Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-11
TALK IN WASHINGTON.
Rolstive Strength OF the Fleets in samoan

Waters
WASHINGTON, March 9-In the State
Department the fact that they have not
been officially advised OF the blowing up of
the Nipsie is regarded as sufficient evil
derce that no such thing has happened
They have not telegraphed the Acting
Consul, for the reason that it is not to be
supposed thst he has negl cted his duty
and failed 20 inform his Government of an
event of such Importance.
In answer TO ths suggestion that the
/ Germans would control every avenue by
which the news conld reach the United
| States it is said that they could not pre-
vent the information from reachrn Eng
| land through some Of the English vessels
at Samoa, even suppOsing that the report
| ed engagement had bsen followed by
declaration of war; which might have re-
suited in cutting off Consul Blackjack
| from the cable at Auckland.
Naval officers here without exception
also discredil the story, although they add
mix that the Nipsic would have been over
matched by the Olga ina sea fight. They
are rather inclined to accept the view
taken by certsin English papers. that the
publication IN the German newspaper was
thrown out as a feeler, TO learn how an at
Tempt to chsstise the Mataafs forces for
the killing of the German seamen would
be received in Germany and America.
The Nipsic has been at Apis tOur months
relieving the Adams. She was put in COM
mission October 10, 1857, at New York,
and sailed from that port for the Pacific
January Is, 1883. She finally sailed from
CallaO for Samoa September %, 1855, AZ
irving at Apia November 9TH. In the ma
val register the Nipsjc is described as a sec
ond rate vessel of the cruiser type. having
a wooden hull, bark rugged. She carries
six Guns mostly smOothbOre) Ia her main
battery and has displacement OF 1870
tons. The Trenton and Vandalia, which
it ia believed, have already reached Apia,
though second-rate ships, are larger than
the Niplc The Trenton is ship rugged
wooden cruiser of ten guns, Of 800 tons
dis lscement. The Ysndalia is also bark
rieeed wooden cruiser Of 2,1C0 tons, with
main battery of eight guns, mostly
smOothbore,
So far "a known the Olga is the most
formidable of the German vessels at Apia.
Sheisan unarmored and unprotected single
decked cruiser Of >, 200 tons displacement,
and was built in 1880 Her principal bat
tery consists of eight six-inch Krupp rifles
and number of HOtchkiss revolving can
non. II is thought st the Navy Depart
ment that she carries about q half dozen
Swarizkoff torpedoes, which are similar to
The Whitehead torpedoes in that they are
oroiected from tubes beneath the water
line. TIE speed of the Olga is somewhat
superior to that Of the Yandalia, her max
mum trial speed having been fourteen
krots.
The Germans also have in Samoan wat
e-s the Adler and the Eoer, which are no.
as large or ss strong a. the Olga, the Adler
carving four and the Eber three htupp
rifles. TIE great strength Of the German
fleet lies in its possession OF torpedoes. In
the United States navy there is not a toTpe-
do. except a few of the variety known as
"snsr to1psdoes," which are regarded by
naval experts as practically useless. The
German navy consists Of about
seventy.6ve vessels, while twenty
fva more ore in course
Of construction. These are all vessels OF
the most formidable type, heavily armed,
many of them armor-plated and carrying
Superior torpedo outfits. About twenty
five ancient vessels and few modern
cruisers, not ready for service, lepresent
Inc American naval strength. They are
generally armed with smOOth-bores, are
Slow and widely distributed over the face
~ the Globe. The monitors are incom-
,1oio Ia the event OF war they must form
orr chief reliance, but it would take many
months to put on their turre's ana make
their guns.