New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-26
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

Sir Thomas symonds. admiral Of the feet has sent
long and important letter the Prime Minister on
the shortcomings Of the British Navy lie declares II
10 be- weak In comparison in contrast with what 1t
was from 1893 to 1915. Notwithstanding that since
the last great two gigantic extra duties nave
fallen on it, lie then says: In the great var we
had FOG battrcshps Europc's 1s0 Of which France
had only sixty. Now look forward In hopes that
some day our navy VII be superior 10 me combined
fleets of any two powers. To be equal 10 the Two
strongest naval powers presuppOscs being at war WIN
them. Eat how light nearly equal force success
fnv and besides protect tlf Empire. coal steam
er, feed our people aud manufactures. and protect
such enormous Interests aS have OF the seas! Inc
idea IS prcposter0us and Impossible"
Admiral symonds's arguments are telling and CO
GENT but the English people do not seem u be IN the
hlmor 20 agree the spending Of such sum OF money
as would he required place the Navy on footing
that would be considered satisfactory TO the admiral
and those who thinh with him. The admiral also
finds great fault with the designs Of the new cruisers
and there are many Others excepting the oes'gherD'
who agree with him. Their manifest defects speaking
loo broad. The cruisers have been shortened ana
broadcned TO oounerac the evil effects Of overweight
s g dcIsT cayy armament' And ore Of these is
the Camperdown whose heavy guns at target PraSScc
recently. mis ed fire five times. what would nave ;
been the result If such thing should occur III ume
of war;
Recent advices from China tend 30 a more sails
factory explanation Of captain william y. lahgs
resignation Of bis place I'm the Chinese Navy mp
tain Lang belongs 10 tile British Navy but had leave
of absence taht ch might accept The once OF co
admiral Of Ii HungChang's Navy, and the Chinese
Navy really owes is present importance and efficiency
to CAPTAIN Lang Packed up by the Celes'al Ad'
mral Ting the native officers. plfcd mp with prdc az
their own knowledge set their IDEAS Of discipline and
management OF the fleet IN direct opposition to those
OF Captain Lang. and began series OF ntrigues tat
LEFT him no chance but 10 resign. To the surprise 0,
81 IN
oi,cr ~ ESr"peans in the Chinese Navy will follow
Captain Long into retirement, In when case
IL Is predicted 10y the English officers the ChheSe
Navy VIII rapidly 60 70 pieces. on me o'her nanu,
"a ofcr American officers the plaes made VACANT
So there IS no small loss without some great gain
The recent accidents to the machinery Of the heavy
guns Of some OF the British iron-cladS. occurring
on the very first discharge OF the guns at targei
practice and resulting In the disabling OF half the
lighting power Of the ships for several hours, mas
strengthened the arguments Of those who are crying
out against tho use Of machinery on board ship for
working guns one objection to the hydraulic mount
ing Of guns is TO be found in the fact that In the
heaviest armorcd battlcshps there are two sets OF
hydraulic pmpnG enEnG, o. d. @oC CD % pSt rob tbo
boilers might I'm Itself prove very N'l danger ~
action when every pound OF steam might be needed
IN AVOID MI cncmvs RAM Yet thcre are also a large
number of other auxiliary engine for hydraulic pump,
INK The total number OF engines required OF one
% their blttlcslipS l. seVentN-SN
The Italian ironclad Italia IS characterized as "a
very cock awhoopr because Of her splendid success.
The recent gun trials OF the Pemontc of Speza were
also so successful that the Italian Government Is con
graduating Itself that IL is the only one possessing
as many as forty quickfrlng guns Of large calibic
at distance OF 1000 yards AGAINST target twenty,
eight feet :ga9re when Tai s Soyoy ihaf Sc
firing had been continued four minutes more halt tue
ho extreme heat generated by the friction Of the pro
jcctcs In the rnlne
The Ccntaur Is hrSt-cnss cruiser That Is
being built at the Portsmouth, England dockyard She
is Of Z 700 tons displacement and Is to have engines
of IL 900 horse power. Tbs Admiralty had been an
orized 10 have two ships OF this class built one by
the Government and the other by private contract,
the object being TO determine whether the Government
could build it, vessels cheap as Ii could have
them built by private firms. The private contractor
recently visited the Centaur and found that te paeS
their edges rough instead OF being planed mus making
considerable difference In the expense OF laying ao"i;
Not only wnS this contrary TO SpeClncauols, Dut J,
wonld enable the Government 10 build the vessel
Tf yate ra say nothing q the dsoomo to
who would have 70 sleep under saI dsek or hsa ,e
weather ont Of sight of land. But the Admiralty has
since issued pcrcmptory order that In the fu'ue
the edges OF all plates must be planeh
The critics of the recent French naval manoeuvres
had much to say derogaory OF the condition of the
sbns and were very bitter about the worthlcssness
OF the experience gained and the number OF accidents
that occurred That there Is great deal OF political
feeling IN France which finds It's way even into dis
cnssons on naval matters is shown by the following
extract from letter written By French Navy officer:
" BE very careful how You pay attention TO inc a0so
htey false statements Of certain French newspapers
as regards naval matters. These organs are entirely
snbservient to certain politicians who arc aiming at
Office and 10 this end try 10 make capital out CT the
smallest accidents. They know that our nation Is
as gIl,ible as 1t Is prone TO faulthndng, and their
endcavor Is TO excite It,. They are foolish enough
not 10 see that they preparing rod for their
racks il they ever attain 10 this power they covet
much"