New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-15
TIE DYNAMITE CRUISER VESUVIUS.
COMPETENT NAVY orFIcEn's CRITICISMS

A Competent NAVY OFFICERS CRITICISMS.
philadelphia Nov IA" The most Internal triumph
of American ngenuItyl7 was tho declaration OF tho
Navy Department at Washingto when the contract
was closed to build the dynamite cruiser Vesuvlus.
put Will she prove the tremendous success that
has been asserted with such emphasis b. the Secretary
OF the Navy One of the old Navy officers, who was
one Of the actors in tho notable Monitor herrlmac
eight, who served with distinction In other naval
engagements during the Civil War, and who has made
careful Inspection Of the new vessel, remarked to-
day that he much disappointed with her Design
Ho said The Tribune CORES pendent: mo
attempt whatever to have been made to protect
the vital parts OF this internal triumph In the
slightest. Her boilers and engines are as much
above the water-llne as below and protection ~
given to the boilers except coal, which, OF course
will not be there when most needed TO protect them
from the solid shots vi tho enemy. Both OF her
engines are In one compartment, so that II hoe ID
made in that compartment, a shot goes through
the seam-pi Of one engine It would disable the
motive power completely, In fact a single shot
from revolving OF the size which Is carried
in the tops OF vessels Of modern build, can easily
penetrate the main steam pipe and completely disable
the boat
It is easy enough to make vessel 90 when you
are not hamrcred with the weight Of protective decks
or armor, obliged to keep the machinery below
the water-line but cannot conceive that such
design for boat of this character and for the service
which she Is intended, IS calculated to do more than
to demonstrate whether or not the dynamte-gun
can DO worked from floating platform.
The thing could have been shown
proven by putting one OF the guns on ono
Of our old ships. The vesuvus could not possibly go
into action and fire one OF her guns unless she took
the enemy by surprise. A feet Of such boats would
take the place OF great steel cruisers and steel
batteries The Government has contracted to pay
S35O,OOO for the boat and It IS specified that she
shall have a speed Of twenty knots an hour. But
there IS considerable doubt expressed whether she will
como up to this condition Of the contract"
The Vesuvius is $50 feet long, &c feet breadth OF
beam, IL feet draft, and 5000 horsepower. She
to have boon completed by June 1, but 1t VIII
be three months yet before will be ready for service
She is to carry three dynamite guns, in addition to
the rapd-fire guns put upon all OF the new naval
iruiscrs. Each Of the dynamite guns, OF tho Zalnsh
pattern, is to be Of 10 1-2 inch cabre and capable
Of throwing with accuracy 200 pounds Of dynamite
distance Of milo. The protectile itself is simply
a copper cylinder capped with solid irOG fllet with
nitro-gycerne and tailed with long shaft OF wood to
keep it end on. 1t is to be fired by the force Of
compressed air, and IL may be exploded by concus-
sion against tho object aimed at, by an electric
battery attached to that is envened by the moisture
after the proece has sunk TO any required depth IN
the water. The gun is long steel tube lined with
brass with air chambers IN which air may be stored
pressure OF 1000 pounds to the square inch. The
apd-iire guns will throw 6pOund steel bolts at tbs
rate OF hundred a minute 10 distance OF two miles
with precision The vessel has trple-expansion Ell
gnes ald she will be propelled by twin screws.