The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-09

can people to have navy
that may tie de- ended upon in case time
should come when il might be needed. The
following, taken from a recent issue OF the
New York Herald, in reference TO foreign
and our own navy, is OF special interest.
The English naval maneuvers for 1890
having been so Planned that the opposing
fleets kept away from each other, as de-
scrbed in the Herald of September 18th,
comparatively few practical points in naval
warfare we've thereby cleared up. Frcm
study of the French maneuvcrs, however,
several important lessons may be derived.
The French, as well as the English have
demonstrated Il at torpedo-bCats carnot go
to sea with q fleet to attack distant coast,
and to meet torpedo attacks from an enemy
acting on tie defensive special type of
small, swift, sea-going ships has been de-
signed to Go this duty to which the ordinary
tofpedo-boat las been found unequal. These
ships, called torpedO-hOat catcherS, are to
be used ms scouts, and with their batteries
OF light, Tapid-1iring guns and their great
speed, it has been supposed that they
would be Of great value in beating off and
capturing an enemy's torpedo-boaIs The
behavior of these vessels in the recent
French maneuvers caunot be said to have
been satisfactory.
A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
On the contrary as will be seen from the
following list OF accidents given by lie
Yacht, they were generally being tOwed by
the iroDclads, which they were designed to
precede and protect while cruising:
August 6lh-The Dague is forced TO plug
some of her boiler tubes, the BOmbe'S are
also leaky, ana there is defect IN the port
condenser of the Couleuyrine.
August 7lh-Ihe BumUe and the Dague
have to reduce speed, and the Vantour has
to make joint in her servo motor.
August Sth-The Bombe puts out her fires
and is taken in tow by the RedOubtabe.
The Milan has. TO be lowed by the Sfax In
consequence Of defect in her separator
August 9th-The Dague is towed by the
COurbet and the BOmbe by the SfiX.
August 10th-Through carelessness guide
on the Sfax gets hot. She can only proceed
so slowly that the Admiral orders the COur-
bet to take her in tow next day. The
Couleuvrine has to plug tubes, and next
morning puts her fires out.
August 12th-The Milan's boilers leak so
dIy that she can barely keep station. The
Courbet takes her in tow next day.
August 14th-1he Dragon has so much
water III her hold that she has to keep close
in shore, fearing that her fires viii be extin-
August 15th-The squadron arrived at
TOulon.
THE ARNoRED SHIPS ESCAPE.
No accident happ 4nt d to the ironclads all
this time the report continues. but it
must be remembered that they We're steam
lug at slow speed. 1t is intended to fit new
boilers TO the torpedo catcherS and tits to be
hoped that they will be solid, strong and
easy to m mage.
Speaking of the behavior of the torpedo
cacherS, La Yacht says: The last two
months maneuyerS have clearly shown US
what our avisos-torpileurs are worth as far
as sea endurance goes. We have got the
straight truth on that point. And it is really
humiliating to think that the speed scarcely
ever exceeded eight knots while these YES
sells are supposed TO be capable Of extreme
speed.
1t is also added that all the supposed
speedy cruSers-the Tage, the Cecile and
Slsx, with the third class cruisers of the
FoIb class. as soon as ready should be
modified as a squadron of evolution in the
Mediterranean, so that they may be sub
mitted 10 crucial tests, their value deter
mined and the service they are fit to be enl-
PLAYED upon settled once for all.
Designs, however carefully drawn, plans
on paper, however perfect, and trial trips,
however successful, do not always deter
mine the truth regarding the value OF type
OF ship nor the speed that 1t can be depended
upon to make under conditions of actual
service-such is the verdict Of foreign naval
maDeuvers.
SEARCH LIGHTS CONFUSE THE FLEET.
Another interesting fact developed by the
French is referred TO by the English Army
and Navy Gazette as follows: One point OF
Interest, at any rate, received some enlght-
eminent from the recent French maneuvres
When the ships were anchored in QuiberOn
Bay an attack of torpedo-boats was planned
and every preparation was made to receive
them. The Bullivaut nets were in position,
the operation OF placing them having taken
long time; the search lights were in use
and patrols we're being made around the
ships: The task ofithe torpedo craft was diff
cult, but it is stated that if it had been de-
sired to render 1t easier that could not have
been done better than by the search lights
OF the vessels which Illuminated the fog
within considerable zone and rendered the
squadron TO BE- attacked quite conspcuO US.
The Datroling and dispatch boats could keep
no effective look out, for they were blinded
by the light of their own projectors, which,
being reflected from the fog, rendered OBJ
servation and good aim impossible. Toward
tile end of the operation so great did this
difficulty become that for space of five
minutes or more agunbOat continued to shell
dispatch vessel, which it miStoOk for one
OF the attacking torpedo division.
HOW THE LIGHT CAN BE USED.
This is not the first time that some of the
supposed uses of the search light have been
called in question. There seem to be more
objections to its use when ships are acting
together in squadron than when they are
acting slngly. The crossing of the beams
from different ships has a bewildering
effect, the darkness at points not Illuminated
Is rendered more intense and the eye never
becomes accustomed to it. For the defense
OF a squadron at anchor it is better to send
a few search lights ashore to be mounted at
convenient places on opposite sides of the
entrance to the harbOr, for instance, leading
wires to them from dynamoS on board ship.
The light may then be concentrated in the
direction from which the attack must come,
leaving the ships in the darkness with their
gunners unblinded. This method will be
practicable at times and it has already been
tried with excellent results. The effect of
4 IN lind ..Y.d IoNn H.
without betTaying the exact position of the
fleet or aiding the attack in any way.
One very important matter developed by
the French maneuvers is referred to as fol-
lows by French journal: 1T appears that
one single coalipg of the squadron exhausted
the entire supply of coal AT the port of
Brest. This was indeed an extraordinary
thing to take place at the French ocean
port, which IS the sole secure base Of the
northern squadroDs, and we imagine it will
not be allowed to occur again. Are we
awaiting the declaration of war before we
provide sufficient supply! But at such
time the railways would be embarrassed
with the materel of the army the mines
themselves would have but a precarious out
pnt and be internationally worked. and coal,
we may be assured, could reach Brest only
by sea, and who can answer that the coast
routes Will then be ours?"
WHAT OUR SERVICE is NOT DOING.
While foreign navies are engaged in prac-
teal work of this kind, making some use of
their fleets, keeping the minds of men and
officers bent upon the solution of war prob
lens and teaching them to use their weapons
under conditions somewhat resembling those
of war, what is being done with the United
States Navy? Little or nothing of a truly
practical nature. Naval maneuvers may be
planned or proposed, but tney are seldom
carried out. Other uses are found for our
ships and squadrons. If Portland or Balti-
more or any other town wants squadron to
add to the attractions Of some celebration it
is only necessary to bring sufficient politi-
cal pull, show that few votes are in it and
the ships will get their orders. The sailors
are paraded on shore. ladies' and children