It must be remembered, however, that six months since we were not in a condition to proceed with the construction of armored vessels, depending on our own resources. We had to go abroad to purchase armor, or set ourselves to the task of establishing works where it could be manufactured. The establishment of these plants was the first thing needful, and until this was done it was impossible to make ourselves independent in this matter. The construction of our first unarmored cruisers introduced into the country the industry of rolling steel ship-plates; the construction of our new ordnance and armored ships has, in turn, introduced the new industries of casting and forging large masses of war material. This subject, so far as it relates to ordnance, was referred to a mixed board of army and navy officers, known as the Gun Foundery Board; this, with the aid and counsel of some of the ablest and leading steel manufacturers in the United States, submitted to Congress a report which presented a solution of the problem, and demonstrated on what terms the steel manufacturers of the country could be induced to work in accord with the government. The Board had under consideration only the subject of founderies and factories for gun construction, but the casting and forging facilities required for guns could be applicable to armor; thus in providing means for the manufacture of one, the other purpose was equally subserved. With material of domestic manufacture at hand, it will be the duty of the government to provide the navy with a fleet of ten armored cruisers of the most approved type. These vessels would form the outer line of defence of the coast during war, and should be of such force as to be able to contend with any second-class armored vessel of other nations. Some of them should be always in commission during times of peace, if only for instruction and practice purposes, and one should be assigned to each squadron abroad to carry the flag of the rear-admiral in command, to assert our position in the society of naval powers, able to give substantial “support to American policy in matters where foreign governments are concerned.”