The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-01

The Iowa is the only one of its class
81 our navy, and carries four 12-inch,
eight 8-inch and six 4-inch guns. The
kearsarge, Alabama and illinois are
identical in hulls, but the batteries diff
Ter. The Kearsarge, with superimposed
turrets, has four 13-inch, four S-inch
and fourteen 5-inch guns, while the Ala
bama and Illinois carry four 13-inch
and fourteen 6-inch guns. OF the
cruisers the Olympia is armed with
four S-inch and ten 5-inch guns; the
baltimore twelve 6-inch. the Cleveland
len 5-inch and the Mayflower, which is
Z converted yacht carries twelve g.
Founders and four smaller guns. Only
t.-v Of the American battleships are
fitted with submerged torpedo tubes
lhe Maine and Missouri having two
each The other four have four above
mater tubes, but none of the cruisers
are fitted with torpedo tubes. None Of
the battleships have triple screws, and
the boilers are Of the old-style box
type, except in the Maine, Missouri and
Cleveland, which have water-tUbe boil
ers.
The modern navies Of Germany and
the United States date nearly alike,
but the building Of the German war
ships has been done with better sys-
TEN and greater dispatch than in the
United States Since 1890 Germany has
completed fourteen battleships, four
armpred cruisers. six coast-defense
ships and thIrry-five cruisers and gun
boats. During the same period we have
built and completed twelve battleships,
two arnOred cruisers, five cOast-de-
Tense ships and thirty-twO cruisers and
gunbOats. There is but a slight differ
ence in the number of armored yes
sells, but the type and tonnage Of Ger
man cruisers far exceed that Of the
United States. The prospects for two
years hence are, however, more favora-
bic. as the armored vessels under con-
structiOn in American yards greatly
exceed those building in Germany. In
the latter country eight battleships and
three armored cruisers are likely to be
completed by January, 1906, while the
United States navy viii be increased
in that period by nine battleships and
nine armored cruisers.
CAUSES OF DELAY.
The failure in the United States to
make as good a showing in rapidity Of
construction as compared with Ger
many is chiefly due TO the dissensions
in the board Of construction in Wash
ington. resulting in a delay Of two
years in agreeing upon the designs of
three battleships and three armored
cruisers. authorized March g. 1899 but
years later. Again, between March.
1901, and November, 1903. further de-
lays were caused by radically changing
the designs Of ships already contracted
for, as well as those of two battleships
and six armored cruisers authorized in
June, 1900 The errors Of the board OF
construction Of 1901-03 are now being
corrected at a great cost of time and
money. but there has been a loss Of two
years which cannot be made good and
which is not chargeable to dilatory con-
tractors. The present seeming inferior
ity Of the American fleet as compared
with that of Germany is therefore not
due to lack Of money or want of desire
10 possess a navy, but is to be at
tributed to the obstructionists in the
board Of construction.
The frequent visits of German ships
to British naval ports is beginning to
arouse the suspicion of English naval
officers that these visits are made to
gain information. and not for the sake
Of hospitality. German training ships,
such as the Stosch. Stein and Moltke,
have already called nine times at Ply
mouth Sound during this year and re-
NAMED several days on each occasion
During this time officers and crew wan
Ger about, subject to no restraint, 10
satisfy their curiosity, and they be-