The Portland daily press., 1890-08-01
BIG WARSHIpS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
Admiral Walker Talks of His Cruise
In Foreign Waters.
The White Squadron Well Received In
Old World Ports.
Some Naval Novelties which Uncle
Sam Might Copy.

NEW YORK, July 31.-The white sauad-
ron, unweleomed by the boam Of cannon. the
blare OF bands, or the shouts Of natrIots
sailed up the North river, from. ouarantins
Yesterday morning and anchored Just above
West Twenty-hfth street. A few North
river shippers Of steam vessels, who lecoe-
nized the ghostly trio of cruisers as Ui,cIe
Sans evolutionary craft from abroad ht
their whistles roar heightened greeting.
The squadron when 1t left this port on
Nov. IS, 1889, consisted Of four vessels, the
Chicago, Atlanta. Boston and Yorktown.
The Yorktown's machinery was deranged,
snd she was ordered home In May. The
Chicago is the biggest and handsomest, but
not the fastest, Of the three cruisers. She Is
the flagship of the squadron, and ON her
Admiral Walker has his headquarters. The
Admiral says he has seen much more ardu-
GUS service than on the cruise from which
he has Just returned.
I'VE had most harmonious and, think
successful cruise" he said "We have ae.
compllshed what we were expected to ac-
c0mpltsh. We have inspired the nations OF
Europe with the belief that we are not al
together back number as marine power,
ana we nave demonstrated that our
cruisers, although they cacnOt be
compared with many Of the cruisers
abroad, are, for their size, splendid sea boats
and can make pretty good time. cannot
speak too highly Of the hospitable and
friendly, way IN which we were treated by
the English, French and Spanish people,
We were recognized as the representatives
OF rich and powerful country, and every
facility was extended to us to inspect,
the ships Of those nations In
examined all the big and little ships OF
England, France, Spain and Italy, and the
result Of our observations Is the conviction
that tee United States Is good way behind
England and the navy Of France are mag
nifcent, remarked, after looking at the
squadrons of both countries, that i should
like to be a spectator of battle between
TIER ships, | shouldn't be willing to
The ships Of both nations being SO equal,
the contest might eventually become
entirely one Of men, and this would
not necessarily mean that the French
would be vanquished, for the sailors Of their
permanent squadron. as their Mediterranean
fleet Is called, are fine set Of men. This
squadron is cruising and drilling constantly.
The ships are kept In excellent condition, and
the discipline Is admirable. l saw their latest
cruisers, some Of which are not unlike the
Chicago in general appearance; but they are
hour, while our maximum speed Is about six
teen knots. / have no doubt that IL the Chi
cag0 had more p0wer-which she can stand
we would be able to do nearly, II not quite
as well as the Baltimore.
"The European navies are ahead Of us In
many things. They have system OF cleo
trio light squadron signals which makes II
possible for feet to receive, answer, and
obey orders with wonderful qulckness.
ALI the orders at night are made by
three red and three white lights set
perpendicularly. The lights are flashed
by an operator at keyboard placed
out Of the reach Of danger. OF course, three
red and three white lights are susceptible Of
many combinations, and any order may be
conveyed by them. We have on our ships
an arrangement Of three electric lights which
we devised after we got across the ocean,
and which we have found very useful.
81 was much pleased with the italian
heavy battle ships. 1t Is foolish to say they
are too cumbersome to be Of service as tight
ing ships. Great size and tonnage are neces-
sary for battle ships. Congress might as
well ask US TO pull ourselves up by our boot
straps as to make hrst-elass armored battle
ships out Of craft whose tonnage Is limited
TO 6000 AMI draught to II feet. You cannot
get great pO wer 10 a small boat The fast
est passenger steamships are the biggest, be-
cause they must bave room In them for more
power. The Italian government hxsff
mistake In building the Italia, Lepa1to
and DuillO."