Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-29
NEPTUNE'S DOGS OF WAR.
ADMIRAL PORTERS VIEWS ON
NAVAL DECENTRALIZATION

koach's New Cruisers Worthless Except
TO Put Against Tubs-DOubie Tur-
reted Monitors Needed for Coast De-
Tense, and Cruisers Able to Cover
Twenty Miles an Hour for Sea Service
The Ericsson Torpedo Praised.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.--Admiral Da-
vid d. Porter has submitted to the Secre-
tary of the Navy report embodying sug-
gestions for promoting the efficiency of
the navy. He says that in rehabilitating
the navy there is no subject worthy of
more consideration than that of home de-
fense. He considers 1t of vastly more
interest at the present moment that the
construction of cruisers and the ironclads
now laid up at City Point are 80 well
adapted to the protection of our coast
that it seemed pity they should be left
in the condition they are in to-day.
ROACH's TUBS.
Touching the cruisers Chicago, Atlanta
and Boston, and the dispatch boat Dol
phin, he says: $50 far tho new vessels
have given no evidence of great speed,
and 1t Is feared by those most interested
In the matter that they never will, which
deficiency will render them useless as
commerce destroyers, although they may
serve the purpose of guarding our inter
ests among smaller powers which have
no naval force.
"For the past twenty years we have
contented ourselves with watching the ma
tions Of Europe build ships, sending off,
GERS abroad to examine the Improvement ts
which have been made in construction
and ordnance. We have obtained draw
ings Of almost every important vessel
built in Europe, but In spite of our great
experience, acquired with 80 little ex-
pense. we commit more mistakes than
were committed by any European States"
THE ADMIRAL's RECOMMENDATIONS.
Admiral Porter recommends the build
ing Of double turreted monitors for coast
defense, and of vessels of very high speed
Tor cruisers. He speaks of the slow
development in the art OF engine building
In our naval vessels, and refers to the
Stilleto as an example Of the speed that
may be attained under the system
to which engineers, both in and out of
the navy, seem opposed without good
reason. He says that he has no doubt
of the ability of Messrs. Herreschoff. the
builders of that vessel, TO supply boilers
and engines capable of forcing vessel
ahead at speed far greater than that
now commonly attained.
hhhhhCChOff . TRIUMPH
Mr.. Herreschoif can obtain twenty
seven miles an hour in a vessel of only
twenty-eight tons and there is no reason
why vessel OF 1900 tons could not be
made to perform just as well. The
Admiral remarks that it is proposed to
construct q thirteen-knot gunboat carry
ing four guns. This vessel, he says, could
not overtake anything, and a powerful
Chinese gunboat would be more than a
match for her. He thinks our first-class
vessels of war should have possible
speed of eighteen TO nineteen and q half
miles an hour.
Turning his attention to the subject of
torpedo boats, Admiral Porter saws that
he has seen enough torpedoes to know
that 200 or 300 pounds Of gun cotton ex-
ploded under ship, no matter what her
size, is bound to sink her or place her
hors de combat.
YANKEE INGENUITY.
Yankee ingenuity, If stimulated by the
prospect Of sufficient reward. would no
doubt soon give us a superior torpedo. He
commends the Ericsson torpedo and says /:
Nv hat we require to fire such torpedoes
is the fastest vessel in the world; some-
thing that torpedo destrOyers cannot over
take. For this purpose should be built
twenty steel vessels on the Ericsson plan,
$50 feet long, with quadruple expansion
engines. These vessels could attain a
speed OF thirty miles an hour and would
fill the perfection of torpedo boats. 1t
would only be necessary to devise a
means to protect their boilers and crews
against shot from machine guns"