United States Naval Expansion

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 20, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 51.

United States Naval Expansion

The United States Naval Board on Construction have adopted a program of naval increase which is numerically greater than any heretofore entered upon by this country. The program is as follows: Three armored cruisers of about 13,500 tons displacement; three protected cruisers of about 8,000 tons displacement; six light-draft gunboats of about 1,000 tons displacement; and six light-draft gunboats of about 800 tons displacement. The three armored cruisers recommended have a greater displacement than the battle-ship Iowa, the largest vessel in the American Navy during the recent war with Spain. The report says, "The board's object is to have a trio of vessels second to none in the world in respect to speed and armament."