Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-19

OF . modern msn-of-war is little more thar Q
mere scow with fas bottom. and is used FOR
tying to the ships side when cleaning or pal at-
ing Is to be done.
ers and oilers who used coal shovels instead Of
oars for p-opelang power. The race was over
q course of 100 yards and. was to be expec-
ted. the time made nothing wonderful
The flagship of the catamsrsn feet came
from the Philadelphia. Her coxswain is a man
who is known something of Joker on
board and he determined TO rig his
Graf; in manner that should at
least command attention. In the cen
Ter Of the scow was placed a
barrel from the top of which protrutied a
smokestack imitation OF miniature boiler and
engine. The men had secured all the refus
oil waste available from the engine room OF
the Philadelphia, and with this they
started smudge in the bottom so
that when they steamed ont for Norfolk
there was gorgeous amount of SIN oke pouring
from the stack OF this most remarkable vessel
The men had rugged flagstaff forward and
from the top they had looped regulation
flag but the system OF nag signals was a start
ling innovation in navy methods.
From the staff flung to the breeze a
series OF articles of male and female under
wear, and by different communica tions of these
they were supposed to be able to communicate
their orders TO the vessels of the mimic float
Ii the fleet should have the good fortune TO
return from it's perilous journey across the
smooth sunny waters of the roads to Norfolk
it will no doubt be due to the able work Of the
flagship.
ARRIVAL OF THE DETROIT.
The new cruiser. the Detroit. that is now on
her trial trip, came into the roads this morning
and was watched with a great deal of interest
by the officers of the American ships especially
She steamed slowly around and through the
fleet and then left the roads on her way for her
second speed trial
THE VAN sPRYK.
The STAR correspondent paid a visit to the
Dutch wooden cruiser, the Van Speyk, that is
here as the sole representative of Holland She
is interesting mainly as a striking contrast to
the immaculate ships in the white squadron
Built twenty years ago. she has about her little
Uncommon with the cruisers of today. She was far
from clean. although her men were busily en-
gagged in painting and putting things gener-
ally in shape. The most noticeable feature about
her with the possible exception of her krupps'
rlhed cannon that are very modern, was the fact
that on her decks were a couple of pig pens
with living occupants, so that the officers could
at least have fresh meat when they are at sea
A noise from some chicken coop also shows
that the succuient spring chicken was
by no means impossibility. She
lies close to that wonderful example of modern
naval architecture. the Blake. which carries on
BOARD even a duplicate of every part of her,
with the sole exception OF her boilers, so that if
she should have break down while at
sea the repairs could readily be made, Vet the
"stoomschIp Van Speyke, as she is called in
Dutch. is one of the most interesting of all the
vessels to look upon from the Shore for she
carries far more masts and sails than any of
the others, and for this reason corresponds
more nearly 10 ones ideal of a man-of-war
alongside of the Russian and English displays
in this remarkable collection now he-e
The French navy does not make as good a
display rs might be expected from a nation SO
friendly. rule. The Jean Barte alone came
across from France. The Hussard and
the Aretheuse were in the French
West Indies and came up here from
there. Yet of all the European countries 1t is
considered that France was the best prepared
to make first-rate showing for she maintains
at both Sherbourg and Toulon a squadron
that embraces many of the largest iron-clads
atoat. Most of these are said to be ready to
put to sea at twenty-four hours notice
The only reason that has been ascribed for
Frances lack OF apparent interest in the review
Is a sensitive feeling on the part of the French
growing out of fancied slight to the French
Admiral de Llbrau the occasion Of the
Columbian parade in New York harbor last fall
Then, owing to some oversight, the officers of
the French ships were not invited to the state
dinner until sucha late hour they took offense
The action of the French ministry il il Is a
result of that incident,i is greatly depiored here
for it has been hoped all along that France
would have a remarkably large share in the
honors OF the review. VK