San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-22
MODERN WARSHIPS.
UNITED STATES NAVY GRADU-
ALLY TAKING RANK WITH
FOREIGN POWERS.

Secretary of the Navy---Cap-
iuaI News Notes.
| WASHINGTON, d. c., November 81
Chief Constructor Wilson has sub
mitted his annual report to the secre
tary of the navy. He says that planl
and specifications for twenty-five
knot torpedo cruiser are being pre-
pared, and the letting of the CONTRACT
for this vessel and first class torpedo
boat, the bureau will have finished
all the work authorized by recent
legislation. So far as the design is
| concerned the report says:
"With the gradual appearance OF
the new steel navy hag come the
rapid retirement of the wooden fleet.
When the Chicago, Boston, Atlanta
and Dolphin were begun, the service
able wooden steam vessels numbered,
in all, thirty-seven; now there are
eleven steel vessels and one first-class
torpedo boat in commission and only
eighteen wooden vessels. The fol-
lowing named vessels have been sur
veyed, and the cost of repairs ascer-
limit, are recommended to be sold:
Brooklyn, Saugus, Speedwell Rescue,
Ossipee, Juniata and Quinnebaug.
The care of the vessels is constant
source Of expense to this bureau, and
as they are of no service whatever,
the best interests of the government
would be subserved by their immedi-
ate sale.
Wilson says: "In the opinion of
this bureau the ideal commerce des-
troyer has been attained in the de-
sign of cruiser No. II. She has q
sustained speed greater than that OF
the swiftest Atlantic greyhound
united with powerful battery, i'm
mense coal endurance and efficient
protection" Much space is devoted
to description of the three coast
battleships Designed with view of
meeting in battle vessels carrying
the heaviest guns and armor, and
careful study of the vessels of other
Powers, and the conditions defined
by our coast line and our position as
a nation. The armament of these |
vessels will consist of four 15-inch So
caliber breech-lOading rifles; eight s.
inch breech-loading rifles, four 6.inch |
breech- loading rifles, twenty 6-pound |
fire guns, two gattling and six tOrpe- |
do tubes or guns. This represents a |
weight of armament superior to that |
of any of the latest battle ships laid |
down by foreign Powers.
The l3-inch guns are II % feet
above the water and have great arcs
Of train. The 6.inch guns are IA feet |
10 inches above the water, and all |
fire across the central line. The s. |
inch guns are mounted "a Sd feet |
above the water and can fire over the |
tops of l3-inch guns, having a train
Of IA degrees across the middle line.
These guns can pierce at two miles
jhe arc of any of the modern armored
cruisers of great coal endurance,
They can be brought into action early
n the engagement on account Of
heir great height, and can be used
With great effect against the lighter
lrmored and unarmored parts of the
heavier battle ships. The powerful
secondary battery is protected in part
~ shields built in the vessel and in
'art by shields on the mounts. How
Yer. as the function of the vessels is
o destroy the commerce of an enemy,
therefore, her general appearance is
UGH as to enable her to get within
ange before her character is discov-
red. AS a whole this vessel will
epresent the latest idea of a power
nl, economical, protected commerce
destroyer.
The bureau with great satisfaction
70 - |
cen done and is doing in the build
1g up of a navy suited to the needs
the United States. What has
cen done is an earnest of what may .,
Q done. The requirements have ,
cen as severe as those of ally nation .
I the world, and the fact that in
lost cases such requirements have
cen exceeded, and in all cases real
'ed, shows that, class per class, our
essels are second to mono.