Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-02

A London letter to the New York Sun gives
a very interesting account of the meeting Of
the Institute of Naval Architects and principa.
ship builders organization in Great Britain,
during which the American navy was the sub
ject of consideration.
Mr.. ]. II. Biles Of Southampton, q we'll
the famous Inman and international Company's
ocean monarchs and of many war ships for the
Spanish, japanese and other navies, said he had
lately been in America and had made the ac-
quaintance of Mr.. Secretary Tracy and had got
from him valuable information as to the new
American war ships. He described all the mod
ern vessels since the first class. remarking that
the progress was great 1t should be measured
he said, by the difference between the Chicago
and the Baltimore, vessels OF practically the
same displacement, though the Baltimore has a
smaller main battery, having only ten guns
against fourteen of the Chicago's, but her speed
| is more than four knots greater than the Chi
Cages and she has a protective deck two and
one-hali inches thick on the fat and four inches
on the slope.
He carefully inspected the Newark, which was
now practically completed, at the yard of
Messrs. Cramp, Philadelphia, and every oppor-
tunity was given him of forming an opinion Of
the workmanship and details of American war
ship construction, and he felt sure that in these
respects they were quite equal to the best Brit
ish practice, If they were all as good as Messrs.
Cramps.
The American ship designers and builders
had shown, he said, that they were capable Of
producing vessels quite equal to their promises,
and at least equal to the best European prac-
tice.
THE THREE COAST LINE OF BATTLE SHIPS
he considered the most important vessels Of
the program. These to him seemed to be
II >lo& -
tie ship, having four guns capable of piercing
any armor afoat, and eight eight-inch guns
| capable Of penetrating almost any armor and
! certainly OF penetrating the armor at the ends
| Of the belts and on the barbettes and redoubts
| OF most British battle ships at close quarters.
As these vessels would probably have to act
very much nearer their base than European
vessels their bottoms would probably be in bet
| ter condition, so that the real speed would not
be much II any less. For the same reason, he
| held, their coal supply need not be so large.
| and therefore ii would seem that their pre-
| ponderance Of armament would give them an
| advantage In q combat near their own coast
| line with any European vessel They were dis
tinctiy superior in most respects TO any Euro
| pean vessels of the same displacement, and for
| the purposes intended, of protecting the Amer
| lean coast line, they seemed to be quite match
for any ships aficat. They could keep the sea
as well as any battle ships and must not be
looked upon as coast defense vessels in the or
coast-line battle ships. Compared with the Ad-
mlrals their freeboard at the ends fifteen
inches higher and compared with the turreted
| battle ship Hood II was practically the same.
1t was, however, eight feet less forward than
the new British barbette battle ship Of the royal
sovereign class. Judging from the amount OF
water which would come on board an Atlantic
liner with freeboard forward Of twenty six
! feet the chance oil fighting the thirteen-inch
turret guns end ON in head sea was not very
! great, but the eiSht-inch guns could probably
| be fought in almost any weather.
THE COMMERCE DESTROYER, NO. IL.
Dealing with the commerce destroyer "
commonly known, according to Mr.. Biles, N
''the pirate, Familiarity known as No. II, now
building in Cramps yard, and which greatly in
| terested the members Of the institute, Mr..
Biles said she the most important OF the
cruisers and was intended to have a sustained
speed OF twenty-one knots. Having given hoI
details Of dimensions, DC, Mr.. Biles continued
| to erlticise the design follows:
This vessel is we'll divided and would give Z
good account of herself against most cruisers
but she Is designed to run away from cruiseri
and not 20 hght them. her function being Il
catch AID destroy AL the merchant steamers Of
an enemy that she possibly can She would