The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-10

invoice of ammunition has been sent her
from San Francisco, and the Monongahela
which sailed last week, carried an addi-
tional supply for the Nipsic, as well as for
| the Vandalia and Trent. None of the main
battery of the Nipsic are what may be
termed new guns. The S-inch, m uzzle
loading rife is the most effective gun on
! board, although some naval officers think
the converted breech-loader mounted on
| the forecastle is the most serviceable, and
liable to produce more damage on hostile
ship.
sIcARD'5 OPINION.
Commodore Sicard, chief of the bureau of
ordination, was seen to-day, and his opin-
ION asked as to the possibility of sinking the
Nipsic by torpedo
1 read the statement in to-day's dis
patches, and that was the first news had
ON the subject. They have heard nothing
III the secretary's Office regarding 1t, and l
nope the report may prove to be unfonnded
SHOULD HAVE KEPT AWAY.
II don't know whether the Olga is
equipped with torpedo tubes or not" the
commodore continued, ''but the officers of
the Nipsic out to be well informed on that
point. If they did know that she had such
implements of war on board, it was the
duty of the commanding officer of the
NIpSlc 10 keep away from leT.
The working range Of these torpedOes,
to be fired with accuracy, is about 400
yards. The German navy uses the
Schwartz -Krupp torpedo, which is made in
Germany and nowhere else. 1t contains
about ninety-three pounds Of gun cotton,
equal in force to 300 pounds Of gunpOwder.
They are launched from the side of the
ship, and after being properly aimed and
shot into the water they travel at the rate
tYVpnfN-tiUn lypntC bD11I. If the
Nipsic was within a shot distance of the
Olga it would have been impossible for her
to get out of the way.
The better plan under such circum-
stances would be to keep her distance, aud
such a distance, in my opinion, would be at
least 800 yards. Perhaps the Nipsic was at
anchor and could not get out Of the way"
THE PUMP APPLIED.
Are naval battles ever fought while at
anchor | asked
Not as a general rule, but such battles
did occur frequently during the war. The
usual plan to have steam UP, slip the cable
and move round in circle in order TO get
the best possible position. and considerable
skillful manOeuyering is always done.
1T may be that the Nipsic was in such Il
position that it was impossible for her to |
get out of the torpedo range, presuming |
that the reported engagement actually took
place. II such was the case it would fare
very badly with her. The Nipsic has a
torpedo boom Of the old type which OF
course is not as effective as the improved |
torpedo tubes now placed aboard all modern
ships.
OUGHT TO BE THERE.
The Trenton and Vandalia must be there |
by this time, and if anything should have
happened to the Nipsic yon may rest as !
sured that they viii be heard from.
ABEAvE MAN.
Admiral Kimberly, the commander of |
the Trenton, is a courageous officer and was |
with farragut as his flag lieutenant all |
through the war. He will stand no non |
sense and if there is any trouble will give |
an excellent account of himself. He has 4 |
brave set Of officers with him on the two |
ships
The armament of the German corvettes |
is Of more recent date than our ships, and !
while our guns are of larger calibre their |
velocity is not so great as the krupp guns |
aboard the Olga, Adler and Elba.
AS l have often said in conversation, it !
wont do for us to fight these Germans at |
long range. for if we do their superior
lOng-range guns will have US at a disad-
vantage.
SHOULD HAVE HAD THE NEWS.
Commodore Harmony, the assistant sec
rotary of the navy department, is disposed |
to doubt the correctness of the reported |
sinking of the Nipsic, Notwithstanding the |
prevalent belief among his associates that |
the rumor has a substantial base Of fact. !
Commodore Harmony believes that if an
engagement really did take place the news
could not be kept secret.
Yes, the Germans have very superior
navy, of modern construction and equip
ment.
You, ask me what would be the result |
if war should occur between the two
nations. We could only harrass the German
merchant marine with such vessels as we
have Germany has no colonies. She is not |
in vulnerable position in any way you |
attack her.
WOULD DO HER DUTY.
"If the Olga did lombard the town and
iniure American property and citizens, the |
commander of the Nipsic would protest first,
and then failing to secure protection to our
interests would open fire.
"a naval officer has all the discretion any
one has. He can made war without orders, il
in his judgment the circumstances demand
it.
AN EXCELLENT REASON.
1--WE could not buy ships of war, because
law prohibits neutral nations
from aiding or abetting either of the com
batants, because there are no ships to be
bought, for there are none for sale.
you know Germany, Austria and Italy
have an alliance to keep up 4 certain force
and equipments on both land and sea. Of
course, l do not think there is any truth in