The morning call., 1892-04-03
SHALL SAILS BE DISCARDED?
A Question That Is AgitatiRg Naval
Circles.
The Rig of the Armored Cruiser Maine Il
Be Changed-She Will Depend on
Steam Power Alone.

There is considerable discussion among
naval experts over the question OF supply
ing sail power TO the new cruisers. Upon
the recommendation of Commander Chad
wick, who was detailed by Secretary Tracy
as an inspector OF the construction OF the
Maine. the rig OF that vessel has been
altered so as to leave the vessel something
of an anomaly among ships Of war. Her
regulation masts are TO be removed and will
be replaced by two military masts, leaving
her without sail power and the object of
criticism by those who believe that no ship
should venture from the shore depending
alone upon her engines for motive power
This action of the board Of bureau chiefs
will have the effect of reviving pertinent
discussion OF the value Of canvas and the
reliance which might be placed on ma
chinerY. There are those In the navy who
oppose any change which will suggest the
supremacy Of engines, but the present Incl
dent is deprived of factionai feature by the
fact that the aban donment of sail power on
the Maine Is recommended by line officer
The use of canvas divides the responsibility
of lOcomOtion between the sail and the pro-
peler. The transatlantic steamers en-
tirely depend on neither, and their expert
ence has more than once attested the
wisdom OF supplying alternate methods OF
propulsion.
Lieutenant L. Dix Bolles, in charge of
the photographic office here, knows some
thing about warships and their habits. lie
says that the days OF canvas. with steam
as an auxiliary where both are combined in
one vessel, have gone by. 1t used to be the
rule for warshps to use their engines only
in cases of emergency. but now tho sail is
simply an auxiliary motive power where
canvas is employed and modern Warships
carry little or no spread.
st was a mistake" said the lieutenant.
ITO rig the new cruisers with anything but
military masts. Sails are not required in
action, and the iron cages at the top of the
masts afford fine vantage to rifiemen and
rapld-fre guns. which would be out of the
question were the masts incumbered with
yards and topbamper. The division of
motive power between steam and sail Is
all we'll enough In theory, but Of what use
Is 1t except in rare cases? An engine some
times breaks down. but the modest amount
OF sail carried By the modern cruiser is of
little or no use.
"Then the way the ships are built and
equipped with machinery in the present day
there Is no occasion for breakd0wns. They
cost enough to be almost proof against ac-
cidenf, and. with double or triple engines,
separate ard distinct from each other. the
model vessel Is we'll prepared for emer-
Repcies, and as for running short of coal and
falling back on canvas to help out that is
poor argument as the careful navigator
never sets cut with scant supply and he
Railroad locomotives seldom break down.
and it would he just as reasonable to rig
them with sails to guard against loss of
time in case Of disabled pistons or short
coal rations. transatlantic liners carry a
small spread of canvas, usually fore and
ait sails but their power of propulsion in n
deep-draught vessel does not amount TO
much. They are used principally to steady
the ship In rough weather. and In case Of
an accident at sea can be relied upon to
keep the vessel in the track of steamers.
but are OF slight assistance In bringing her
safely to land.
According to my idea the Maine should
be constructed with no upper rig other than
military masis. and with the high state of
perfection reached in naval machinery can
vas should be entirely dispensed with in the
modern warship"
The Maine was originally described as an
improved and. enlarged Riacliuel0." an
| armored cruiser built in 1883 for the Brazil
ian Government aud which met with much
favor among naval constructors. She was
planned to be bark-rigged. spreading 7i35
J square feet Of canvas, and her fore and