THE NEW AMERICAN NAVY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 461, 9 April 1890, Page 2

THE NEW AMERICAN NAVY.

Thu proposed new American scheme of naval construction involves the building and completion between the present time and the close of the year 1903 of ten battle ships, each 8000 tons, and costing in all £10,000,000 ; eight battle ships, each of 8000 tons, and costing in all £8,000,000 ; twelve battle ships, each of 7000 tons, and costing in all £10,000,000 ; five battle ships, each of 6000 tons, and costing in all £3.600,000; 10 armoured rams, each of 3,500 tons, and costing in all L 3,600,000 ; nine belted cruisers, each of 6250 tons, and costing in all £5,940,000 ; four deck protected cruisers, each of 7400 tons, and costing in all £2,800,000 ; nine deck protected cruisers, each of 5400 tons, and costing in all £5,040,000 ; two deck protected cruisers, each of 4000 tors, and costing in all £820,000 ; five despatch vessels, each of 1,200 tons, and costing in all £500,000 ; three depot ships, each of about 4,500 tons, and costing in all £1,200,000 ; and fifteen torpedo gun-vessels, each of 900 tons, and costing iii all £1,500,000 The total number of ships is 92, the total tonnage 488,450, and thp total estimaied expense of construction L 53,700,000. This means that the vessels are to cost, one with another, alx>qt LIO9 a tpn. Mr Gladstone in a recent speech expressed his opinion the work would probably cost njuch more in America than it wpuhl in IJugland. Examination of the cost of recent British ships of equivalent classes reveals the fact that, taken all round, the outlay has been o.dy at the rate of about L_s9 a ton.