New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-04
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

Irving NJ. Scott proprietor Of the Union Iron Works,
san Francisco where have been built and now in
course of construction OF the largest Of the new
vessels Of the Navy, has improved his time spent In
Europe by making quiet study of the materials and
tools used in the construction of vessels. An
interesting letter received from him few days
ago In which he states that Cruisers Nos. IL and
49, the cOmmerce-destroycrs being built In Phila
delpha, IN design, appearance and purpose surpass
ANYTHING that has been designed or even thought Of
In Europe lie says that he has not been able to
find anything in Europe in the way of electric lighting
or building facilities superior 10 those in the United
states but that he has acquired much knowledge of
the ceulose used to line iron war-vessels with. The
material is made from the husks Of cocoanuts and has
tho property Of absorbing eight times its own weight
OF water. The Danish gunboat Hecla, which had
been lined with Ceulose, had ball GO right through
her. from side TO side She continued on her course
at an eigteen-not speed for three hours. and when
an examination made aftcrwad the quantity OF
water she had taken in found to be napprcciable
Since the article concerning the remarkable speeds
q torpedo boats OF various naval Powers was pub
shed In Tho Tribune several days ago. another OF this
type Of vessels has had n trial which developed n
speed that showed her to DO far superior, In that
respect TO any torpedo vessel owned IN the British
navy This is the new torpedo vessel built for the
Brazilian Government by the Thornycrofs. Of CHS
wick. In series Of SIX trials measured coarse
she attained Il speed of from 1886 knots TO $3.50
knots or average Of 1886 knots for the entire six
trials. Many valuable and quite novel improvements
have been Introduced into the vessel but what they
are the builders have not yet made public.
Relative 20 torpedo boats. there quite stirring
adventure Of one Of them In the recent squadron
rnanoeuvrcs of Belfast. Two Of these boats under
cover partly Of the gloom and partly Of a fleet Of
dshng boats, suddenly made their appearance and
evading the scouting vessels, got the big ships
Of the Red Squadron. one of them very cleverly
aud r,,,
well astcrn steamed up rapidly on their portquarter
When not fifty yards from the last ship. the Northamp
ton. she fired n Whitehead torpedo. empty, IN this
nstance) and 1t struck the roncad fairly under the
mizzcn- chains on the port SIDE and then the plucky
little craft gel astern and disappeared for the night
The torpedo was so eXccllently aimed that, had It
been loaded with guncotton. the big ship ard all on
board would have been sent TO eternity before they
would have had time to shout "Jsck Robinson 1t
is very likely that in this new field OF strategy the
recent manOeuvrps viii have the effect OF encouraging
the study Of cOllusive torpedo boat tactics,
Notwithstanding there have been many successes in
the development OF torpedo boats there have also been
some failures Very serious defects have been dis
covered in both the hull and the machinery Of the
torpedo vessel Vernon ana these , defects are 50 crave
beyond repair except Of merely temporary character.
Take 1t all In all the vernon bss always been regarded
by experts as badly designed ship.
Reports concerning the recent manocuvrcs Of the
British Navy are wen worth careful study by officers
Of the United states Navy one fact to which special
attention IS directed Is the r'prehensble practice In
dulgsd in Of rushing the fast cruisers up from speed
Of perhaps ak knots TO sixteen knots without allow
ing sufficient time those responsible for tho prcser
walton Of the machinery and boilers without which the
ships would be nothing than floating battericsl 10
make the change. Nothing can DO conceived OF more
likely % cripple boilers and deranee the machinery
than this practice, due To ignorance OF steam and
strength OF materials And yet commanders
would seem 10 inasdns that 20 on suddenly 80 OK