Arizona republican., 1905-04-17
The American Navy.

Uncle Sam will soon have twenty first class battleships, and in addition thereto a respectable aggregation of arnored cruisers. This is a formida- ble and gratifying showing. as com pared with the puny navy upon which We had to depend at the beginning of the Spanish war. At that time. the American navy was practically the same as that of Japan today-four first class battleships and job-lot of more or less efficient cruisers.
 By the launching of the Minnesota a week ago the number of American battleships which have taken the wat CT within the last twelve months is increased to eight. Two classes of vessels are here represented. That to which the Minnesota, the Louisiana and the Connecticut belong, and to which the Kansas and Vermont will eventually be added. is designed to dis place about 16.0OO tons and develop a speed of eighteen knots. The Vir- ginia and her four Sisters, all now afoat. but far from being finished, will have a displacement of 15.OOO tons and attain a speed of nineteen knots. The size and power of an eleventh first class battleship, the New Hamp- shire, authorized a year or two ago. have not. We believe, been fully de- ciced upon, but the Idaho and the Mississippi. which have barely been begun. will be smaller and slower than any other vessel here referred to. The two battleships whose construction was provided for by the last congress will undoubtedly closely resemble the Connecticut although they may be a trifie heavier. It should be added that all of the ships which have been launched since April l, 1904. will car ry four 12-inch rifles and eight S-inch guns but the next smaller pieces of the Connecticut will have a calibre Of : inches. A dozen of one size or the o.her will be furnished to each ship of these classes. whereas the Idaho and the Mississippi will mount only eight Finch rifles.
 The five battleships of the Virginia class ought to be ready for service within a year or fifteen months. Two or three may be finished before the close of 1905. Competition between the builders of the Louisiana and the Connecticut will hasten the completion of those two vessels. and it would not be surprising if they underwent their trials early in 1906-perhaps before April l. The Minnesota, which was launched last week. can hardly be turned over to the government much before January. 1907. But when de- Hveries once begin they should follow one another with gratifying frequency. Within the last year four fine armored cruisers of the Colorado class have gone into commission. These and three others which are in various stages of advancement are almost equal to bat tleships in fighting capacity, and will constitute an exceedingly valuable re- source.
 Of the twelve first class battleships now carrying the stars and stripes four were built before the war with Spain and the others since that con fict When the vessels now under construction are added to these the strength of the United States navy will begin to be what it should be- Viewed by itself, this fine array will certainly be impressive. Compared with the navies of the leading Euro pean nations. however, it will not make so favorable a showing, and it is the power of possible enemies which must be kept in mind in all martial preparation. Besides it must be re- membered that four or five years usu- ally elapse between the authorization of new ships by congress and their com pietion by the contractor That is a long time to wait in an emergency.