/ not to exceed S545 per ton The best
/ obtainable armor at the present time Is,
| according 10 all naval authorities. the
/ so-called Krupp armor which Is at least
! and has been so proven by tests. OF p
/ per cent greater efficiency than the
/ Harveyized ar1nor. Every nation in the
world is using the krupp armor today.
/ Your committee believe that it is little
i short OF dfsl0yalty to recommend any
other than the best protection and the
/ best arnOr for these battleshlps to be
/ placed between the bodies OF our OH
GERS and men and the bullets Of the
| enemy.