The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-03
CAN CHILE WHIP Us?
(CoHtfHEa5 from Peg. -

Twelve knots used to be considered q
high speed for the warships." said Mr..
Tracy. Now We expect nineteen Or
twenty, or even more. The twin screws
are great assistance IN turning vessel;
by revolving them in opposite directions
We can vince. her about almost on her heel,
as il were. The power OF the machinery
has kept pace with the increased weight
and momentum. Yes, I should say one Of
our modern irOnciG1s could be more easily
handled than one OF our old men-of-wa-."
w here Is the captains post on 81 IRON
clad?'
His post. az ordinary times. IS on the
bridge. He has lever handles, which move
through an arc, graduated so that bv nov
ing the lever 10 certain points the engin-
GERS below are informed what 70 DO The
lever : . substitute FOR the bell that used
70 be employed. The captain also has
control OF the steering apparatus. But
when the ship Is IN action the officer IN
command goes into the conning-tower.
which IS = circular. srmOTed Iurret. rising
above the deck, and with narrow Sits al
round II, through which be can see on
every side. L IS also furnished with
system Of levers, similar to those on the
bridge"
1T must be rather dissgreeable." sug-
gesred, TO fight IN an iron box below
decks, as our sailors ROW have 10 do. I
should prefer the Old wooden ships, other
Wings Being equal"
There Is, however, one danger 70 which
they are not exposed, which used 10 De
very formidable in the old times--he dam
ser from dying splnters, which seem ID
have been great source OF wounds. In
o;Aer respects they are no worse OF than
before. once they have become accustomed
- the idea Of fighting behind a-mOr.'
Have any Gry-5ocks been built N ac-
cor-ance with The recommendation n your
report for lsssl?''
Designs have been made for dry-dock
on our Northwest coast" replied NJ.
Tracv
non the whole. what IS Your opinion
o. our present naval situation -
We are now doing the best We can 70
rut ourselves into 4 proper condition Of
defense. We have been rather siow in BE-
ginning. perhaps, but now that We have
begun Ne are losing no time On The very
next day after the bill tor the construction
az me battles hips and the arTuore1 cruisers
became law. they were advert sed. ana
the N-lS were received three months later.
q; course, me drawings had already been
prepared. counting on the PROBABILITY Of
the Dill passing. - that no delay occurred.
J., now, congress makes the appCoprIa-
tons Tor rhe construction Is fasI a. they
TAI due, We shall Re making excellent
progress. Bat there Is no Use II dis
E-islns the fac: that ne are not
2SdAg - EelcEL ourselves II atf2C SSI
nov, and We cannot be IN less
tnSa three ~ tour years 81 the
earliest. II cur enemy's aeet we're 70
Come ,0'o New York harbor, II could de-
SJsoy our commerce. cut eff all CoTlnuni-
caIon wiki the ej;y. and, consequently. Is
food S2Pp.y-New YORK would consume
about 5pe-co pounds Of solid food a day
and. consequently. could exact any ran
sem they chose - demand. no matter how
rrepo>Je-aCs And New York Is OnIv one
al nal dozen gre4E cities that could and
NoG-0 K treated n the same way. That
- ne peril OF orr condition today. BuG
Il a.. goes We. during the next lew years.
We sa44I - al right N the end. and once
We gel INTO defensive state there ! no
reason Why Ne should not continue 70 be
So
len the secretary Of the navy with the
convection thay the office vas IN good
hands. NJ. Tracy i blind 70 no dangers.
put neither does he eIaEgera;e them, nor
: ne unneTved BY them. He knows what
should - done, snd how 10 do L. ana Is
taxing the best means - accomplish his
purposes. he has The confidence Of MS
sAooTdina1es; and, whether war comes
soon Or late, o. noI a. a.. he Val deserve
the gratitude OF the American people.
Julian HAWTHORNE
Money io losn on improved ely property a.