Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-28
SOMETHING LIKE A CRUISER.

The Steel Cruiser "Nansiwa," which is
Guaranteed to Make 10 Knots an Hour.
From tie Mem York Sun.
The interesting party Of japanese naval
officers which arrived here from san
Francisco on Saturday is en- route for
England to assist at the completion of one
of the new cruisers now building at Sir
William Armstrong; works at Newcas.
tle-on-Tyne. From Capt. Ito down
through all ranks all are natives of ia
pan with one exception, namely, MIR.
Wigzall, an English engineer, who is
well known in New York, having formerly
served as engineer Of steamers Of the
Guion and White star lines. Mr.. Wigzall
and seven Of the Japanese officers sailed
yesterday in the Nevada for Liverpool.
Capt. Ito also left on a visit to the jana
nese Minister at Washington. Mr.. Wiz
zall went 10 Japan years ago in the ser
Vice OIL tie government as a naval ehgi-
neer, and now holds the Office of Chief of
the Engineering Bureau at the Admiralty
otJapan. He has given such good salts
Iactl0n that the Emperor personally dec
GRATED him with the insignia of the order
OF the Rising sun. The ship when Cant.
Ito and Mr.. Wigzall and their staff are to
take out to Japan is the Nanaiwa the
first OF 4 cruisers Of the Esmeralda TYNE.
that now famous CHILEAN cruiser being 4
production Of the Armstrong works.
4 We Of the japanese ships are being built
Oy the Armstrong COMPANY the other two
being constructed in France. The Mana
iva Is 800 feet long by As feet beam. and a
load draft Of IL feet inches. She is built
entirely OF steel, and is to have twin
screws. turned by engines that are guar
anteed 10 work up TO 1900 indicated horse
power, giving the ship guaranteed speed
OF II knots per hour on a "A hours trial at
sea. As this guarantee exceeds bv two
knots the guaranteed speed of the Esme-
ralda. and that ship has repeatedly ex-
ceeaed her guaranteed speed, the Japanese
officers believe that the Nanalwa and her
consorts may be driven up to 20 knots
should the need Of such great speed arise.
The new cruisers are to be armed with
TWO A-ton krupp breech-loading rifles.
mounted forward and aft, with 4 9-ton
Tlhes on broadside, several machine guns,
and complete torpedo outfit. There
VIII certainly be no mistake about the two
Armstrong ships, and the French builders
will strive to rival them. The Nanalwa
IS 70 be launched IN August, aud is ex-
pected to be completed, armed, and ready
70 start for Japan about Dec. l. In add
ton 10 the four ships contracted for in
Europe, two smaller ships are being con-
stfucted IN Japan TO have 16-knots speed
A. sea. And quite feet Of torpedo boats
are to be built after the Thorneycroft mo-
DEL two Of larger class adapted for sea
service being built by the Thornevcroft
works on the Thames.
MI. Wigzall holds very high opinion
0t the japanese officers and seamen.
Ihey are intelligent, eager and quick to
learn, and never satisfied until they have
mastered the principles and details OF
Their profession. This is particularly no
uceaDle among the engineers and artisans
employed IN the dock Yards, machine
SHOPS, and IN the management of marine
engines. The Japanese party look at the
Oh SHIPS o. our navy as comfortable
yachts, good enough for training ships.
Out Of no value as fighting ships. They
cannot understand how a reputable ship.
builder could turn out such failure as
Tue Dolphin, or why board Of American
otlcers OF experience could have fancied
tnat they we're planning a craft that
would rank with the fast ships OF other
powers when they were content with ask
ing LOT the now moderate speed of fifteen
knots and invented model which does
not 20 even at that modest rate. In
Lhediscussion Of their naval progress the
Japanese officers apparently have China
an view as their probable foe In Eastern
waters, and when the new ships are ready
for action IL Is not unlikely that plucky
Japan may provoke naval contest with
ner sluggish and unwieldly rival in the
East.