BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-05-21
SAN JUAN, MAYO u


New Battle Ships, Cruisers, and
Gun Boats.
DISPATCHES from Washington state
that the naval programme for 1903, as
presented in the Naval Appropriation
Bill and accompanying report, present
ed to the House of Representative this
afternoon by Chairman Foss of the
House Naval Committee, is one of unl
sual interest The report does not take
as optimistic view of Our naval po orer
as is generally held. 1t is accompanied
with a statement of the enormous naval
armament and programmes OF other
countries, particularly Germany 1t IS
shown that the total number of vessels
of our navy built and building, is 1873,
and the total cost will be $235,o82, ,2oo.
The report adds:
"While we have built and are build
ing, all told. 1873 ships, yet conpafatl-
vely few of them have any real lighting
value. Our naval prowess lies almost
entirely in Our eighteen battle-ships
eight armored cruisers, and tFre1ty-ona
projected 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 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-bnilding
programme started in 1898, and will b.
completed in 1908; possibly in 1907,
insteado OF 1916 as 1lrst planned. This
programme will give her in all thirty
eight battle-sh1ps, fourteen large crris
ers, thirty-eight smaller cruisers, and
ninety six torpedo-boats. After the COM
p1etion of this programme, the plan
Contenplates new constructions to re-
place ships whicn, though still service
able, may have reached the prescribed
age limit"
Concerning new ships for Our navy,
the report 81 S:
The Committee recommend that for
the purpose Of further increasing the
naval establishment of the United
States, the P4esidelt have constructed
two first-class battle-ships, carrying the
heaviest armor and nost 20 gerfll ord
nance for vessels of tn eir ella S upJn
trial displace II mt of about 10 900 TONS
and to have the highest practicable
speed and great radius Of alton, and to
cost, exc, lsive of ar.ncr ald armament,
not exceeding S42I2o 900 each; tvo first
class arm bred CT liSerS Of about I4,5Oo
tons trial displacement, to cost, exclus
i've Of ar1nor and armament, not exceed
ing S465oooo cacl, and tW0 glnboats
of about 1000 tons .rlti (, displacement.
In view of the fact that there is some
public sentiment favorable 70 building
shi IS in our Government nevy yards, it
has been deemed advisable by the
Committee to insert & provision in the
Appropriation Bill Of this ear leaving
in the discretion of the Secretary OF the
Nav to build any or all shi,'s in Gov
ernment yards, but making it manda-
tory on him to construct at least one
battle-ship or one arnored 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 expenditures for labor
and material in the inspection AID
construction of such ship, ana report to
Congress at each session. ard rT1on the
com pletion Of said ship he s5al make
a detailed report showing the relative
cost of one bait by the Governune az
and one by contract. |. is beiicTed y
your Committee that nothing short OF
an experiment of this kind VIII show
whether private contractors have been
reasonable in their bids, and furtker-
more, be basis for future guidance III
the continued construction of our nav.
An appropriation Of 5I75 900 is. recon-
merded for each yArd in which :. ihgp
is built.
The complc.e O.. o tils tvo ff .
class battle-shi .ss, t9s fifsa- gss 5slcs-d
cruisers, and . g0nboa 5 VA 70 al
tonnage Of 63 5000 toBs. XII aaproxiIns.e
$40 10000 These Uatt1e-shi ps and
cruisers will be larger than aay uere-
tofore autharized b} Congre 5. aaa he
plans recommended By the Board Of
Construction have already esited the
fav 1rable comment of the naval auth
critics abroad. The COMMITTEES IS of
the opinion that in recommending he
above naval programme it IS ngakng a
substantial and ealthg increase d. Dur
navy. aud one hiah ~ Il s. Eyer Wv
here gish 2opulsf asor.