The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-03-14
TALKING FIGHT.
Opinions COncarning the Reported
Samoan Engagement.
NO MATCH FOR THE OLGA.
The United States Man-of.War In
feriOr to thai of Germany.
RELICS OF ANTIQUITY f!
A Navy of Is Ancient Vessels to Put
RELICS OF ANTIQUITY
A Navy of IS Ancient Vessels to Put
Against Hundred.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-There ID
still dearth of news from Samoa In
the state and navy departments. In
the state department the fact that they
have not been officially advised OF the
blowing up of the Nipsic is regarded as
sufficient evidence that no such thing
has happened. They have not tele-
graphed the acting consul, for the rea-
son that it is not to be supposed that
he has neglected his duty and failed to
inform his government of an event Of
such Importance. In answer to the
suggestion that the Germans would
control every avenue by which the news
could reach the United States, it is said
that they could not prevent the info +
| nation from reaching England through
some of the English vessels at Samoa,
even supposing that the reported en-
| eagement had been followed up by
| declaration of war, which might have
resulted in cutting off Consul Black
lock from the cable at Auckland.
| Naval officers here without exception
also discredit the story, although they
admit that the Nipsic would be over
matched by the Olga in a sea
fight. They are inclined to accept the
view taken by certain of the English
papers that the publication in the Ger
man newspapers vas thrown out as
feeIer to learn how an attempt to
chastise the Mataafa forces for the
killing of the Germany seamen would
be received in German and America.
The Nipsic has been at Apia four
months relieving the Adams. She was
put in commission Oct. 10, 1887, at New
York aud sailed for the Pacific Janu-
airy Is, 1883, arriving at Apia in No
Vember last. In the naval lists the
Nipslc is described as a second rate veS-
sci of the cruiser type, having a wooden
. hull, bark rugged. She carries six guns,
mostly smooth bore, in her main bat
terry and has displacement of ,S75
tons.
The Trenton and Vandalia, which 1t
is believed have already reached Apia,
, though second rate ships. are larger
than the Nipsic. The Trenton IS q
, guns, of 8, 900 tons displacement.
, The Vandalia is also bark-rigged
wooden cruiser of 2.100 tons, with q
main battery of eight guns, mostly
smooth-bore.
AS far as known the Olga is the most
q formidable of the German vessels at
Apia. She is an unarmOred and IN
protected single-decked cruiser of :, zoe
+ tons displacement, and was built in
:. 1880. Her principal battery consists OF
, eight six-inch Krupp rifles and num-
Der of HotChkiss revolving cannon. 1t
u is thought at the navy department that
she carries about a alf-dOZen Schwart
: kop torpedoes. which are similar to the
5 Whitehead torpedoes in that they
are projected from tubes be
meath the water line. The speed OF
the Olga is somewhat superior to thai
y of the Vandalia. her maximum tria
I; speed having been fourteen. ThC
Germans also have in Samoan waters
, the Adler and the Eber which are moi
y as large or as strong as the Olga, the
!, Adler carrying four and the Eber thret
Krupp rifles The great strength o.
, the German fleet lies in its possession
E of Torpedoes. In the United States
there is not torpedo excep
a few of the variety known as TIT
spar torpedoes'' which are regarded
by naval experts as practically useless
y The German navy consists of abou
y seventy-tive vessels, while twenty-five
@ more are in course of construction
Il These are all vessels of the most for
- midable type, heavily armored, man!
q of them armed plate and carry 81
s perior torpedo out fits,
V About twenty-five ancient and a few
: modern cruisers not ready for service
It represents the American nava
;. strength. They are generally armed
4 with smooth-bores are slow and widely
e distributed over the face of the Globe
Il The monitors are incomplete. In thu
e event of war they must form our chic
e reliance. but it would take MANI
months to put on their turrets anC
e make their guns.