New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-03
SUPPOSE WE HAD WAR.
THE SWIFT COLUMBIA WOULD SWEEP
COMMERCE. FROM THE SEAS
ONLY THE LUCANIA COULD MAKE A LONG
CHASE FOR HER-How SHE MIGHT

ONLY THE LucANIA COULD MAKE A LONG
CHASE FOR HER-How SHE MIGHT
ESCAPE THE CRUISER.
Whether the new cruiser Columbia could catch
the fastest ocean liners afoat or not IS a
question often discussed In shipping circles That
she would be able to overhaul nearly all ocean
merchant vessels Is admitted but there are one
or two which 1t is question II she couia over
take. on her trial trip the Columbia TOT iour
hours made an average Of 22a knots an hour'
This was made under the most favorable circum-
stances with picked coal and picked hreheh'
1t is a rule that man-ofwar does not make ar
forward i'm the ordinary OF her life as
fast time as on her trial trip 1t Is also true that
modern men-of-war have never been caled upon
to make phenomenal bursts of speed In the course
of their cruises. except in cases OF pressing emer
gency.
II is safe to say. however. that the Columbia
will have a sustained speed of over Il KNOTS
in cruising time The two vessels which the
Columbia might have difficulty in catching are
the Campania and the Lucana. The Campama
has made the highest average hourly speed ever
attained by vessel in transatlantic voyage She
did II this month when she made an average Of
q % knots from Queenstown to New-fork Inc
highest average speed for one day was MADE
recently by the I.ucania. which ran at an
average Of % "A knots for "a hours, SO minutes-a
nautical day-coming west
II will no seen elat the Columbia Lucana and
Campania are at least worthy rivals In speed
The greater length of the big Cunarders would
tell in their favor IT. a heavy sea way but that
advantage might be offset by the fact that while
the screws OF the big Cunarders might be racing,
the triple screw equipment Of the Columbia would
give her greater hold on the water. ms
chief Constructor Wilson once said Of the Column
ba would tell greatly I'm chase after liner.
II the Columbia were after a transatlantic liner
CHI
doubtedy be driven for all she was worth even
as the Prairie Bell when
"She came tearing along that night,
The oldest boat in the line
With a niger squat her safety valve
And her furnace crammed with rosin and pine. -
Then she might make her % knots or, If the
weather favorable, come up to her trial
speed. But the Campania and the Lucana would
also be "hustlng' and making the best time they
could Now suppose there war between Eng
land and America and the Columbia was looking
for Of the two big ships which, under tnose
circumstances would be either in use as transports
or Transformed into light-armed commerce des~
troyers themselves sharp outlook woula rr DE
bic Columbia. As her four sInokestacKs would
make her more readily distinguishes than an
ordinary ship she could be recognized Tor a Ger
taintv with glass. say rfteen mics unner or
binary circumstances, or say approximately eiSh-
Tho Columbia would also recognize the Cunarder
and the race would begin. II the Columbia made
and the Lucania made the best time she ever
made Of - a knots an hour the Columbia would
have eained on the Lucania at the end or an
hour % OF a knot. But the Lucana has the ad-
vantage OF an elghteen-me start. Eighteen miles
is equal to about Is 2-3 knots. The fraction Is a
trine larger. but 2-3 Is near enough Tor practlcal
purposes. Now If the Columbia gains 90 OF a
knot in one hour ii would take her little over
nine DAYS to overtake the Lucania. In that time
the Lucania could easily make a British fortified
port. no matter where the chase should take
place England "A chain of Notifications around
the world.
IN the case OF the Campana, taking her best
average speed for a Transatlantic voyage or I'D
knots. the Columbia would have difference I'm her
favor Of l5} knots. Ii she gained l5; knots an
hour on the Camyanil II would take her 20 over
come the Is % knots which the Campana had
the start about 10 hours and - minutes. II would
therefore seem II the Lucania were the only
ship which the Columbia could not catch In a
long stern chase such the Columbia would
have after The Iucania she would not probably
get within fighting range until days enough had
passed for the Cunarder TO make "A port or for
the chase 20 be given up. In the case OF the cam
pania Il gun from the Columbia would probably
shorten the chase. Say the Columbia in chasing
the IMCana opened fire her at I'VE knots
distance Then she would have 10 % knots TO
overcome before she could fire. and that would
take her over sin days.