New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-04
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.


Whew, Everybody who has kept Informed Win
what the English papers have said about Its homo
naval atmrs knows full Well that the modern ereas
guns have been denounced in season and out oi
season. but nothing has been said In so harsn way
NJ the Admiralty as the declaration Of Admiral OK LILO
Fleet s'r n InHn"9 ., VANITY Fair" This Is what he
avs: lis IL not criminal wilhiIly expose the
lives and honor OF gallant sailors 10 aaoiuotss
risks I'm such vile vessels and with such bad guhs'
ours IS the worst armed navy In the "oriu'
SIR Thomas used these words In a letter commenting
upon the bursting OF the Aston gun OF the Coroehs'
which resulted in the killing Of two officers and FOUR
men and the wounding OF ten or twelve Others Ihes
were careful words and deliberate opinions Oh al
admiral OF the feet. The accident, 10 use TUG eA
nression OF Lieutenant Coonel Hope, OF the Bri'isn
Army . was not an accident, but was manslausnuer,
and the responsibility rests upon'tat onee M
Mall where responsibility is SO Intentionally suoavoee
ana away tnat io one man ), eve, "a
Se iVF ar 1 the Board of Admiralty B.a
Navy are stronger than any AMERICAN oIh0eI 49,
presume ne 70 warnnted needs no further conhmaoS
than facts which have been puOnsnea IRON "'' ~
time about the accidents 70 the great iaiures'
Tho crndeness OF the ornaments OF the Bnush
Navy vessels and the folly OF mounting unreliable
monster guns has been subject OF cnticism IN al
of the English papers for the last two years but very
little attention has been given TO the number on ves'
% other navleS. OF the 4o-tOn guns tuc Dibse
Navy has eighty-two finished or In the works. while
France has sxy.four Italy has foryfour and Russia
has forty.two There are several OF the warvessels
of England, like the Ajax. Asamemnon ana IN.
nexlbe. which are armed win mnLkie,loaang tines.
in fact the great majority OF the British armored vee
mounted naexibe IS according 70 LORD q. Bras a
Iectlles the very much lighter oreech oaoing hnea
ana Is 50 OF oy s se Thnnaer and
three other vessels Of her class BY breechoades ~
great expense.
But Of these forty-one OF the present sixty-sevsn
armored ships armed with the muzzleloaders, Lord
Brnssev saws They OF obsolete structure OF huls.
subdivisions OF bottoms fitted with obsolete engines
and rudders and armor; arnored decks. obsolete
guns etc: so that we are very unready indeed. II
attacked. And II any of the forty-one have not all
OF these defects they have most of them We have
but thirty six partly effective SHIPS 70 frhnees .n,y
few vessels should be as perfect As possible ana -
fully with France and Russia combined: the odds are
overwhemin ely against us on all polns-nien. ships
and guns
A cable dispatch dated Brussels published on
March rs follows: The independence Beige an
nounces that IL is about TO publish series OF articles
from an eminent English authority showing the decay
| OF the British Navy II has reached such Stage
that Britain Is on the direct road TO o naval
The French Government has announced Its purpose
to maintain permanently a squadron IN the Leyant, In
addition TO the ships already in commission In the
Mediterranean The squadron has been equipped
and Will be Touon II consists Of the
Marcenu the Courbet and the Iloche. three power
full and swift batteships the Lalonde and Traade.
Gun. vessel Dnguc Rear ADMIRAL Dorlodo des EsSartS
| has been detailed 10 the command.
The swedish Government has added sunboat,
| the svensksund, 10 its Navy. She was built ~
and in, NTH - fa.t hraat Of
and nine feet drught. Her armament consists f
four Nordenfcldt guns and torpedocs. The vessel Is
bnt for service during peace welt as In time OF
first. because she Is powerful ice breaker and
Is lifted with water tanks 10 sink her TO any desred
depth secondly she is furnished with heavy gearing
for TOWING or hauliug OF stranded vessels; thirdly
She Is lifted and equipped as nreboat fourhiy, .he
nttrd with condcn>ers etc, for making fresh wHer
for furnishing vessels; and. filthy, she Is equipped
| as torpedo-icpairing vessel
"a Flag Oilcer' writes TO VANITY Fair crticlsing
the efficiency of the British fleet and tue lack OF
foresight of the Admiralty. lie that our con-
strnoiive arrangements do not seem very creditabls
10 John Bulls usual intelligence and commercial capa
city, although ships dependent
for their speed and other condition essential "
their lighting power upon steam alone, not single
naval engineer appointed to the committee which
settled the construction and the other Arrangements
I OF our eight largest battleshlps. Not giving
| proper status TO naval engineers. and dispensing
with their advice. 10 have been the main cause
Of 50 many costly failures through placing bad boilers
| In our ships. . The engineer, with his special
capabilities and responsibilities has been Wholly
Ignored upon Naval Committees An editorial note
TO this suggest, that the Admiralty Is not so far ad-
vanced as the Navy Department OF the United states
In that tho latter has long ago realized that upon tho
mechanical knowledge and ability OF the naval engt.
necr, almost entirely depends utilizing TO the fullest ex
tent the steam power for rammlng and rapid manr
oeuvrcs.'
The Dlcnhcim. sister ship e. the Blake. which vessel
has been detailed rs flagship Of the North American
squadron, appears Ia have done remarkably wen upon
her recent official eight hour trial OF machinery AZ
% revolutions She made average speed OF 70 4'io
knots and developed l+02i horsepower. but much
doubt is expressed llIat when she VIII be gwen her
forced draft trial TO achieve the promised - KNOTS,
| tho improved combination chambers" Will provo
sufficient and safe. II Is believed that they Will ro-
Quire moro less tiuhering" and that the boilers
| viii always be "a source Of weakness.
I NETWORK CENTRAL FAMILY COMMUTATloN
provides the cheapest and most convenient form %
transportation ever offered suburban Nsl1entA 40