UNCLE SAM CLEARS THE WAY FOR A MIGHTY NAVY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 October 1901, Page 4

UNCLE SAM CLEARS THE WAY FOR A MIGHTY NAVY.

A despatch from Washington says the Bethlehem and the Carnegie companies have agreed to increase their capacity for the manufacture of armour plate fay from S 3 to 50 per cent.

Their present output is 250 to 350 tons per month.

The increase will be so large that the last props will be knocked from under those who have opposed the great shipbuilding programme advocated for a mighty navy. Secretary Long has succeeded in getting the important armourplato manufacturers to increase their capacity so that the completion of the ships now under construction will be hurried, and there can be no possible objection to any programme of ship construction which the Secretary may suggest to the next Congress. Daring the last Congress Secretary Long recommended only a few ships. This was because it was known to him and to the members of the naval committees that the work already contracted for would consume about four years, within which period it was scarcely worth while to recommend a great programme of construction. Since the adjournment of Congress the tfavy Department has been at work to remove this difficulty, and the gratifying result was announced by Admiral O’Neill to-day. The door is now wide open for the presentation to Congress of a programme to include many fast balt.es ships and armoured cruisers. It is obvious to nival officials that if the manufacturers can increase their plant on demand by 38 to 50 per cent., they can increase to any capacity asked by the Secretary of the Navy. It is believed that the recent long sessions of the General Naval Board, of which Admiral Dowey is the president, have had a great deal to do with the new arrangement, especially as it is known that Admiral Dewey stands for a greater navy,