New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-26
COMMENTS IN WASHINGTON.
TREMENDOUS POWER OF THE CAMpERDowN's
RAM-OFFTCFRs 10TH TO CRITICIsE.

RAM-oFF1cEHs 10TH TO CRITICIsE. =
Washington June % CSpccaD.-The Bureau Of Con-
sruciion has nrac drawings Of the Victoria ana 10
these naval officers turned yesterday with Interest III
expected that these plans would show dcecS IN te
vessel, construction and explain why she hlied ana
sank quickly. Ia>ed upon ideas Of naval ar'hi-
lecture in this country, examination of the draw
ings Of the victora's interior construction would
seem 10 prove hat that vessel had not been sails
factorilv designed Her plans indicate that III"
bnlhheads In her enen" and boiler space arr not
carried mp sufficiently high Not carrying The bulk-
heads up TO extreme height AMI s"rnring them
to the upper decks would Of cOuls" dcrrHs" the
structural strength OF II vessel and put her greatly
NJ IN. mercy OF adversary when ramm'd. Ap-
plrcnily the NictOri strong at every other point
and he opinion prevails that the PROV of the Camper
down NUT have struck about the space where the
machinery was carried. such an opinion Is based
On what seems to be- sound reason. The ram prob
ably tipped ont u the longitudinal bulhhcadS
II such Is found be- the further solution Of
tho accident l. simple. II Longitudinal bulkh"ad
connected with two or three compartments WAS r'ipt-
urd, IA" quantity Of water which could then rush
through the side OF the hips bottom would be- sufii-
Client upturn her Nor WORLD there be ground for
nder at ne rapdltr With which vessel with that
number Of Large compartments filled. That the bulk
head, inclo-rG the engine and boiler space Of the
vessel not carried up higher Is not due 10 the
faulty Workmanship. The effect Is due to design
alone. Her type would not permit Of any other
arrangement owing 20 her low frecboard. In the
Indiana. Massachusetts. Oregon and Iowa. notably the
afr the frrrbcard +, considerably greater than In ;hc
Victoria IN preparing the plans Of the baiileshpS the
strength and number Of interior bukhead, received
particular consideration IN view Of possible Running
or collision
Naval officers are 10th to cri;cisc the conduc; OF
English officers connected with the accident which
resulted in the loss Of the yicIorla. AS ril" they
have ,luaiou>ly ivoiird ungen"rous comment. ana
when asked for professional opinions Oh III" subject
They say that II l. not only unwi>e but manliestly
unjust -pcah u the mntcr in the absence Of more
details. That the rammng the result Of acci-
c,ni. and not bad Judgment. officers have no DOUBT
Not 4 few officer, on dutj here have had narrow
escapes when engaged in squadron eNoinuohs' ana
they charital,y clin'i an referring to the SAD
experience 81 othcrs. Furthermore. II Is IA well
known fact that officers OF the English Navy are
excellent ssrmcn. Omcal, At the Department incline
10 the belief that sudden damage to the engines oil
the Victoria or tamp"rdOwn, or the JaninS oil the
steering gear 81 either. led up 10 the collision Such
accident, frequently happen on steamers. though
rarely. most fortunately with ,uch disastrous effect
\ prominent officer duty At The Department yes
ieriay worked oui TIE force With which the camper
down struck t,c Vlc,ori. rle rr-ul, Is staggering.
and sl!oa, the de-irIco which Will follow ramming
hy a heavy vessel rhc otter as-um,d IA" disrlaoc-
larn' 81 The Camp, rdown to d. 10000 tons or .oo)o
600 pounds. Applying thc forn.uia that Ia" weight
ia pounds multiplied - the square OF the Nclocl'y
in i.ot per second ana HAT That product DIVIDED by
81 10 would give the striking energy Of III" Camper
Gown he found that the Victoria struck with til"
force Of 3o.0oO.oCo pnunGs. In the assumption the
speed al the Conn rorn taken To be ten Knots
ri The time of the collision which wds probably the
case. I,.-rd on TIL, assumed speed. a." camper
down W., going ~ the rat" oi sixteen i"i second
his terrible force applied tp In" Victoria when fiIind
can hitter b. appreciated bv 0miailN"n. IA"
r,ukll,. .u.rgy OF u ten inch nod"rn rl" uNllS Ia"
improved yo WIDER now i--I.cd l. only li.Hb loot
ioiI- md that ol TIE heavy guns constructed IN thls
country with n hur" thirteen Inches IA diameter i
only l., 21 foot From TINS comparison IL Il
unirirr that th" terrific blow gwen by the Camper
dawn, ram wa. about l2OuOcOu foot pounds greater
ia force than wolld be- i," effect o shot Tired from
4, modern lhirtcon inch gun.