The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-21
NAMES or our wARsHIPs.
EneSt 70 Revive IN New Vessels the Names
o. Nsted ghips OF the war ef 1919

Enert 70 Revive IN New Vessels the Names
Of Nsted ships Of the war sf ISIS.
wAsHINoroN. April 3o.-An effort TO re-
vive In new naval vessels the names OF those
American ships which brought honor to the
flag In the War Of 1912. Is being made by
Rear Admiral Bowles, the Chief Naval Con-
structor. He has recommended to secretary
Moody that the two training ships ana the
training brig authorized by the last Congress
be called the Hornet, the Peacock and the
Boxer. respectively. The Peacock was a
captured British vessel. but there has al
ways been q strong sentiment among naval
men. for patriotic and historical reasons.
In favor Of perpetuating In our own navy
the names Of foreign ships Of war which
lowered their flags to American fighting
craft. Secretary Moody will probably follow
the recommendation Of Admiral Bowles.
The two training ships are to cost $4,000
each and the brig $4,000. Under law OF
Congress the names Of States Of the Union
must be bestowed on armored vessels OF the
first rate. This requirement has caused
much dissatisfaction among naval officers,
many Of whom have insisted that the names
Of the old frigates and other ships which
gave the United States a claim to being
mistress Of the seas should be revived In
battleehips and armored cruisers.
II has been pointed out as a curious thing
that the only vessel OF the period nearly
hundred years ago. when France and Eng
land harassed American commerce, whose
name has been perpetuated In an American
naval craft. recently built, was the Inflated
Chesapeake. twice captured and never
victorious.
The new Chesapeake Ia a practice vessel
for mtdshipmen. and some naval men
hold that this Is the very last use to which
a ship Of that name should be put, on ac-
count of the inability OF the future officers
who man her to take pride in her through
remembering the deeds OF her predecessor,
The, battleship Kearsargc. named by
special direction Of Congress, affords the
only instance Of the perpetuation OF the
ean aor ne esd soms o. sA hs
names OF 1912. such as the Wasp. the Frolic
and the Scorpion, were bestowed on con-
verted yachts purchased for use In the war
with Spain, but these are not big enough
to make them OF any service In an import
There is a strong feeling in the navy
toward changing the nomenclature so as
to pr rInit the use OF Indian names and the
names Of famous American fighting ves-
sells for modern armor clads. But II is not
probable that this will he done until every
State in the Union has had it's name be-
slowed upon warship.
There are now thirty mine vessels on the
naval list. built and building. which bear
the names OF States. This leaves only
six more States to be provided for.
but as the vessels called for New Hamp-
shire and Michigan are old and must soon
be stricken from the list. II will be neces-
sary for Congress to authorize the con-
struction OF eight more first-class armor
clads before the present nomenclature law
will be changed The States on the waiting
list are Delaware, North Corolina, South
Carolina, North Dakota. Utah and Montana.