Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-11-08
A FAR GREATER NAVY,
THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING
TOWARD THAT END.

THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING
TOWARD THAT END.
Battleships Needed - Gemany's Opinion Of
America as Naval Power-Report Of Ad.
miral MelvilIe-Forecast for the Next Two
Years-A Large Number Of Ships Now Under
Construction.
The recent test of the American
built battleship Retvizan, constructed
for the Russian navy, was so success
full that it proves beyond doubt the
superiority of vessels Of this descrip-
ton OF home manufacture.
To the qualification OF all interested
in the test, the speed of the big boat
was found very even, averaging 18 to
10 knots during the entire time.
During one hour the speed reached 10
knots, and at no time did it fall below
lS. At the conclusion of II hours the
average speed was found to have been
1873 knots, which excels the record OF
all other battleships of the frst-claes
in the world for the same length of
time. A speed OF more than Is knots
was maintained through II hours of
the run.
This excellent showing is all the
more interesting from the fact that
Secretary Long will ask Congress to
appropriate $99,OOO,OO0 for the navy
for the fiscal year l9O2-19O3. This is
more than $50, 900, 900 moro than was
appropriated at the last session, when
Congress granted him nearly SIS, ,OO0,-
600. Secretary Long has now in
mind the asking of Congress for three
new battleships and two armored
cruisers. But he has not definitely
concluded to do 90.
The fact is patent, therefore, that
American battleships Of tire first-class
may be constructed At home and that,
as in the case above cited, it will not
be necessary to look abroad for any Of
our new vessels.
Not a few officers are inclined. to
the belief that President Roosevelt
may even ask for four battleships.
Secretary Long will also make a
strong plea for large number of gun
boats.
He said this week that the esti-
mates were made with due regard
for the needs OF the navy. and init.
mated that they had the approval Of
the Administration. He said that the
building Of abattleship costing $5.O00,-
600 was not the end of it, expense. ~
its maintenance was very costly.
The Neueite Nachrichten, = German
paper, says the report that President
Roosevelt aims at considerable in
crease Of the navy is confirmed by the
new naval estimates, which ask for
$22 ,OO0, 900 more, and which would be
double the amount Of the appropria-
ton for the German navy until March
81, 1902. The paper adds:
"The American navy becomes
more important power every year and
all other seafaring nations must ear
nestly consider it."
The National Ze;tsng says: !" "Pres-
ident Roosevelt's proposed increase Of
the navy can nowhere excite distrust.
The more the United States partici-
pates in the worlds politics the better
for each single Power. The greater
the number Of possible diplomatic
combinations, the greater the liberty
of action"
The chief Of bureau OF steam engi-
neering, Admiral Melville, in his an.
nual report indicates that by the end
Of the year there will have been ad-
ded to the sea force of the United
States . total of 80 vessels, including
three battleships, the Illinois, Alabama
and Wisconsin.
During the year 1902 the navy will
be further increased by 10 vessels, in.
cluding two battleships, the Ohio and
Maine.
OF other ships now under construc-
ton the battleship Missouri will be
finished in July, 1898, and during the
first six months of 1904 the navy will
be further increased by the completion
Of the following vessels: Five battle
ships, the Virginia, Nebraska, Georgia,
New Jersey and Rhode Island; six n.
mored cruisers, Pennsylvania. West
Virginia, California, Colorado, Mary
land, and South Dakota, and three
protected cruisers, st. Louis. Milwau-
| kee. and Charleston.