RIVAL NAVIES.

West Coast Times, Issue 7555, 23 November 1889, Page 2

RIVAL NAVIES.

It has always been the proud boast of Englishmen that their navy had never been furpassed and seldom equalled by any other sation. No doubt up to the present there is •dme truth in this theory. But recent events show that it is possible for the proud boast to be useless. It has always been a standing cry againßt the Americans that they had no army of any standing and that their navy was nowhere. The Americans have always replied, 'We do not require an army or navy here, save for ornamental purposes. While European ideas ran on war ours run on trade. You may fight just as often as you choose — W9'll find you provisions, and that pays us best." Although this theory has been well kept by the Americans a change has come over their ideas of late. They find that although desiring peace, they must in common with the rest •f the world be prepared for whatever events turn up. Lately they have paid considerable attention to the reconstruction of their navy. They have just launched a new man-of-war, a Swift cruiser, the Baltimore, and if they intend to turn out more vessels of this class England niust look to her laurels. The Baltimore was designed of course by an Englishman, Mr W. H. White, Director of Naval Construction to the British Government. She was built by Cramp Bros., of Philadelphia. Her makers gttarapteed a speed of 19 knots with 9000 horse-power. On her trial trip out to sea in rough weather she steamed 200 miles and maintained an average speed of 18*7 knots. In smooth water she made 14-9 knots for 6 hours «4haU power. Then for 4 hours at full steam ahead 1 she made 20-2 knots. THovr, the recent autumn mancsnvres by the British fleet fhowed that the best vessel we possess could not make over 15 knots in average weather. So the Americans are beating the Mother ©onntry on the point hitherto thought impregnable. The secret perhaps is that to-day there are more genuine articles sent out by America than there are by Great Britain. American manufacturers of all goods have found out that honesty is the beßt policy, and they have evidently applied this to warships, as they have to oanned fruits. The great fault, more especially with Government work in England, is that ifc is dreadfully 'scamped.' The late swords, which bent hie tin, and the bayonets, which doubled up at the least pleasure, are examples of this crime.