Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-29
MORE BATTlESHIPS
Is the One Great Need of the
American Navy.
So Says Chairman Foss Of House
Naval Committee to Congress
Ir Presenting the Appropriation Bill for
the Ensuing Year.

Washington, April 2S.-The naval
program for 1903, as presented in the
naval appropriation bill and the accom-
panying report, 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 is generally held
and Mr. Foss points out that compare
lively few of our ships have any real
fighting value. He accompanies this
with statement of the enormous ma
val armament and programs of other
countries, particularly Germany.
1t is shown by the report that the
total number of vessels of our navy.
built and building, is 1873, and the total
cost will be s235, 0S2, 209. The report
adds:
While we have built and are build
ing, all told. 1873 ships, yet compare
lively few of them have any real fight
ing value. Our naval prowess lies al.
most entirely in our IS battleships,
eight armorod cruisers and y 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
a nation
referring to the foreign naval pro-
gram the report says: "Of all the coun-
tries, Germany has been building dur
ing the last few years faster than any
of the others. Her shpbuilding pro-
gram started in 1898 and VIII be com
pleted in 1908, possibly in 1907, instead
of 1916 as first planned. Thissprogram
will give her in all SO battleships, IA
Sc torpedo boats
Concerning new ships for our navy,
the report says: THE committee recon-
mends that for the purpose of further
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 5000 tons, and to have the high
est practicable speed and great radius
of action and to cost, exclusive of
armor and armament, not exceeding
SAFE, 900 each; two first-class armored
cruisers of about 1880 tons trial dis
placement. to cost, exclusive of armor
and armament, not exceeding S4,6590Oo
each, and two gunboats of about 1000
tons trial displacement
I'm view of the fact that there is
some public sentiment favorable to
building ships in our government navy
wards, it has been deemed advisable
by the committee to insert a provision
in the appropriation bill of this year
leaving it in the discretion of the secre-
tary of the navy and build any or all
ships in government yards, but making
a
least one battleship or one armored
cruiser in such navy yards as he may
designate, as an experiment.
Other interesting features of the bill
are provisions for a board of naval Off
GERS to recommend a site for naVl
training station at some point on the
Great lakes; an increase of the enlisted
force of the navy by 5000 men; provis-
ions for q new navy ration as reported
by a naval board: an increase of the
number of cadets at the Naval Acad-
envy by 500
The detailed statement shows that
the appropriation bill carries $17,659,
CSC, which is slightly below the appro-
priation made last year. The naval
training station at Rhode Island re-
ceiyes SIS, 1000 For armor and arma-
ment the bill provides 100000. I'M
portant items under the bureau of ord
nance are Smokeless powder, S50O,O0o;
Newport torpedo station, $4,000; naval
militia, 500, 600. For public work on
wards and docks, $6.561 ,075 is appropri-
ated. or about one-third of what was
asked.
The navy department made estimates
for n naval station at San Juan, z. r.,
to cost 81, 613 900, but the committee re-
ports that lit would be wise not to pro-
vide for any naval station in the West
Indies until we have more definite
knowledge as to the best location for
one"
For the completion of the four dry
docks at Portsmouth. Boston, League
Island and Mare Island. S1050,000 is
appropriated. Other public works APP
preparations are as follows: Ports
mouth, S672,075; Boston, SOP, 70o New
London, SAL. 900; Porto Rico. $50, coo; Tu-
tuiIa, 1900; Cavite, $233,500
The United States Naval Academy re :
ccives $500. 900 to carry on the plan of
Improvement. The committee calls at
tention to the lack of officers sufficient
to officer the new ships, and to meet
this 500 additional cadets at the acad-
envy are provided for. 125 each year dur
ing the next four years. Each senator,
member and delegate in the House Of
Representatives is to have the appoint
ment of one and the President "a, these
being allotted during the period of four
years. An additional sum of 1929, 905 is
provided for the civil administration
OF the Naval Academy. Under the
steam engineering and construction bu-
reaus extensive improvements are to
be made in their respective plants at
Boston and other points.
The bill carries s2,93s, 465 for the Ma
rine Corps.