The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-17
NAMING THE WARSHIPS.
THE SPANISH WAR HAS UPSET THE
GOVERNMENT PLAN.


The naming of the ships now compris-
ing the United States navy was intended
to be done systematically, at the COM
mencement of the reconstruction period,
but the advent Of the Spanish war brough
into use so many new vessels that the
then adopted system proved inadequate
for the large number purchased at that
time
The names of some vessels have been
applied as indicative of duties they have
to perform, as for example the hospital
ship Solace, the refrigerating-ship Gla-
cier, the disulling-ship Rainbow, and the
freightship Supply. Others which belong
to no particular class, or constitute
class in themselves, have been given spe-
cial names, such as the harbor defense
ram Katahdin and the dynamite gunboat
Fesuvius. The gunboat Bancroft, origi-
raliy intended as a practice ship for the
Naval Academy, was named in honor of
the eminent historian, George Bancroft,
the founder of the academy, while her
successor as a practice ship was named
for the bay upon which the Academy is
situated, the Chesapeake.
III conllnemoratlon or the great sea
fight between the Alabama and Kear.
sarge, two of our new battleships were,
by act of Congress, given those names.
The submarine vessels now being con-
structed have been given such appro-
pirate names as Plunger Adder, Gram
pus Moccasin, Pike, Porpoise and Shark.
Some were named, evidently, In imita-
ton of the existing English naval nomen-
clature, the Hornet, the Hawk and the
Wasp, TugbOats are given names of In
dian derivation, as eXemplifed in the
Mascot, Powhatan, Samoset, Chickasaw,
Tecumseh and Apache.
The American Liners, Paris and New
York, were, during the time they were
under naval control, known as the Yale
and Harvard, in honor of the well known
universities. Admiral Dewey is said to
have facetiously remarked, upon learning
of the above names having been given
to the two vessels in question, that he
Intended TO call small gunboat captures
from the Spanish, the Massachusetts In
stltute of Technology, which would have
been nearly as long as the boat Itself
All vessels captured from Spain have
retained their original names and on our
navy list to-day, appear such Castilian
titles as the Reina Mercedes, Don Juan
de Austria, Isia de Luzon, Isla de Cuba,
mianes, Manileno and Guardoqui. AL
though un- American in sound and some
what unpronounceable to those who are
not linguists, they serve to remind other
nations of Uncie SANS prowess on the
seas.
While many geographical names in this
country are more or less pleasing to the
ear, others might CRATE harshly Mime
apolis, Indiana Columbia, or Montgom-
arU do not haI -.
1t sound to hail vessel by such names
as Eureka Springs. Pocomoke City or
Medicine Lodge? From the following
list ii will be seen how the names have
been thus far distributed among the va
rious states:
Alabama has the distinction of one
first-class battleship, the Alabama. and
one protected cruiser, the Montgomery.
Arkansas has but one vessel, the monitor
Arkansas, of 3,2l4 tons displacement re-
Gently launched at Newport News. Cali
fornia has been particularly fortunate in
this respect, having named for her the
large armored cruiser California, not yet
built; the protected cruiser San Fran
cisco, and the cost defense vessel Mon
terey. The Yosemite, recently wrecked
near Guam, was named after the beauti-
full valley in that state. Colorado has
nothing named for her that is yet ahoat
but one of the new 12,000-ton arm0red
cruisers has been designated the Colorado
and a new 3100-ton protected cruiser will
be known as the Denver. Connecticut, up
to a short time ago. was supposed to be
rejoicing in the fact that one Of the g.
214-ton monitors was named for her, but
this vessel was not deemed of sufficient
size by the residents of that state to be
commensurate with Nutmeg dignity; con-
sequently, the name has been changed
by Secretary Long, and he may apply the
name Connecticut to some larger ship.
They can also take consolation in the
fact that Admiral Earagut 5 famous flag
ship. the Hartford, has been rejuvenated
and will probably said the seas for many
years to come. Little Delaware can at
present put all her hopes and fears" uyon
the light-draft gunboat Wilmington. Flori-
da is the name of one of the new niuni-
tors, and the old Pensacola is still on the
navy list as a receiving ship, stationed
at the Goat Island training station in San
Francisco bay.
Georgia has been applied to another of
the new first-class battleships not yet
built In addition TO that, the Atlanta
was the mamie applied to one of the first
four vessels butt for the new navy. Idaho
thus far has not been remembered in the
disposition of naval names. Illinois has
secured a first-class batt.eship which is
now nearing completion, and Chicago was
early remembered by giving that city's
name to the first large cruiser of the new
navy. Peoria is the name of a small con-
verted gunboat purchased at the COM
mencement of the war with Spain. Indi-
ana, as before stated is the name of the
first battleship ever constructed for the
United States navy. The fame of the
Banks of the Wabash" must have been
anticipated, as Wabash is the name of
the old wooden frigate still carried on the
list as the receiving ship at the Bos on
navy yard. Iowa is the name Of one of
our best battleships, and one which p.ayed
a prominent part in the battle of Santi-
ago. One of the new 3.124-ton cru.s RS
has been named Des Moines. Kansas has
Jared rather badly for 80 large a state,
having only one small gunboat, the To-
peka, as its representative. Kentucky.
singular to relate is the name of the only
naval vessel ever christened with water.
This battleship recently paid a visit to
Turkey.
Louisiana has the fast cruiser New or.
leans, purchased OF Brazil, for which
country she was then building, from Eng
lish shipbuildors just before the war with
Spain. Maine has been particularly fav-
orod with vessels named IN her honor. To
replace the original Maine, blown up IN
Havana harb1Y. n new hrst-cass battle
ship, bearing that memorable name, Is
now nearing completion a. Philadelphia.