Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-10-28
NAVY GREATLY
STRENGTHENED
The United States Rapidly Forging to
the Front as a Great Power on
the Sea.
ADDITIONS DURING PAST YEAR
One 6%attleship and Numerous Smaller
Fighting Crafts Comprehension
Work Because Of Strikes.

Washington. Oct. 25.-Rear Admiral
Bowles. chief of the bureau of con-
struCtion and repair. in his annual re.
port to the secretary OF the navy, re-
views at length the progress made by
this government in naval construction
during that period. II is shown that
the following additions have been
made 10 the effective force OF the
navy during the year:
One battleship. four monitors, ~
torpedo boat destroyers. one torpedo
boat and seven submarine torpedo
boats.
The list should have been increased
by W ~battleships and five cruisers,
the report states. but owing TO strikes
and other causes. their completion
was delayed. The report states that
the rate %ofprogrcss of vessels under
construction at the present time pre-,
SCENTS some very encouraging condi.
tions for completion OF many Of the
most Important contracts but. Consid.
erred rs a whole. the progress made
during the last fiscal year has been
very satisfactory.
Speaking Of the battleship Connect
lCul, which IL being built az the gov
eminent cards and which is the sis.
ter ship OF the Louisiana. being built
by private company, The report says
that. although slightly behind the
Louisiana. the progress made has
been well mp tu the best previous av-
cragc of contract built ships. and
adds.
Better prospects for delivery of
structural steel material and com
| plctcnpss aud accuracy of the plans
upon which these ships. and those
subsequently authorized. are being
built furnish good grounds for believ.
ing that future progress upon these
late vessels will exceed any results
heretofore attained, and the compile
tiOr of bulls and machinery will not
delay these vessels beyond the con
tract period. During the past year,
delays in delivery of armor have
caused hut few delays in delivery of
vessels and much armor is now on
hand in the %shipyards in advance OF
the needs of the builders. Insufficient
capacity for the production of nickle
steel productive plates has been the
cause Of inadequate deliveries to ship
builders. and have embarrassed and
delayed their work TO a considerable
extent in the past year and is still op
erative."
II is stated that the bureaus worl
continues 10 be embarrassed by lacl
of sufficient dry docks OF capacity
suited to the dimensions of battle
ships and tirst-class cruisers.
Appended to the report is a CON
plete list of all the vessels in tn,
navy with elaborate data concernin
, them. also a summary which show
there are 252 vessels in the navy n
|. for service: % building and % inf
for sea service.
The vessels fit for service. inclut
ing those under repair. are as TO
lows: First-class battleships. 10; SCI
ond class battleships. |; armore
cruisers, ,: armored ram. |: singl
turret harbor defense monitors. 4
double turrel monitors. 6; protecte
, cruisers. IA; unprotected cruisers. 3
gunboats, IL; light draught gunboatt
3: composite %gunboats. 6; trainin
ship naval academy sheathed. !
special class dolphin and Vesuvius
,: gunboats under 500 tons, 81: torp
= do boat d~estroyers. lG: steel torped
boats. 30. submarine torpedo boats, !
wooden torpedo boat. /: iron CRUZ
ing vessels. steam. ;: wooden cruisir
vessels. steam. 6: wooden sailing We
sells. 3; tugs. g.: auxiliary cruisers, !
converted yachts. %: colliers. II
supply ships and hospital ships, II.
The following are under constru
ton or authorized. Ftrst-class ba
tleships. Il; armored cruisers. \. pr
tected cruisers. 9: gunbOat for gre
lakes mot begun, I: composite gu
boats. .; steel torpedo boats. 6: tral
ing ships. >: training brig, |, tugs.