Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-28
OUR navy Is INFERIOR.
Report Of the House Naval Com
mittee Shows Lack Of
Fighting Ships.
America Easily Outclassed BY
European Powers. Especially
by Germany.
Two First.Class Battle Ships
and Two First Glass Cruisers
Recommended.

Washington, April 2S.-The naval
program for 1903, as presented in the
naval appropriation bill and accompany
ing report, filed today by Chairman
Foss of the house naval committee, is
one of unusual interest. The report does
not take as optimistic a view OF our
naya lprowess as is generally held and
Foss points out that comparatively few
of our ships have any real fighting val
ue. He accompanies this with statement
Of the famous armament and programs
Of other countries, particularly Ger
many.
It is shown by the report that the
number of vessels of our navy built
and building is 13s and the total cost
be $235,0S2,290 The report adds:
.while we have built and are build
ing, all told, 13S ships, yet compara-
lively few of them have real fighting
weight Our naval prowess lies all
most entirely In our eighteen battle
ships, eight armored cruisers and twen-
ty-one protected cruisers. The rest OF
our ships would cut but little figure in
actual war. The ships of the battle
line practically alone determine the ma
val strength of the nation.
Referring to foreign naval programs
the report says:
"Of all the countries Germany has
been building during the last few
years faster than any Of the others
Her ship-building program started In
1898 and will be completed possibly IN
1907, instead of 1916 as at first planned.
This program will give her in all thirty
eight battleships, fourteen large cruis-
ers, thirty-eight smaller cruisers and
ninety-six torpedo boats. After COM
pletion of this program the plan con-
templates new constructions to replace
ships which, tho still serviceable, may
have reached age limit
Concerning new ships for our navy
the report says:
"The committee recommended for the
purpose Of increasing the naval estab-
Ilishment of the United States
the construction Of two first
class battleships carrying the
heaviest armor and most powerful
ordnance for vessels of their class upon
tria! displacement Of about $1,000 tons
and to have the highest practicable
speed and greatest radius known, and
to cost, exclusive of arlor and arma-
ment. not exceeding $4,42l,O00 each.
Two first class ar1nored cruisers, of
about 14,500 tons displacement, to cost,
exclusive of armor and armament not
exceeding 1869. 900 each and two gum
boats Of about 1000 tons trial displace-
ment.
"In view of the fact that there is
some public sentiment favorable to
the building Of ships in our government
navy yards, it has been deemed advtsa-
hle by the committee to insert q pro-
vision In the appropriation bill this
year leaving 1t In the discre-
ton Of the secretary of the navy
to build any or all ships in the govern
ment yards, but making it mandatory
On him to construct at least one battle
ship or one of the armored cruisers In
such navy yard as he may designate, as
IN experiment, and it is further pro-
vided that he shall keep an accurate
account of all expenditures for labor
and material in the inspection and con-
struction of such ship and report to
congress at each session, and upon the
completion of said ship he shall make
report showing the relative cost OF one
built by the government and one by
contract. 1t is believed by your
committee that nothing short of an ex-
pertinent of this kind will show wheth-
er private contractors have been rea-
sonable in their bids, and Furthermore
will be an aid for future guidance IN
the continued construction of our navy
An appropriation of $175.O00 Is recon-
mended for each yard in which ship
is built
1.-The complete cost of two first-class
battleships, two first-class armored
cruisers and two gunboats, with a total
tonnage of $4,000 tons, will approx
mate s29,5O0,00O These battleships and
cruisers will be larger than any hereto
fore authorized by congress, and the
plans recommended by the board OF
construction have already excited ia
vorable comment of naval authorltles
abroad. The committee is of the opin-
ion that in recommending the above
naval program it is making substan-
tjal and healthy increase OF our navy
and one which will meet everywhere
with popular favor"
other interesting features of the
bin are provisions for a board of naval
officers to recommend scientific naval
training station at some point on the
great lakes; increase of enlisted force
of navy by 5000 men: provisions for
new navy ration as reported by the
naval board; increase of the number
of cadets at the naval academy by
500.
The detailed statement shows the
appropriation bill carries $77659.3S6
which is slightly below the appropri
alton made last year.
DEAL WITH GERMAN LINES.
Shipping Syndicate Said to Have a