The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-04-21
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
Holds Third Rank Among
World Powers.
5 WEAK IN SEAMEN.
'he Administrators Policy
Toward Shipbuildins.

WEEKLY LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
Alta moment when all eyes are
fxed upon great naval struggle In
another hemisphere it vii. be inter-
estinR TO look to our own naval
strength. When Senator Hale an.
nounced In the Senate that the time
had cotne for Congress to curtail the
building up Of the navy and to settle
upon q definite policy which should
hereafter be pursued, he placed the
amount which would be necessary to
appropriate annually 80 make good
the ravages Of timen at from SI2, 2,000,.
600 to $l5, 100000 year. This
would furnish about one new battle
ship a year and, ia those years when
II was deemed wiser to construct
smaller vessels, several cruisers or
scout cruisers. It would also allow
for the construction OF number OF
colliers Or other small vessels. Al
that time, naval Officers protested
that the Senator had placed the
amount too low, that 1t should have
been not less than $40. 600, 600 year
und they supposed that the President
would support them In their conten-
tion. Now, however, they have
learned that Mr.. Hale consulted the
President before he announced his
proposed policy to the Senate and
that President Roosevelt Is prepared
IL accept for the remainder of his
term nava! programme w1ich will
allow for the construction Of single
hattlcshtp eact year, although it Is
not certain but that the President
will urge that no year pass without
one new battleship being authorized.
1t Is believed, however, that the
lighter class Of vessels need not be
built and kept Ia commission con-
tiHuously, as they can be provided OH
short notice. Moreover, II the Mer-
chant Marine Commissions report is
acted upon by the next Congress
there will be constructed for the
merchant service a number Of passen-
ger aud freight vessels which will be
entitled to subsidies and which must
Dc held at the disposal OF the Govern.
rncnt In time Of war.
Comparatively few people realize
the extent to which the American
navy has been built up in the pas,
few years. To-day there are in
the navy OF the United States "a
battleships of 10000 tons or over. l2
coast defense vessels. 10 armored
cruisers. 6 cruisers above 6, 900 tons,
~ cruisers of from 5000 to 5000
tons, % cruisers of from 1000 to
5000 tons, l6 torpedo boat destroy
ers, 80 torpedo boats and 8 submarine
torpedo boats. The total tonnage Of
the navy is 643, ,693, represented by a
total OF lat vessels. In point of ton.
mage the United States stands third
bn the list of nations of the world,
First comes Great Britain with 502
vessels aggregating 1880 tons,
second France with sos vessels, ag-
sregating 77s.00O tons.
While the American navy may look
small when placed beside that OF
Great Britain, 1t must be remem
b b.red tnat Great Britain and its po-
sessions spread all over the world and
that In the event OF war Great Bri.
tain would haze the utmest difficulty
even with Its great navy, in protect
ing ali G: It's insu.aF possessions II
has always been the policy Of Great
Biitain to keep Its navy equal in
power to any two of the European
powers, although taking into consid-
GRAFTON tie number of obsolete vessels
on the British naval list 1t is now
doubtful II her naval strength equal.
that Of France and Germany, com.
Dincd.
So far as seainen are concerned the
American navy is weak and Cungres.
must soon make provision for the
number of new vessels nearing COM
pletiOn. The total at present is g.,
I'll officers and 90. 32l men. To thi.
must be added, however. to afford al
adequate idea of The lighting force D