Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-21

erning power of high speed engines; 8, cleo
trio firing of rapid fire guns; z, systems iof
night signals; s, increasing demand for the
telephone and its tendency to replace other
means of communication.
The motors used on board ship may be
series, shunt or compound wound, the con.
slant potential" system only requiring thaI
they shall be wound for the same terminal
electro-motive force. The potential OF the
source of supply is 80 volts in the navles OF
the United States, England and France ana
65 in the italian.
The standard type of plant for use IN our
navy is an so volt compound wound dynamo,
driven direct by a vertical two cylinder,
double acting engine. The plants IN use In
foreign navies are also described.
The effect of the dynamo on the action OF
the compass is shown by giving q set OF OBJ
servations made on the steering compass of
the United States steamer Concord.
The important matter of the wiring OF
ships is discussed, as is also the size OF the
conductors. The newest search lights are
explained and illustrated; so are some OF the
system of electric signals is made clear and
comprehensive.
TORPEDO VESSELS.
Chapter 9, 1.-THE Torpedo Vessel: A His
tory of its Development" A great devel-
opment has taken place in recent years IN
this class of vessels in which are sought the
characteristics of small size of hull, light
gun armament, powerful torpedo defence,
highest speed, thoroughly good sea keeping
qualities and relatively large coal capacity.
Torpedo vessels range in size from 800
tons to 1000 tons, and the credit for their
introduction belongs to the Germans, who,
in 1876, ordered one built in England. The
Italians soon followed suit and then other
nations. But it remained for the French,
in 1886, to demonstrate to the world that
such vessels were a necessity to protect a
seagoing fleet from the dangers of the tor
pedo boat.
In torpedo vessels the idea is to possess
the power under favorable circumstances of
delivering a deadly blow against a larger
antagonist while at the same time they pro-
tect themselves against torpedo boats by the
use of a concentratedahail of shot delivered
at a range beyond that of the smaller foe.
Comparing the torpedo vessel with the
cruiser it is observed that the former is
nothing like as expensive. The same is
true with regard to the gunboat. And,
though the torpedo boat is cheaper, one YES
sci is the equal of two boats, to say nothing
of the vessels greater efficiency. The
building projects of the navies all the v orld
over indicate conclusively that the torpedo
vessel is destined to reach a place of The
first Importance in development, numbers
and usefulness.
GAS DEFENSE.
frThe Coast Defense Systems of Europe"
is the title Of chapter Z. This is a subject
of great importance to the people of the
United States. In glancing over the sys-
tems presented the fact is strikingly illus
trated that most foreign Governments recog-
nize that coast defense is purely naval,
since in all its branches, whatever the
geographical condition, its function is to
fight the enemy afoat; not necessarily on
the high seas alone, but in all harbors,
roadsteads or other indentations of the coast
line. The naval element thus constitutes
the inner as well as the outer line of de-
Tense with respect to an attack from the sea.
Coast defense is thus placed on a naval
basis, and, regarding it as a naval organiza-
ton, it is believed that it should be gov
verned by naval men and recruited by naval
levies.
The general system of defence is given
for Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Eng
land, Spain, Russia and Sweden. After a
painstaking examination of the above sys- |
TENS the conclusion is drawn that the Ger.
man system is the best. The fundamental
idea in the arrangement of the naval forces
has been to make sure, before all else, that
the coast and the rallying points and bases
of operation of the feet shall be safe from
hostile attack. In Germany it is automatic
that the navy should be intrusted with the
entire defense of the ports and of the
.littoral.
In France the central idea is that the
true function of the navy is to fight the
afoat. The coast Notifications,
mobile, fixed and submarine defenses, the
search light stations and the semaphore ser
vice are, therefore, assigned to the navy.
In Italy there is an agreement of opin-
ion that for the interests of the State the
coast defense should be in the hands of the
navy. Precisely the same is the case with
Russia, as far as known, has placed this
defense under the control and operation of
the navy, except at those fortresses where
the defense by land is of p~reponderating
Importance.