New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-22
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES

The Chinese Government seems not to have taken
.nv alarm from the notification II has received from
the British Government that from this time forth no
British officers will allowed 10 serve In the Chinese
Navy In fact the Chinese Government not ONLY sent
word back that in the future 1t would never again
intrust any real authority In the navy to BRUSH
officers but it has made tempting offers to two or three
American Navy officers, Of whom Is retired
officer I'm the Engineer Corps. The step taken by the
British Government because Of the refusal OF te
Chinese Government TO furnish explanation OF Iho
snsuIt by a Chinese officer In hauling down the nag
Of Admiral Land while the British officer was IN COM
mand of the Chinese North Coast Squadron, al hohS
Kong in 1902 The fact is that Admiral Land an
officer Of the rank of captain in the British Navy naa
received an appointment admiral in the Chinese
Navy the object being that he should reorganNe ta'
navy upon the system Of the British Navy. ne soon
became so important and autocratic as to insEs l
Navy Int also 10 the central Government ana ne was
asked to resign This he did not propose 70 90 neioe
the hauling down Of his flag. He then formaly ~! r.
signed In June, 1890, and gave reason tIat Le
Chinese officers OF the squadron were lhs'oO'ui'"'
Much disappointment ia expressed by the BRUSH
Admiralty because the cruiser Melampus proves 10 20
a weakly constructed vessel When on June IL sio
made her eight-hour steam trial under haIurd ur'.
the vibrations Of the hull so excessive thaV ~
was necessary to the racks on the wardrooh o'p"
to retain the dishes Since then she mas Eiaoe d The
power four-hour trial under forced drsit, anu e u
vibrations Of the hull were even gieaOep ' III, Easter
with o. o3 horse power developed or 93 unlls Its.e
tban the contract called for she made MAXIMUM
speed OF 1895 knots, or more than KNOT less 'h"u
was looked for
TIL. new shin Vulcan Of the British Navy, was con-
strcted with the object sending her wherever an
yno,,sn rarship NAV be- thoroughly equipped for
making ALI sorts of repairs and fittings especiaiy 10
,ornedo gear she is a vessel Of 6620 tons olsplace
eut about the same that Of the American afinoreu
cruiser Maine, and is TO carry SIX secohu-nshu 'orpI
boats and act as floating workshop tor neeV i
e an innovation in any navy. In addition to the
torpedo boats she will carry one vloette oost anu wv
ordinary service steam launches The WORKSHOP VI"
this vessel contains five lahes. two shaping MACHINES
two drilling machines, slotng shearing and punchins
machines a circular saw, blacksmths shop @hou'uer
shop with hot-air furnace, and dozen large NSe9
During the progressive trials which the Vulcan has oeen
subjected to during the last few months many oeiec'
IN hull machinery and boilers have been deveTptu GIs
it seems that so far from the success her hrt a a
Indicate the saR nssi or Se 81 Strains Incident to her
duties. the engines show signs OF weahness az ~
ments and the boilers have been in chronic state OF
leakness and uncertainty at every aenp at t since
their that the Navy Depart
ment had craze for English designs ana psd many
Bnt Secretary Tracy has no. been guilty Of any Of h;
nonsensca belief official declaration that the unfG
states possesses no expert designers and builders ID
fact he has furnished proof that the English talent is
subordinate to that Of this country
The talk about the Alliance between france
and Russia followed by the rumors Of threatened
protest by the European Powers against Turkeys con-
cesson Of the Dardanelles to Russia. makes the activity
In the shpbuldlng yards in Russia in the matter Oh
he construction Of ronclads and moras of more gen.
eral interest than usual At the Baltic Works the
immense cruiser Rurk of 1000 tons displacement and
capable of steaming twenty knots an hour, is being
bnt; and at the Franco Russian Works an irone SS
ready to be launched Another ironelad is being built
oltwv AnrE nj
Nsysky Works an iron corvette and large icebreaker
are in course Of construction and at the Pvotslo
Works two seagong monitors are under construction
In ali there are twenty-five ships Of now in course
of construction at Russian dockyards