New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
,,rv AND AFFAIRS AT TIE NATIONAL
CAPITAL.


RIPPER MAY BE \ JIL1-ME'
kAsSoN IN WASHINGTON.
vosbinoton. Dec. es-Admirsl Jouett says ne
docs not believe in the enormous war smps Oh w.
Gao tons which the Government is now planning
O. bnild He SAYS that these monsters draw so
much water that they cannot safely run ohIS III
,bo high t,as or exceptional ports, ana that there
tore their usefulness is greatly restricted III mas
,,., orcued that the vessels we have already
built would not stand against the heavy arhore"
;sore ~ Furopcan naves and that therefore 10
orscct our Navy from the standpoint OF defence
We should have cruisers equal in class. Inc Ad-
,,r,l saws that from the standpoint oil dcchce Ilc
vessels would not be rs useful rs monitors OF tc
Puritan class This YES e was bu IL y JONI hs'0h'
IIer magnificent qualities, the Admlfal says are
oot thoroughly appreciated by the pnhlc' AS she
* m present armed She has greater capacity ior
destruction than any vcs>e! aicat. The Admir-
Give, il as his judgment That she could destroy IN
.hi,,v minute, any vessel OF the most powerful
clo>s More than this. the Puritan is herself al
wosn invnlncrahlc 10 attack. In the possible
naval warfare of the present day it Is hardly prob
ablc that vessels would come nearer together
than a mile The Puritan at a miles distance
nrescnts 10 more of a mark for the guns of an
cncmy's ship than would the eyeball of a soldier
at the distance OF hundred yards make tar
oct for rife The Puritan could keep at this
distance and with her effective equipmcp, destroy
in short time any vessel ahoat. More vessels
of this class should be built, the Admiral thinks.
With twenty of them the coast would he amply
protected aysinst any effort upon the part of the
strongest maritime Powers | asked the Admiral
il the monitors of the Puritan class were sea
going vessels s'anch enough 10 cross the Atlantic.
lie said they were the most comfortable and
safest vessels made They were so low in the water
that they offered but the slightest resistance 10 the
winds and waves of a storm. The water simply
washes over them. This had been demonstrated in
tie trial trip Of the Nouadnocl which was taken
by Captain Buncc around Cape Horn to San
Francisco This vessel made Roadway against the
scveTest storm and surpassed in point of speed
in the gale the larger and more powerful convoy
which accompanied her Besides this, the moni-
tors comfortable al sea. They never roll and
the ventilation is excellent through the air pumps
and ventilation chimneys in tie tulrcts. Their,
has been a prejudice against Thea in the Navy,
but this prejudice is chiefly coniued To people
who have never seen service in them.
The Admiral is enthusiastic admrer of the
Naval School at Annapolis He says there is no
school to-day in the world which is its superior
il turns out young officers thoroughly well cquppe
in all branches of modern scientific naval con
struction and warfare. The proof of this is in
the repeated prizes taken at Woolwch by the
Young graduates from this academy, who, when
they are sent abroad for special study, come in
contact and competition with men of ripenod
powers and years of experience. When the cA-
pertinent was first made of sending these young stu
dents to Woolwich they were most politely received
by the commandant. but he commiserated them
on account of their youth. The love of English
fair-play made him speak kindly words to the
young lads who, he thought. were entered in a
race too severe for them. on account of the rank
and experience Of the officers sent to WOOlwich
as special students. Yet the first two graduates
Of the Naval Academy who were sent To WoOlwich
took during their stay the first and second prizes
at this splendid school and were as heartily con-
pinented by the English cOmmandant as if they
had been his own countrymcn. This Annapolis,
school is a most practical one. Many students are
availing themselves OF its advantages who have
10 intention of remaining in the Navy after
passing the academy. The standard Of the service
has become 50 high that but small percentage
of the students educated in the academy over
reach the point Of becoming officers. Yet
the benefit conferred is so great that
many of the students who have failed 10
reach the high standard established al tie school
have vet been able 20 find most profitable employ
ment afterward in private life. These students
are found in The employment of the electric light
companies, in the private shpyardS. in the rail
road and mercantile steamship lines \ recent
graduate Of the Naval Academy taken not
long ago into the employment Of the Cramps at
Il salary Of 81 900 year.
An English gentleman SAYS there are many
divisions in the Salvation Army in England that
l., cd no al inn
Of Commissioner Smith is the beginning Of
general breakup. lie says that there is a large
class in England passionaely devoted to phi
lanthropy. In Manchester ne had friend who
was exceedingly rich. This gentleman had an
income of over 100000 Il wear. lie was
graduate Of XfOTd, and student for long time
in one Of the great German universities. lie had
every advantage that social position. wealth and
education could give one In a country where they
are most highly appreciated. Yet hc with all SIN
ceriiv felt that he could best accomplish the
work that he had in life by sinking his In
dividuality and cnlisting a member in the
Salvation Army. That such an act is possible is Il
fair illustration Of the advance that this organ
ization has made in England. This new recruit
was followed by his wife, a gentle refined woman
accustomed only 10 a quiet life OF privacy ana
,borouchly unaccustomed 10 the tumult and up
roar of the new career adopted by her husband.
Yet She followed him without hesitation. and the
two for a wear were the talk Of all Manchester on
account of the sacrifices the gentleman had made
in the name Of humanity. He was wise enough,
however. 10 retain control Of his fortune and only
rave from his income 10 the society Ny English
friend tells me that this gentleman has become
convinced that while the Salvation Army may
have its uses in reaching out 10 the poor and OBJ
scure in the lowest walks of life. vet better means
are 10 he found in individual efforts than IN
large despoticay governed organization like the
one formed by General Booth. lie has there
fore Withdrawn from the organization ana mas
established an independent mission which con-
fines tx work 10 the Manchester district. This
..;..;.,.o~r ,.ho i leading This new movement II