New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

The troubles which the English Navy IL having
with It's family system Of forced draft seem to be
no nearer ending than they before the scrous
accident happened to the boilers Of the barracuda on
February : last. when dozen or more men were
scaldcd There have been several accidents moro
or les serious from the system which the Admiralty
holds Oh TO with surprising tcnacty, and for other
reason il would seem, than that il is purely
English invention and English officials not always
unsclfsh. One Of the most recent accidents was on
the new gnnboat Spanker, when on trial under
full power forced draft. A speed Of nineteen knots
had been accomplished with engines developing $500
horse power. Then the contractors tried to force
the horse power up to 1000. but the boiler tubes
began to leak. They leaked at such rate that In a
very short time the water-level fell seriously and
there were quite three inches Of boiling water running
into the fire room. The trial was at once stopped
and the Spanker returned to port. The designs OF
some OF the new ships Of the American Navy, which
covered the English system Of forced draft we're
new system Of forced draft has since been adopted by
which the blowers discharge into closed ashps:
adoptcd and as in the case Of the nickel armor
plate the English Admiralty may be forced TO the
conclusion that the United States Is WAY ahead.
Rear Admiral Sir George Elliot. I'm short article
from his pen on Note, aud Queries Of Naval Warfare,
Past and Future published In the current number Of
The United service Magazine >ays some sharp and
acrid things 10 be digeStcd by those who ob>tuct in
any way the increase Of the British Navy lie saws:
What constitute, adequate strength for the BRUSH
navy must BE- decided from political and Lot from
point Of view one of the advantages OF
the first maritime and naval Power Of the world Of
having an adequate navy he contends, Is. here cN-
clv quoted We posses, if tear mp the Treaty OF
Paris which ought 1t once 10 do. commercial
marine superior - that Of the whole world put 10
ccther. with the power TO- defend II II we ShDoc Ut,
unIv the ready means hand these three IL reject
he measure If Ministerial rc,pon, ihiity ana iron.
which could be pared iHm o NJ 0,hyr hch II
quickly and suitably armed. would. n pFlNhtfrH u.'
Swccu the sea, OF similar bcllgcrcnt forces, which are
being prepared by other Treaty ioWcr. Wlp III, ma"
fortunately thus SHOWN Us peio'cn""u "''" ''''''''
that respect
one Of the well known European experts on cN'
uosiyc, IA, written q valuable treatise "Smokcless
Powder and il, Influence on Gun Coustr"cti"n. lhe'e
are the general conclusions arrived AT; lhat inc
,mokclc,, powder ha> ball~ic propertie> far superior
IN the old pordcr, that the corrosive action on tho
.ln, Will probably be JOS, that It's u-c III eAN'mS
cans Of the new forged steel type will not lead TO
any considerable Increase Of bali'c ehec' without
considerable risk owing f. the Increase Of pressure
developed in the front part Of the chase althouIh
the actual maximum pressure on the gun may be
less: that TO u;ilizr he high hastic powers 9I ne
new powders very strong guns VIII he FeluH.u 'nn
That such guns viii have To- be- much STRONGER il
font Of the tuinnions than are the new type i'rs!
.tcrI Guns. Thr same writer makes rpne protest
against the forging 81 Of very large cilibre.
AID -ay- they are mistake. aud that hci pr ur.
the heaviest arlnor anodt
The British Admiralty have been extending warm
CONGRATULATIONS upon thcm-clvcs that the torpedo sun
loaf ,andav wa, not lost simultaneously with the
.orpcnt ON the spanish coast. ut to save her from
,,,rderinr II WA, necessary Ia Jctt,On the whole ~
tho --gre. powder and shot. And what va the
proyioi. record If this vessel An account Of hcr
initial service At sea; in July lat. said that In going
from Portland 20 Brcmcrhaycn she rolled and pitched
~ such degree that not only the pendulum. used
+, record her hcelng quite useless. but every officer
and man on board Frustrated from sea,ickncs''
how the -ca broke her iurously thai HE was
cudaugcrd to those on deck. aud that she was unable
., make more than six knots her nominal speed being
nineteen liiot-. All tlIi, was Ia >ea ~ which The
Hercules barely moved Then on November u. whll,
cnsug some bag, Of coal dropped on her deck md
went clean through IT, one 81 the officers ~ the vessel
i, aid to have remarked thus after the recent escape
from the ocean, forces we did not throw guns
nvcrbnard because afraid of The consequences
The admiralty have had warning yin they ever
end thi- uu,eavorthy. lcrry built cookie she'll u
gnbOat - again II they 90. Wlliu murder VIII
be an adequate verdict
Among the most important details Of British Navy
officers contemplated in the future Rear Nd
mrnl Robert ltzroy f. be cOmmandcrln-chef In the
East Indies: Rear ADMIRAL Edward Adcane to relieve
sir Walter Ilunt-Grbbc at Davenport. and Commander
REGINALD Nurke IIcrlZ now al the ROYAL Naval Col
lcgc Will succeed Commander Brooke the Board OF
Admiralty. Captain Edmund Poe Is 10 be flag captain
of the nina squadron under Vice Admiral Sir Frederick