New-York tribune., 1908-12-12
FOUR NEW BATTLESHIPS
THE NAV4L PROGRAMME.
T1centy-niHe Tessels Recommended
The Neuport Conference.

Washington. Dec. n.-secretary Metcsf OF the
Navy Department, in his annual report recon-
mends that Congress authorize at the present ses-
sion the construction Of four batteships' tour
scout cruisers ten destroyers. four submarines,
three golfers one repair ship ammunition
ship. two mine laying ships-these two ships to be
converted from cruisers now on the navy Ist-
The battleshps. he says. should be OF the heavy
single calibre all big gun type and it is deemed
desirable that practicable squadron
of eight batteships Of this type should be COM
I pleted. The North Dakota, the Delaware. the
Florida and the Utah will form the first division
of this squadron and the four proposed vessels
will form the second division All should rave
the tactical Qualties-speed and turning
circles
The number of scout cruisers should be one Tor
each battleshp. II order to bring the number OF
scout cruisers this equality II will be Necessary
TO provide for greater number than four for TIE
coming year: but recognizing economic reasons.
which render it desirable to make bulldlrE pre-
gramme, as nearly as may he. continuous and uni
form, and also because OF the changes N types
which naval progress invariably occasions, it -
/ recommended that only four scout cruisers be au-
thorzed :his year. This number, however, should
be regarded the minimum These scout cruisers
should be Of the same general type as the Sateln
but should Garry oil fuel increase the steamtnE
radius in addition to the same amount Of coal
carried by that vessel.
II is considered that there should ne a ratio OF
four destroyers for each battIeshp this opinion
is in conformity with the practice and policy OF
certain foreign navies. The department therefore
! recommends that at least ten destroyers be au-
thorized each year until the above ratio shall have
been reached. These vessels should be Of the same
general type those contracted for
Passing to recent criticisms Of The new and
larger battIeships now building the Secretary SAYS
that the conference opened by the President at
Newport the general design of these ships vas
! approved, adding:
believe that the benefits derived from this con
ference and discussion OF designs OF yesses oulId
on the subjects Of depth of sl5nergence OF main
armor belt and arInor distribution the views oI s se
iutions:
Resolved. That the lower edge. OF the water
line belt should he placed six feet below the
most probable fighting draft as defined BY this
eTmor belt of the North Dakota, being within a
few inches Of that line, il substantially correct
Resolved 1t IS the opinion Of rhe conference
that change the thickness OF the arnor
OF the North Dakota and the Delaware can b.
Of the srrnor IS in general satisfactory. The
above in no way refers the 5-inch Casenate
armor, which is the subject Of other resolu-
AS regards the design as whole the following
p3s st based ss VqI9 upon 81 ff
teristlcs Of the design OF the North Bsko9a s are
Criticism iS be Of 6 design @ on hS S Norh 8
rffces Of weight and space had to be made in
orr order the to rRd9s Rs b Ee a16 TToguP q Obtain speed Of
Il knots. which should give an offensive ~
to any other warship afoat or known to DC de-
Resolved Passing from the consideration Of
sReeifG minor defects Is tIe % aTd t5s
Iast the design OF ne ne NoIsh @ OaNo'a anu 'i
OF the specific minor defects noted some had
received previous consideration al the time the
design was under preparation, and were not rem
spared and other desirable qualities could not he
M forms @t drsmS 4f thereon %rs sub
mitted such consideration having been given IN IN
original design. As regards the height Of fun 3.
Is a matter about W6Ica me oPinons or eHPeeis Pse
recently completed are now having their tunnels
vsw Of The ys eSasgsys % 99nstde5z4R % sid y6r}R
Dakota and the DeIsware class from the time Of
their original approval, in 1906. as FAR can be de-
termined from definite information at the disposal
Of the ePsrnent feel no hesttsnoy IN eG2ogT Tc+
Dakota and the Delaware class are superior to
ton for any other navy.
THE BATTLEsHIP CRUISE
The Secretary discusses as the most notable
naval event OF the year the voyage Of the battle
! ship feet. which has proved an epoch-making
cruise The facts are Metcalf says that the
/ ships maintained schedule time. and have practi-
/ caUy taken of their repairs this
cruise The repair lists sent in al the naval sta
tOn. Cavtte have just been received. and are sig
nincant. They SHOW that after the voyage the
! needed repairs negligible. The performance Of
the Oregon in 1898 has, he says been substantially
/ repeat ted.
This cruise, Vet hardly half over. he declares,
has given opportunity to get better acquainted
! with the republics the south. with island pos.
sessions. with the and vigorous branch Of the
British Empire in Australia and particularly with
/ Japan, and has given to those countries better
/ opportunity TO get acquainted with Americans II
has been everywhere understood and accepted. as
/ # was intended. as the reaching out of strong
hand in friendly greeting on the part OF America,
and the cordial hospitaties extended n the feet
/ will be long remembered, and have powerfully in
ruenced feeling in this country. Between the
United states and every country visited there IS
a feeling Of deeper interest and friendship than
! existed before the fleet sailed.
Workmanship has improved the practice
cruise With respect to the assertion that American
pinch guns are inferior those Of other powers,
! the facts are found to BE- that the actual mu1zl9
| energy of these Pinch guns. which form the main
armament OF the eight latest battleships IN com
/ mission Is somewhat greater than that OF any gun
aHoar I'm any other navy
As the officer in command ~ the American heet
now In the Far East holds the rank Of rear admiral
only hA s in 2 position of subordinate 10 foreign
naval officers This is because foreign powers
I have on important naval stations. representatives
If the rank Of vice-admTaI The Secretary urges
mat the navy should without delay, have tVo vice
/ adriraIs
The Navy Department being q large business
orga tion Mr. Metcaf says, rearra7Eernent OF
the duties Of any bureau Is exceedingly difficult
and complex and necessarily rests with Congress-
but those who speak Of the millions unnecessarily
znen+ annually by the lack of economical admin
istration do realize that comparatively sula
nercantaga Of the annual budget goes for repair
and maintenance Of the Tnateriei OF the feet The
greater part is expended for the pay and provision
ing of the navy and marine corps. ammunition
fuel and expenditures account Of increase OF
the navy So far as concerns the last named item
the deDartfnent long been exceedingly eco
nomicaI purchaser the contract price for the latest