The Daily soliphone., 1902-04-29
Naval Programme for 1903 as Pre- sented In the Report of the
 Naval Committee.
CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION ADVOCATED.
While We Have i3S Ships Built and Building, Comparatively Few or Them are of Fighting VaIue--Esnf- tie Lime Ships the Ones That De- termine Naval Strength.

fFoss, of the house naval committee, is one of unusual interest. The re- port does not take as optimistic view of our naval progress as is gen erally held, and MT. Foss points out have any real fighting value. He ac- companies this with a statement of the enormous naval equipments and programmes of other countries, par ticularly Germany. It is shown by the report that the total number of vessels of our navy, built and build- ling, is 138 and the total cost will be S235, ,0s2, ,2O9. The report adds:
 "While we have built and are build ing, all told, 13S ships, yet compare lively few of them have any real fighting value. Our naval prowess lies almost entirely in our IS battleships eight armored cruisers and 21 pro- tected cruisers. The rest of our ships would cut but little figure in actual war Ships of the battle line prac- 1 tically alone determine the naval strength of nation"
 Referring to the foreign naval pro- gramme, 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 programme started in 1898 and will be completed in 1908;
 possibly in 1907. instead of 1916, as first planned. This programme will give her in all B battleships, IA large cruisers, 3S smaller cruisers and 06 torpedo boats. After the completion of this programme the plan contem- plates new constructions to replace ships which, though still very service able, may have reached the pre- scribed age limit"
 Concerning new ships for our navy, the report says: "The committee rec ommends that for the purpose of further increasing the naval estab- lishment of the United States the president have constructed two first class battleships carrying the heavi- est armor nd most powerful ord nance for vessels of their class upon trial dispiacement of about 16,OO0 tons, and to have the highest prac- ticable speed and great radius of ac- ton, and to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding $4,2l2,- 900 each; two first-class armored cruisers of about 14,5O0 tons trial dis placement, to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, pot exceeding 4,659,- 000 each, and two gunb0ats of about 1, ,000 tons trial displacement.
 @y Al some public sentiment favorable to building ships in our government navy yards,it has been deemed advisable by the committee to insert a provision iu the appropriation bill of this year leav- ing it in the discretion of the secretary of the navy to build any or all ships in government yards, but making it mandatory on him to construct at least one battleship or one armored cruiser in such navy yard as he may designate, as an experiment.; and it is further provided that he shall keep an accurate account of all eX- | penditures for labor and material in the inspection and construction of such ship and report to congress at each session, and upon the comple- tion of said ship he shall make Ge- tailed 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 experiment of this kind will show whether private contrac- tors have been reasonable in their bids, and, furthermore, be valuable for future guidance in the continued construction of our navy. An ap- prepriation of $175,000 is recommends ed for each yard in which ship is built.
 The complete cost of the two first class battleships, two frst-class ar mored cruisers and two gunboats, with total tannoge of 63,000 tons, will approximate 29,500,00O. These battle ships and cruisers will be larger than any heretofore authorized by con gress, and the plans recommended by the board of construction already have excited the favorable comment of the naval authorities abroad The committee is of the opinion that in recommending the above naval pro- gramme it is making a substantial and healthy increase of our navy, and
 one which will meet everywhere with
 popular favor"
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