Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-31

be in the ordinary everyday method of steer.
ing and not wartime arrangement only. This
latter can be simply carried out. and has been
in the City of Paris. Such mail steamer con-
structed with the intention OF coping with such
a commerce destroyer as No. IL, would be
earning money in time of peace, ana would be
a really efficient protection in time of war.
The building of such ship as No. IL, which
Britain has nothing to cope with, certainly is
an indication of what America is capable of,
both in conception and construction. Whether
vessels specially designed to meet this one, or
whether an improved type of mail steamers Is
the right protection, is question worth some
consideration. The most suitable for fighting
our armed cruisers would be very weak in the
presence of such foe, but with protection
and equal speed there should be little fear of
q contest"
Concluding, he said that he thought he had
shown them the work of the American con-
structors acting under the direction of capa-
BILE administrator like MIR. Tracy, was well worth
the careful study of Great Britain.
No Fear of Failure
An interesting debate followed the reading of
the paper. Sir Nathaniel Barnaby was the first
speaker, and he said he considered the
paper of SURPRISING interest. 1t contained
much information, with observations here and
there which could not fail to be of advantage.
He himself mad quite recently the pleasure of
visiting some of the American yards, and he
was convinced that they were about to build
afraidof failure.
Sir Nathaniel, speaking of the three coast
defense battle ships agreed with Mr.. Biles in
saying that they would have difficulty in firing
their big guns, and they would be much better
if they had more freeboard. He felt, also.
that they would be better If the auxiliary
arInor was rather thicker. He thought the
Institute should ask Mr.. Biles to convey to Mr..
Tracy their deep sense of indebtedness Tor
allowing the information to be submitted to
the Institute. This suggestion was agreed TO.
Admiral Sir John Hay acknowledged his in-
debtedness to MI. Bilss for much information
with which be was previously unacquainted.
Would Change His Opinion.
Lord Brassey said the Atlantic trade was not
the most important trade which had to be pro-
tected by Great Britain, but if he had been
present and had heard the details of the
formidable commerce destroyer which had
been described he thought he would have had
cause to change his opinion. The facts put be-
fore them. he thought made it necessary for the
admiralty to include America among the great
naval powers. She was entitled to be consid-
cred in the same way as the European powers,
and if the speeds desired were attained, he
hoped that public opinion would be awakened
TO the necessity of our having ships superior,
and certainly equal, to those Of the United
States.
Mr.. w. H. White, Director of Naval Con-
struction to the Admiralty, said he had diff
dence In rising to speak. for two reasons. The
II ST was the ofnclal position he occupied. 1t
was not desirable that he should be critic of
designs, especially of foreign warships. Be-
sides. several oil the ships described as having
been built In America, were built from his de-
signs, and they would not expect him to
criticise them. Sir John Ray had implied that
the British admiralty did not know what was
being done in America, but he must tell them
that they kept close watch on the navy
policy OF that as well as all other countries
No Longer Insignificant
He admitted the services of Mr.. Biles in col.
lecting this information into concise form and
tor the interesting copments made. 1t used to
be said by MI. Chauncey Depew that the sink
ing of a barge meant the destruction of a con-
siderable part Of the American navy, but hat
no longer held good. And, further, although
they formerly took other designs, they were
now undertaking designs OF their own. and
most of the latter ships, he believed, those now
being commenced, were of their own design.
A board of naval policy had been chosen,
and the reconstruction of the navy proceeded
in most busness-like manner. They knew
everything done here. Thanks to Parlia-
mentarv returns, they could get for eight
cents all the details of the British ships. They
analyzed these and then produced naval
designs.
Regarding the coast-defense battle-ships, he
agreed that they would be the better for more
free board. He spoke in complimentary terms
of such builders as the Messrs. Cramp. Mr..
James Howden, the patentee of a system of
forced draught said he also had the honor of
inspecting the machinery of the commerce
destroyer, and be felt certain she would not be
able to beat the City of Paris.