Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-05-01
NAVY Of UNITED STATES.
Naval Programme for 1908 as Pre-
scented In the Report of the
Naval Committee.
CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION ADVOCATED.
While We Have 13s Ships Built and
building, Comparatively Few OF
Them are of Fighting yaIue-Bat-
tie Line Ships the Ones That De-
termine Naval strength.

tie Line ships the Ones ThatD De-
termine Naval Strength.
Washington, April 29.-The naval
programme for 1908, as presented in
the naval appropriation and accom-
panying report filed by Chairman
Foss, of the house naval committee.
is n of unusual interest. The re.
port does not take as optimistic q
view of u naval progress as is gen.
orally held, and Mr.. Foss points on.
that comparatively few of our ships
have any real fighting value. He &C.
companies this with a statement of
the enormous naval equipments and
programmes of other countries. par
ticularly Germany. 1t is shown by
the report that the total number of
vessels of our navy, built and build
ing, is 1873 and the total cost will be
S235, 0s2, 200. The report adds:
"While we have built and are build
ing, all told, 1873 ships, yet compare
lively few of them have any real
fighting value. Our naval prowess lies
almost entirely in our Is battleships,
eight armored cruisers and 81 pro-.
tected cruisers. The rest of our ships
would cut but little figure in actual
war. Ships of the battle line prac-
tically 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;
possibly in 1907, instead of 1916, as
first planned. This programme will
give her in all 80 ~battleships, IA large
cruisers, 80 smaller cruisers and 90
torpedo boats. After the completion
of this programme the plan contem-
plates new constructions to replace
ships which, though still very service
able. may have reached the pre-.
scribed age limit"
Concerning new ships for our navy
the report says: 'The committee rec
ommends that for the purpose of
further increasing the naval estab-
lishment of the United States the
president lave constructed two first.
class battleships carrying the heavi-
est m and most powerful ord
nance for vessels of their class upon
a trial displacement of about 16, 1000
tons and to have the highest prac-
ticable speed and great radius of ac-
ton, and to cost, exclusive of armor
n armament, not exceeding $4,212.-
OoO each; two first-class armored
cruisers of about 1880 tons trial dis.
placement, to cost, exclusive of armor
and armament, not exceeding $4,650,-
0oo 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
yards,it has been deemed advisable by
the committee to insert a provision in
the appropriation bill ofthis wear leav-
ing it in the discretion of the secretary
of the navy to build any or all ships
l N government yards, but making il
mandatory OF him to construct at
least one ~battleship or one armored
cruiser in such navy yard as he NAV
designate, as an experiments; and it
Is further provided that he shall
Keep an accurate account of all ex-
penditures for labor and material in
the inspection and construction of
ship and report to congress at
session, and upon the compile
tlon OF said ship he shall make a de-
tailed report showing the relative
cost of one built by the government
and one by contract. 1t is believed
by your committee that nothing
snort or an experiment of this kind
VIII show whether private contrac-
tors nave been reasonable in their
DDS, and, furthermore, be valuable
for future guidance in the confirmed
construction of our navy. An an
preparation of $4,000 is recommend.
ed for each yard in which a shin is
built.
THE complete cost of the two first.
class battleships, two frst-class ar.
mored cruisers and two gunboats
with total tannoge of 5000 TONS will
approximate 500, 500, 600. These Battle
ships and cruisers will be larger than
any heretofore authorized bv con.
gress, and the plans recommended by
the board of construction already
have excited the favorable comment
OF the naval authorities abroad. The
committee is of the opinion that in
recommending the above naval pro-.
gramme it is making a substantial
II healthy increase of our navy. and
one which will meet everywhere with
popular favor"
American Navy Disgrnced.
Venice, Italy, April 29.-Capt. Robert
t. Wynne, commanding the marine
guard OF the Chicago; Robert e. Led