New-York tribune., 1907-12-03
THE VIEW NAVAL PROGRAMME,

The most noticeable feature of Secretary Met
caIe's programme is the number OF battieshps
for which he asks He proposes the cohsLuc
lion of four vessels of that class, whereas nis
Predecessor asked for only two. Although ar
a11ments might be found for increasing the size
of the navy. it will be observed that Mr. Met
calf bases his recommendation on the need OF
replacing vessels which are\old or becoming
obsolete-the consideration which PresluehI
Roosevelt presented last year as the one "h'ch
sbould at present shape the naval policy of
the nation.
The average life of ship designed for fight
ing has been estimated at sixteen years. ana
probably no large vessel authorized at this ses-
sion of Congress could be available before the
latter part of 1911. The actual construction
would take nearly quite three years ana
there is little likelihood Of contracts for
new ships being let within the next eight or
ten months. Now, the Texas has already Deen
retired from service The battleship Indiana
will have reached the age limit in 1911. the
Oregon and the Massachusetts IN l9l2, ana the
armored cruiser New York (which may De
classed with the battleships) in 1909. lr any
of these four vessels should show exceptional
endurance and utility that circumstance might
be offset by some unforeseen failure
Several weeks ago 1t was rumored that plans
had been prepared by the Navy Department
for battleships much larger than any now under
construction for the United States or for any
foreign power. 1t known, however. that
some of Secretary Metcalf's advisers favored
adherence TO the precedent established WIN
the Delaware and the North Dakota. The advan-
tages of homogeneity seem TO have appeaieo
more strongly to the head of the department
than advocacy of something digger than the
biggest" The Delaware is to have a displace-
ment of 10000 tons-a great advance on the
Connecticut. To build only two ships OF
the new class and then push on to dlspiace-
ment of 25OUO tons would have marked a sin
gnlar departure from established practice. The
group OF which the Virginia is the type in
cludes five battleships and there are six in the
Connecticut class Some day II may be ad-
yisahle TO exceed the size of the Delaware, but
lust now il is hard TO find good reason Tor
doing so. Great Britain appears to be sats-
fed with ships displacing only 19,30o tons, anu
while japan may have contemplated going much
beyond that limit. 1t Is credby reported that
she has abandoned that intention.
The four cruisers for which Mr.. Metcalf asks
are not 10 be classed with the Tennessee and the
Washington. which have just passed through
the Strait of Magellan into the Pacific nor
with the splendid vessels composing the squad
ron which Admiral Rrownson took out TO the
Philippines about two years ago The Ches-
ter. their prototype. is n light vessel. built pri-
uariIy for speed. and is designed for scouting
and CARRYING dispatches. Scout cruisers con
stituta new and distinct class of vessels in
the American navy Their great recommenda-
tion is that they much faster than other
ships which might perform the same service
and as they are not designed for offensive
operations. they cost less than vessels carrying
heavy guns and arInor.