Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-04
ANNAPOLIS MD THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4 1892
MODERN SEA FIGHTS.
REMARKABLE VIEWS OF 4 FUSS An
EXPERT.

Speed Of Minor cOnssqWsIss The Ram
aud TorpedOss sT ItsSited Uss rhs
We'll Directed Fire 81 ARTILLERY stiII
the Prime Fsctsr.
The Recue Maritime et ColoRiaie re-
produces study by Russian naval
officer on the conduct of modern sea
fight, in which the essayist laws down
his views with almost the breyiiy aud
assurance of axioms. Speed, according
to the writer, is only Of use i'm the evolu
tiOns which precede the action; during
the action itself il is OF no importance.
1t may, as instanced in the fight between
the Huascar and the Cochrane of Anga-
mos, in 1879, fosae less active enemy TO
an engagement, but it is never a direct
cause of victory. The ram is of no value
II the opportunity which presents itself
for It's Intervention has not been sufi.
cisntly prepared by the guns. No vessel
need fear the ram 30 long as she is in =
condition to steer aud is well handled.
Torpedoes have but very limited use,
and quite as often AZ not may imperil the
ship that discharges them. Any ship,
not actually engaged, can defend
herself against them by vigilance aud
careful observance Of the ordinary pre-.
cautions Armor 10 only OF value If il il
sufficiently strong. II il can be pierced,
or its backing be destroyed, il only serves
to increase the destructive action OF the
enemy's projsctiles. TO save ship from
almost certain doom, it is essential that
her engines and boilers should be pro.
tected at all costs against the enemy's
fire. But as the ship can not be protected
every where, there must necessarily be
some vulnerable parts. and these weak
points will suffer all the more heavily nc
cording as the ensmy's fire Is more intense
and accurate. Gun fire 10 thus the most
powerful factor in determining the issue
Of the fight. The light guns (quick firing
and mitrailleurs) must cover the snemy's
ship with a hail Of pTojsctiles; and the
qualitative and quantitativs superiority
Of this fire engenders confidence in its eff.
cacy, since it affects not only the enemy's
animate dsfences, but the inRuimatS as
WELL As regards the weight Of heavy
guns, modern 60 ton guns are quite a.
powerful as are required. The project
lies from such guns are able To pierce
% inches OF Armor at the muzzle. and
2l inches at 1000 yards, whereas there
are but few vessels which carry Is inches
Of armor, and that only over limited por
tions Of their structure.
From the experiences gained during
the last 30 years the writer formulates
the following recommendations as those
which should govern the conduct Of ma.
val action: !. Every effort should be
made, as soon as the engagement begins.
to obtain superiority of fire by the action
Of quickfiring and machine guns. Their
fire should be directed on the decks, tops,
ports, tunnels, and all unarmOred parts
Of the vessel. At the same time the enc.
my'S heavy guns, and especially all in.
stallstiens on the turrets aud elsewhere
whence his fire may be directed and the
ship should not be overlooked. @ On
closing to within :, 900 yards, the medium
guns Gncluding inch guns should come
into action against the unarmored por.
tons Of the enemy's ships, as well as
against the turrets and the installations
protecting the steering gear. The fire OF
the light guns should, ct the same time,
be kept up as long as single man
mains visible Oh the enemy's decks. &
The fire of the heavy guns should only
open when within !, 200 yards, and, in
order to avoid the adverssry's torpedoes
the range should not be diminished to
less than 600 yards. f. No attempt at
rsmming should ever be made so long as
the ensmy is not incapscitated from
maneuvering; for tits hundred chances
to one that he will avoid the blow by /,
timely movement and will discharge his
torpedoes. If the opportunity for ram
ming occurs later, when the adversary is
unable to mansuver, it will doubtless
succeed. but it is equally probable that
the sssailant will himself suffer damage.
IL is better, therefore, under any circum
stances, to crush the enemy by artillery
fire. 5: 1t is indispensable that all dam
age to the steering gear should be imme.
diately repaired; the neglect Of this salu.
tary precaution has caused the loss OF
more than one ship.