Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-16

Admiralty that copy hal got
into hands which would not have
hestated, If neediul, to use it in thu
House OF Commons Now complaint Is
made that the whole has not been issued.
am unable to share the dissatisfaction.
There must be discretion shown. and the
report is full enough to pave the way Tor
thorough comprehension by the people
OF the issues at stake and the remedies
proposed not by competent authorities
only but by all authorities whatsoever.
The lesson Of the manGuvre was that
with her present fleet England could not
make sure OF beating one naval power,
and would be sure 10 be beaten by two to-
gether-by almost any two. This basnow
been acknowledged on all hands. let,
though both political parties have been
over a score of years spending from
eli 900, 600 to 4l3, 900, eco peranuum on
the navy, there IS not single voice raised
in this country for the impeachment OF
those who, having had these vast sums
at their almost unchecked disposal, have
allowed them to be squandercd, or
worse. frittered away. Pot IS aB black
as kettle, aud so IN our party system
there is no room tor the public prose-
cutor TO intervene and punish tie cul-
pitts who have played ducks and brakes
with the national resources, and even ex-
posed the empire to peril Tor years upon
years
The three experienced referee admi-
rails. over aud above the conclusion
which the Times published last autumn,
say respecting torpedo-boats, still
vexed question in the profession in spite
of the money spent upon them by near
" eli nations but your own, that they
consider "the new typ, Of videtto
boat preferable to any other sort "ior
sea-going bettle-ships; they are better
sea boats, and, being butt OF wood.
are les liable to damage and
more easily repoirel than tor
pedo-boats.' Think of that Go
inc back to wood : IT is further
said that the use OF torpedo-hoats as an
inner line OF blockade 10 undesirable, as
they are calculated to cause much contu-
sion and embarrassment "to their
frieuda." Then they should not be used
as dispatch-boai5, but kept for their
proper use. As regards torpedo-ne's
the admirals voice the whole feeling OF
the navy that az now fitted at any rate
they cannot be carried by vessels under
way without impalring their ehlciency
and compromising their safety. Can 1t
he that. as the late Admiral hobart
Pasha was inclined TO think, we shall go
back to rope grummets for defence
against automobile torpedoes
The admirals mention but do not
dwell upon the fact that it took us Of the
b squadron five days to coal the fleet IN
Lough Seyilly after the blockade had
been broken. What with the proper
system of coaling, or even such a
makeshift as they have at Port
Said, might not have been done
in these five days in time OF
war? | have lost no opportunity
OF calling attention to the crying
need on both sides OF the Atlantic OF
reserve OF trained stokers, and, let me
say. it gave me deep qualification to find
that my last reference to the subject APP
peared in the same number as an appeal
from your Admiral Porter on the sub
ject. The reports from our captalns
show that it is universal complaint
that more stokers are required, that the
proportion of second-cass stokers is too
high. and that the eDgine-room couple
ment is insufficient both in quantity and
quality
But the case of tine protected cruiser
Warspite is cited as the strongest The
night We broke the blockade off Tough
Seviily she had to take thirty-slx deck
hands to assist in the stokehOle at q
time. as the Admirals remark, "Whenin
real war every man would be required.
at his station for battle The
first Sea Lord at the Admiralty has
some remarks on the questions at issue
which il would be cruelty to an old man
to notice further than to say that his re-
signation seems TO be called for, espe-
cially when he declares that we can sue
cessiully fight any one maritime nation.
And is It to this that our boosted supre-
macy Of the seas has come
The Arson. one of our newest and
biggest ships OF the Admiral class,
has, after waiting a twelyemOnth and
more. got her four big guns on board
this week; but 1t will be months before
they are fitted, and when they are,
where is the guarantee that they will rot
burst as the Colhngwoods guns did, or
have their "liners" give way as the
Rodney's guns had? | learn, by the
way, that there are not enough stokers
now at Portsmouth to clean and move
the engines in the reserve ships.
A very large SUN, it is reported in the
service-clubs, will be added to the army
expenditure for the next three years over
and above the cost of rearmlng the
troops With the new rifle. The bill en-
bodying the volunteers when the militia
is modified, which was objected to last
year by some of the officers OF the force
and withdrawn, is TO be again introduced,
as the military authorities are convinced
they cannot with their present powers
form any efficient scheme of organiza-
ton for home-defence. If over 2OO,-
600 OF the troops available for
home fighting are to be at liberty to take
their names off when danger becomes
Imminent. we had better DO without them
and "face the music of finding troops
tina. can be depended upon. The militia
want transport and they need to be
taught shooting. Moreover, they are
30, coo under their proper strength, and
money will be needed TO bring them up
to it. Altogether the neglect OF past
administrations seems likely TO saddle us
with "a, 000, coo TO $4,000, GOO year ex-
ira for some years to come, and nobody
cares as the money is not needed in the
present outlook in European affairs.
Major Savage, instructor in field forti-
fcation, delivered useful lecture at Al
dershot on Ihursday-that excellent Off
Ger, Major General Harrison. presiding.
He pointed out that the intrenching tool
is as necessary nowadays rs the rifle, on
account Of tho intensity Of fire, and We