The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-05-01
NOT MUCH GOOD
PESSlMlSTIC VIEW OF OUR NAVY
BY CHAIRMAN FOSS OF
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
PROGRAMME FOR NEXT YEAR

Report Says Comparatively Few of the
Ships Constituting the American
Navy Have Any Real Fighting Val.
ue-Statement of the Enormous Ma.
val Armament of Other Countries,
Particularly Germany.
| Washington, April 29.-The naval
programme for 1903, as presented in
the naval appropriation bill and &C.
companying report filed 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 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 programmes of 9TH
er countries, particularly Germany.
1t is shown by the report that the to-
tai number of vessels of our navy,
built and building, is 1873, and the total
cost will be $235,OS2,209. 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 10 battleships, 8
armored cruisers, and 2l 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"
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
| building programme started in 1898
and will be completed in 1908, posi-
bly, in 1907, instead of 1916 as first
| planned. This programme will give
her in all 38 battleships, IA large cruis-
| ers and Sc torpedo boats After the
completion of this programme the plan
contemplated new constructions to re-
place ships which, though still serv-
| iceable, may have reached the pre-
scribed age limit"
Concerning new ships for our navy
the report says:
THE committee recommend that for
the purpose of further
Increasing the Naval Establishment
of the United States the president
have constructed two first class battle
ships, carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance for vessels
OF their class upon trial displace-
ment of about $4,000 tons, and to have
the highest practicable speed and
great radius of action, and to cost, ex-
elusive of armor and armament, not
exceeding $4,212,000 EACH; two first
class armored cruisers of about IA 500
tons trial displacement, to cost, ex-
elusive of armor and armament, not
exceeding $4,659,000 each, and two
gunboats of about 1000 tons displace-
ment.
"In 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 to the discretion of the Sec
rotary of the navy to build any or all
ships in government yards, but max
ing it mandatory on him to construct
at least one battleship or one armored
cruiser in such hayward 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 inspec-
ton and 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 contract. 1t is
believed by your committee that moth
ing short of an experiment of this kind
will show whether private contractors
have been reasonable in their bids,
and furthermore be amiss for future
guidance in the continued construction
of our navy. An appropriation of
SIZE, 900 is recommended for each yard
in which ship is built.
'The complete cost of the two first
class battleships, two first class ar
mored cruisers, and two gunboats,
with total tonnage of $4,000 tons, will
approximate $29,500,000. These bat
tleships and cruisers will be larger
than any heretofore authorized by con-
gress, and the plans recommended by
the board of construction have already
excited the favorable comment of the
naval authorities abroad. The COM
mittee is of the opinion that in recon-
mending the above naval programme
it is making substantial and healthy
increase of our navy, and one which
will meet everywhere with popular
favor"
The detailed statement shows that
the appropriation bill carries $77,659,-
3S6, which is slightly below the appro-
priation made last year.