Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-29
NOT MANY GOOD WAR SHIPS.
Chairman Foss Says United States Navy is
Not Up to Highest Standard.
GREAT ARMAMENT or OTHER NATIONS
Naval CommIttee presents n Pro-
Ersm for 1903, Together with
Bill Making = Total APP
preparation % s7T,8T5,3s8.


WASHINGTON. april 2s.-The naval
program for 1903, as presented in the
naval appropriation bill and accom-
panying 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 naval
prowess as generally is held. and Mr.. Foss
points out that comparatively few Of our
ships have any real lighting value He
accompanies this with a statement OF the
enormous naval armament and programs OF
other countries, particularly Germany.
1t is shown by the report that the number
Of the vessels in our navy, built and build
ing, is 1873, and the total cost will be $685.
OS2, 200. The report adds:
While we nave built and are building, all
told, lSo ships, yet comparatively Few OK
naval prowess lies almost entirely in our
eighteen battleships, eight afmored cruisers
rest Of our ships would cut but little figure
in actual war. Ships in battle line alone
determine the naval strength Of a nation.
Foreign Naval Program.
Referring to the foreign naval program
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 1925 and will be com.
1915. as first Planned. This program Will
give her, In all tbirty-eight battleships,
fourteen barge cTuisers' thirty-eight smaller
the completion of this program the plan
contemplates new constructions to replace
nave reached the prescribed age limit.
Concerning ships for our navy. the re-
port says:
The committee recommends that for the
purpose Of further increasing the naval
q q - Tia a. InNna the
president have constructed two frst-class
battleships carrying the heaviest armoT
their class upon a trial displacement of
PTSSticaSYls speed ana great radius Of &C;
ton, and TO cost. exclusive of armor and
armament not exceeding A,2l2,OW each;
two frst-elass armored cruisers of about
1860 TONS triai displacement, to cost, ex-
elusive Of armor n armament, not ex-
ceeding 1853 900 each. and two ~gunboats
OF about 1000 tons trial displacement.
TorBuiId One in Navy Yard.
In view OF the fact that there is some
public sentiment favorable to building SHIPS
In our government navy yards, Il has been
deemed advisable by the committee to in.
sert a provision in the appropriation bill
the Secretary of the navy to build any or
all ships in government yards, but making
II mandatory on him TO construct a. leaS 81
such navy yard as he may designate, as an
experiment, and It is further provided that
Ht ohaAA hNNR all ~ StCAA Va 0Na
construction Of such ship and report to
congress at each session, and upon the
completion of said ship he shall make a
detailed report showing the relative cost
of one built by the government and one by
that nothing short OF an experiment of this
kind will show whether private contractors
furthermore be OF use for future guidance
in the continued construction of our navy:
An appropriation of $4,000 Is reeommended
for each yard In which a ship Is built.
Cost of Two BattIeships.
The complete cost of the two hrst-clasr
battIeships, two hrst-class armored cruis-
ers and two gunboats. with total tonnage
Of $4,000 tons will approximate $780, 500 900
These hA>tleships and cruisers will b
lar,er than suy- heretofore authorized b!
congress and the plans recommended by thu
board Of CONSTRUCTION already have ex.
cited the favorable comment of the nava
authorities abroad. The committee is o
the opinion that in recommending the
above naval program Il Is making a sub
stantiei and proper increase of our navy
and one which will meet everywhere with
popular favor.
other interesting features Of the bill
are provisions for a board of naval ofhcerT
TO recommend a site for a naval training
station at some point on the Great Lakes
an increase Of the enlisted force Of tn,
navy by 5000 men; provisions for a new
navy ration as reported by a naval board
an increase Of the number Of cadets at tn
naval academy by 500.
T. Detailed statement.
The detailed statement shows that tn
appropriation bill carries t77.6 I .3s6. whie'
is slightly below the appropriation mad
last year. Some OF the main items are a
follows:
Pay OF ths navy. SIC, 1873. 1879; emergenc
fund. 800 900; Bureau OF Navigation, $1,3ss.
671 Bureau Of Ordnance, SO, 1O9, 0O5; Burea
of Equipment. IS, Soe. 2o2; Bureau of Yards an
docks. STA. ana; public work on yards an
docks. t6,5s1 ,o75; Bureau OF Medicine an
Surgery. $3.50, 900; Bureau OF Supplies an
Accounts, So, sos, 9S2; Bureau OF C~onstructio
and Repair. ts.5S5. S24; Bureau of Steam En-
ginesring. 1ssssS. 800; Marine corps. 81. sss,
as construction and machinery, SIS. sos. 0iO
armor and armament, $1,000. 900; equipment
$toO.oO equipping a navy yard to bull
ship, STA, 900.
The naval training station in Californl