New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-30
NOT ALL FOR BIG SHIPS.
Many Naval officers Would Rather
Haze "GrOups" Completed.

Washington. March 2s.-snce the decision OF the
House Committee Naval Affairs TO recommend
an appropriation OF 5000 900 for the construction o.
p battleship larger than any now ahoat, naval ex-
perts in Washington have begun heated discussion
OF the size Of battleships which shows that Ad-
niral Dewey is not supported by many naval officers
in his advocacy of a battleship greater than the
b0s-ton English battleship DreadnOught
Naval constructors agreed that an effective
batueship with a displacement Of 10000 tons OF
more can he constructed for the American navy,
but the ACCESSIBILITY Of authorizing one ship OF this
type at the present time and not making an effort
70 provide additional 1s,COO-ton battleshps TO sup
pement the quota Of smaller ships is questioned by
many naval authorities.
At least four battleships OF the same speed and
with similar batteries and equipment are neces-
sary, according to the view OF these constructors
10 be effective I'm an engagement one great battle
ship, even II swifter and more powerfully armed
than other ships afoat, they contend, could not ac-
compsh anything in actual war. and would be no
more effective than the slower and less formidable
ships with which It 5;oud be Joined in action
When Admiral Caps, the chief constructor OF
the navy. discussed the size of batteships before
the House Committee Naval Affairs. he advo-
Gated the construction of two l6OOO-ton battleshps
like the proposed battleships Michigan and South
Carolina, that the navy would have four erec-
tive ships OF this type to operate together lie as
sured the committee that the navy could prepare
plans for a batteship Of any size, but urged that
effectiveness and not size was what should be
considered first. His advice not seconded BY
Admiral Dewey. who showed decided preference
for one great batueship, rather than two smaller
ones.
II Congress should decide that the new battle
ship must have twelve Pinch guns, has been
suggested. ship with a displacement Of 1900 tons
woull be necessary, I'm the opinion Of Admiral
Capps. and Secretary Bonaparte believes this viii
probably be the size Of the proposed ship. The
British battleship Dreadnought carries ten 12-nch
guns.
The twenty-seven frst-class battIeships Of the
United States Navy Of eight different types and
the variety is so great that few Of the ships are
suitable for joint operations. The ships may be
classed in types follows:
Indiana. Massachusetts and Oregon
Kearearge and Kentucky.
Illinois, Alabama and Wisconsin
:, Virginia Nebraska, Georgia, New Jersey and
louisiana and Connecticut
Vermont Kansas and Minnesota
New Hampshire
South Carolina and Michigan.
This great variety is not satisfactory TO many
naval officers, WHO are anxious that the new con-
| struction should be harmonized in such manner
that more Of the battleships might be used in
/ forming units for action.
In the clamor for the biggest ship in the world
many people seem 70 lose sight OF the that the
iaNaI or1cer said, in discussing the proposed ship
DuT; 81 course TINS Is world Of big things, and
II IS probable that a gigantic ship of the size
proposed by Congress cannot be completed in less
IMAM Tour or I'VE years. 1t viii take almost a year
/ 10 prepare the plans for such ship, and conse-
Quently congress would really not be authorizing
an immediate appropriation in case it decided 10 ap-
prove the action Of the House Committee on Naval
! Affairs. on the other hand, the authorization OF
ships of the South Carolina and Michigan type IL
, pointed out would mean immediate aprOpra-
tou for plans and specifications for that type are
prepared.
Great Britain constructed the DreadnOught in less
. than year from the time IL authorized. Naval
officers Of other countries have intimated that the
I n lot ion hot
other powers might see how soon England could
/ build a navy.