Smyrna times., 1884-04-09
Our New Steel Cruisers.

1
in the series the largest of the four so
let out by the Navy Department, from
the plans of the Naval Advisory Board
and under the authorization of an Act
of Congress, for the rehabilitation of
the Navy. The Chicago is coal-prO-
tected steam cruiser, built of mild or
composite steel throughout, without
wood sheathing, Of an absolute dis
placement of $500 tons on 90 feet, 6
inches draught of water. The boilers
are fourteen in number of the horizon
tai return-tubular pattern, transmitting
5000 horse power to two independent
compound engines, one for each screw,
developing a sea speed of IA knots on
the measured mile, with a coaling
capacity at this rate of speed for 5000 |
miles or 5000 miles at 10-11 knots per
hour. The area of sail is IA 300 square
feet, distributed OH bark rugged spars.
The usual transverse water-tight COM
partments are supplied in abundance,
and in addition separates each engine
so that i'll case of bilging, or other acci-
dent, the ship can proceed at three
quarters speed under one engine and
one screw. This form of construction
is, if anything, improved on by hori-
zOntal protective deck of two thick
nesscs of I inch steel. This will isolate
the vitals of the ship, the machinery,
from chance plunging shot when in
action, while this form of construction
virtually armors the tops of the boilers;
the resistance relied upon to protect
the sides of the same is to be chiefly
found in the coal placed Oh each side
in the bunkers, for the outside plating
is found to be GIG inches thick, GER
tainly not stout enough to resist shot
from the 100 ton guns of the British
Inpincible or InferibLe monitors at short
range. But they are not cruisers, and
; although this country originated single
and double-turreted monitors and
spent millions of dollars on heavy guns
and thick armor on its war ships dur
: ing the war, it never demonstrated
then, or has been justified by any con
current evidence since then, that they
are the best or most invincible form
for National ships. 1t is true they
have vast powers, but they are like
the inertia of Russia, powerful for de
fense but by reason of their grea
weight unwieldly in attack, and thi
, was shown in the case of the NeW Iron
sides with her terrible broadside bat
teries of II inch guns in the reduction
of the forts in Charleston harbOr durin
the war.
1t must not be supposed that ex
perienced officers like those compOsin
the Naval Advisory Board shoul
recommend, nay order, the despise
coal-bunker, to take the place of til
elaborate and costly iron clad side
with its huge backing of bolts an
IT. timbers. if they were not in pOssessio
tfyy of proofs, that carries with it revolt
IN s1- ton in naval architecture as comple
of and final as the iron clad Merrimt
inaugurated, when she dispersed Il
wooden walls gathered under the gul
of Fortress Monroe and sent the Gu
Ids, berLGnd to the bottom in HamptC
aTs lns Roads in 1862. Whatever else may
me attempted in the construction of the
vessels and that too after the exp
rience this government was forced
A have with fixed armor, the change
~ movable armor and with so humble
material as fuel coal not only is full
interest, but will be watched closely
alH maritime nations with something me
than interest, for if successful it cam
fail to reduce their naval budgets, tv
thirds of their present Requirement
For instance, the United States doul
p" turretted monitors cost completed fC
,blic millions of dollars each. The contr
price of the Chicago for hull, machine
and fittings is $3.50, 900; this leaves
be still furnished, masts, spars, riggi
sails and batteries making the full c
B. in commission probably 1,200,C
There can be no doubt that al
equipping such ships as the MONT
for a single one to cost four millions
elves, III. r., n,roh ,orv ouoh ,youI,
work. dollars that mucn, very mucn, Woul'
;; s. we te and was expected of them when S
to their stations: that so little was
po. complished by them during the
he may all be owing to few torpeC
stretched across their harbors by
confederates. Did not the closing
in the great drama that took p
nted. between the KearsGge and Alabama
orve a Cherbourg. France, attest the super
2-d ity of movable armOr over that of f
armor even against the penetra
power of heavy guns?
III The strategy of Sherman hun'
" miles to the westward of Charlie
did what the costly iron clads c
not do for years because held at ba
few torpedoes. So mortal was
dread the NelV IrOnsides had of
invisible and ever present guns
Z her unwieldly sides were made
: more so by the network of booms
2 tending out many feet and they in
protected by vertical netting rend'
in such garb all offensive moven
impossible. So it was with the I
monitors, so it was with all the
y ships, and negatively, heavy iron
~ ships passed through probation
was not satisfactory to the Govern
or the Nation, and if so it be
economy for such navy to be
Il ur- obsolete. From and at the sta
reason of violation of the laws {
placement practically there was d
in sending them to sea at all, In
of being good sea boats.
nyrna. In the relation that solids