Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-02
DISAGREE ON SUBMARINES
stan of Navy Thinks Them Useless
and the Time val
uabIa.

- now m eatapliHhed thct, ana " ~ THIS
fact that Is Swing the house committee on
naval affairs considerable difioulty In de-
termining whether Il shall equip the United
States navy more formidRbly by Increasing
It's number Of submarine torpedo boatu after
the type Of the Holland and the Adder, This
question has again revived the old fsud be-
tween the staff and line efieers Of the navy.
feeling that was somewhat lessened after
the passage OF the naval personnel bill Civ
ing the stan officers rank they had never
enjoyed before, but which has broken out
again in the consideration OF submarine
boats. The lighting men Of the navy, like
Admiral Dewey, whose star is a fixed planet
In the galaxy Of American heroes for his
achievements not only at the destruction
Of the Spanish feet in Manila bay. but dur
Ing the dark. trying days that followed;
Captain "Dick" Wainwright, who ran amuck
among the Dons at Santiago with his little
boat, Glocester, and Lieutenant Caldwell,
Dewey's flag lieutenant, who stood on the
bridge Of Olympia when II steamed over the
enemy's mines and torpedoes In the waters
OF the eastern archipelago, all declare for
submarine torpedo boats. These men, who
know the destructive qualities OF such boats
through their intimate Acquaintance with
them, argue that they are a valuable and
necessary adjunct to the American navy and
ss engines Of war possess snnihilative
powers carrying intimidation to the feet
OF an enemy no matter how powerful.
stan Opposes submarines.
Opposed TO these officers are Admirals
Melville and Bowles, members Of the Board
OF Construction. which practically domi,
mates the policy Of the Navy department
Both Bowles and Melville. from the lofty
altitude Of theoretical reasoning cannot
see the efficacy Of submarine boats as
naval weapon. Especially is this true Of
the latter, Bowles admitting in a recent
hearing before the house committee that
II it was obligatory on him to adopt such
craft. he would prefer the Holland boats
as being the most up-to-date. Admiral
Melville compares submarine boats to mos
quitoes buzzing around the ears OF a COM
mander, annoying. but not destructive. He
gives most remarkable explanation Of
England's reasons for adopting these YES
sells, which he terms "sneaks of the sea-"
He stated to the committee on naval af-
fairs that It was solely for the purpose
Of diverting the minds OF the English peo-
pie from the terrible disasters the British
empire was suffering in South Africa.
Captain Sigsbee Of the Board Of Construc-
tion is in favor of submarine boats and
says they carry a moral influence that
is simply tremendous. Such was the state
ment Of Admiral Dewey before the naval
affairs committee In 1900. Among many
other things, he said 'If they had had
two Of those things IN Manila never could
have held 1t with my squadron. The moral
effect, to my mind. is infinitely superior
to mines or torpedoes or anything of the
kind. With those craft moving under water
It would wear people out With two Of
these in Galveston an the navies Of the
world could not blockade that place"
Where to Look for Facts.
In discussing this matter recently Rem
resentatiye Loudenslader Of New Jersey
said: IF l wanted expert knowledge on
the engines or machinery of a war vessel
l would go to Admiral Melville. II / de-
sired thorough information as to its con-
struction Admiral Bowles would be the
man, but should want enlightenment as
to its fighting abilities and what II could
do at sea, warning against an enemy, there
would be no man more competent to ex-
press an opinion than Admiral George
Dewey or Captain Richard Wainwright, and
they both say the submarine boat is what
the American navy needs. Fact has proven
more in this world than theory ever did or
will. Dewey and Wainwright deal in
facts"
great many inquiries have come from
nurserymen throughout the country con-
cerning the free distribution OF nursery
stock by the Department of Agriculture,
because the seed distribution has grown
from a small matter to enormous propor-
tions-the total number of packages Of
seed distributed annually by the depart
mo afc In aHAw. M
packages. or $500, 900 papers 1t appears
however, that the supply of trees distrib-
uted among congressman is by no means
large and there is no indication at present
that there will be any marked growth Of
the folly department OF the government.
Each member and senator now has fifty
small trees at his disposal each year
These trees are mostly varieties of nuts
not purchased from nurserymen. The idea
appears to be to experiment as to the advis-
ability of taking up this branch OF agri-
| culture II II can be called agriculture, IN
the various states and territories. There
is at present no need for the nurserymen
| to take alarm at this innovation by Secre-
| tary Wilson. but II must be remembered
that thirty or forty years ago when the
| seed distribution first began the value Of
the quota" for each representative was
little II no greater than the value of the
trees now placed to his credit annually
| And there is, of course, danger of
growth Of this new department in govern
ment charity.
Senator Works His Pull.
Rather an interesting story is told Of a
prominent senator, which goes to show how
some people in congress can get about any
thing they want This senator has for
many years been in the habit OF using the
house bathrooms whenever he felt the need
Of refreshing bath. Conveniences Of this
kind are provided in the senate. but II
has long been recognized that the attend
ants of the house baths understand their
business better than those in the upper
| branch Of congress. Some time ago, in
the plan OF reconstrueting the interior ar
rangements Of the house and its Offices,
the old-fashioned solid marble tubs we're
| removed. and as there was no known
use for them they were broken up in order
| that they might be more conveniently
| carted away. Porcelain tubs OF the finest
kind have taken the place Of the old marble
ones and they give entire satisfaction to
everyone, except the senator above men
toned. He insisted upon having a marble
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