The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-30
s235,082,208 FOR 1 NAVY.
Uncle Sam Must Compete With
Other Monarchs.

programme lot 1SOo, as presented ii
the naval appropriation bill and ac-
companying report fled today by
Chairman Foss, of the House naval
committee, is one of unusual interest.
The report does not take as optimistic
view of our naval prowess as is gem
orally held, and Mr.. Foss points out
that comparatively few Of our ships
have any real fighting value. He ac-
companies this with a statement of
the enormous naval armament and
programme of other countries, parti-
cularly Germany.
It is shown by the report that the
total number of vessels of our navy,
built and building, is 13S, and the
total cost will be s235, ,052, ,209. The
report adds:
While we have built and are build
ing, all told, 138 ships, yet compara-
lively few of them have any real fight
ing value. Our naval prowess lies
almost entirely in our eighteen battle
ships, eight armored cruisers and
twenty-one protected cruisers. The
rest of our ships would cut but little
figure in actual war. Ships of the
battle line practically alone determine
the naval strength of them.
! Referring to the American naval pro-
gramme the report says: e Of all the
countries Germany has been building
during the last few years. faster than
any of the others. Her ship-bnilding
programme started in 1898 and will
be completed in 1soss possibly inl9o7,
instead of 1901 as first planned.
This programme will give her in
all 38 battle ships IA. large cuisers,
50 smaller cruisers and 9s torpedo
boats. After the completion of this
programme the plan, contemplates new
constructions to replace ships which,
though still serviceable, may have
reached the prescribed age. limit. .
| Concerning new ships for our navy
| the report says:
! "The committee. recommended that
| for the purpose offurther increasing
| the naval establishment Of the United
States the President have constructed
two frst-class battleships, carrying
| the heaviest armor and most powerful
ordnance for vessels Of their class
upon trial displacement of about
Is, 900 tons, and to have the highest
practicable speed and great radius of
action, and to cost, exclusive or arnor
and armament, not exceeding s4,2l2,
600 each two frst-class armored cruis-
efs of about H. 500 tons trial displace-
ment to cost, exclusive of ,armor and
armament, not exceeding "a, 659 000
each, and two gunboats of about LOCO
tons trial displacement.
tIn view Of the fact that there is
some public sentiment favorable to-
building ships in our Government navy
yards, it has been deemed advisable
by the committee to insert provision
in the appropriation bill of this year
leaving it in the discretion of the Sec
retary of the Navy to build any or all
ships in Government yards, but max
ing it mandatory on him to construct
at least one battle ship or one armoreds
cruiser in such navy yard as he may;
designate as an experiment, and it is:
further provided that he shalt keep an
accurate account of all expenditures;
for labor and material in the inspec-
tion and construction Of such ship and
report to Congress at each session, and
upon the completion of said ship he
shall make detailed report showing
the relative cost of one built by the:
Government and one by contract. It
is believed by your committee that
nothing short of an experiment Of this
kind will show whether private con-
tractors have been reasonable in their
bids; furthermore to be used as basis
for future guidance in the continued
construction of our navy. An appro-
priation of s175, 600 is recommended
for each yard in which ship is built.
THE complete cost Of the two first
class battle ships, two irst-class arm
cred cruisers and two gunboats, with
total tonnage of IS, 600 tons, will ap-
proximate s29, 500, 0o0
These battle ships and cruisers will
be larger than any heretofore author
lied by Congress, and the plans recon-
mended by the board of construction
have already excited the favorable
comment of the naval authorities
abroad. The committee is of the opin-
ion that in recommending the above
naval programme it is making a sub
stantial and healthy increase of our
navy and one which will meet every