were added to
the effective fleet of the navy.

Before 1893 the United States had been behind the other important
nations in the matter of small-arms equipment. The navy was still
using the old-fashioned, large-calibre rifle, employing a charge of
black powder, and effectively carrying only twelve hundred yards.
Under Secretary Herbert's direction, a board of naval officers
investigated the improved small arms in use in foreign navies, and
made recommendations which resulted in the adoption of a small-calibre
magazine rifle, in which is used smokeless powder, and which has an
effective range of a mile and a half. A further advantage of the new
rifle is that it employs cartridges of such a weight that no less than
two hundred rounds can be carried by one man. The cartridges used in
the old rifle were so heavy that one man could not carry more than
fifty rounds.

Secretary Herbert recommended in his report of 1893 that Congress
authorize the construction of at least one new battle-ship and six
torpedo-boats. He said that for the defence of ports the latter are
more effective according to cost than any class of vessels. The
knowledge of their existence alone will make an enemy chary about
approaching within bombarding distance. The value of this boat is
recognized by all naval powers, and they are being built abroad in
great numbers. The next naval appropriation contained a provision
authorizing the construction of three additional torpedo-boats of the
general type of the "Ericsson," which was then ready for trial. The
design for the new boat called for a speed of not less than
twenty-four and one-half knots an hour. The battle-ships "Indiana,"
"Texas," and "Oregon" underwent preliminary trial trips in 1894, and
were accepted by the government in 1895. It is of interest to note
that until these vessels were put in commission, the navy was still in
the condition that existed when President Cleveland, in his first
message to Congress in 1885, made the following statement: "We have
not a single vessel that could keep the seas against a first-class
vessel of any important power." It is true that vessels of size and
power enough to hold their own against the battle-ships of other
nations had been under construction for several years, but the United
States was still without an available man-of-war of the first class
until the "Indiana" and the "Oregon" joined the fleet.

Considerable progress in naval affairs marked the year