The Press., 1893-11-23
tFrom Harper's Weekly.) "EL CID" AND "FEISEEN."

Political sympathies have comparative ly little to do with the general interest aroused by the purchase of several fleet American steam vessels by representa- tives of the recognized government of Brazil for use against Admiral Mello's rebel feet
 That Ell Cid, the fastest merchant steamer, and Feiseen, the speediest pleas ure craft, ever built in the United States, are being entirely fitted in this country for their deadly mission, has brought to the interested attention of the world the rapid progress made by Uncle Sam in the arts and sciences of naval warfare,
 In Fl Cid Brazil will have steel ship of gross tonnage of 4G00, with a record ed speed averaging 19a knots during voy- age from New Orleans to New York. She is 460 feet long over all, 3SO feet S. inch es on the water-line, and draws 23 feet when loaded. She will have the distinc- tion, or perhaps the fate, of being the first naval structure to use dynamite in actual warfare. For this purpose she is being fitted with dynamite gun weighing 43 tons, which moves on circular track on the bow. Compressed air is the medi- um by which the projectiles with their de- structive charge of nitro -glycerine will be propelled. The smallest charge of 200 pounds of explosive is four times greater than the largest quantity heretofore used experimentally; 800 pounds is the maxi mum charge, and will be contained in tubular shells of a like weight. What the destructive powor of the latter quan- tity is can barely be estimated.
 In the limited time allowed for the par. tial improvement of the vessels arma. ment protection against any but mus. ketfy fire is out of the question. Fl Gid will therefore greatly depend upon ord. nance of a different character to make possible the use of the dynamite gun with its limited range of 5000 yards. For that purpose she will carry two 55-pound rapid-fire guns, two 33-pounders, two IA pounders, and twelve 6-pounders. The latter will be placed in the deck-house.
 Feiseen is a marine wonder, having once developed a speed of 31.67 miles during run of seven-miles. She is con- structed of mahogany and oak, and will be 81 feet long when fitted as 8 torpedo boat. A steel coming tower will take the place of the deck house, and 1-pounC rapid-fire gun in it will give some slight protection to the fleet little craft. The torpedo-tube will move on a pivot for. ward, and thus have a range of nearly 19( degrees. She is to be carried; to Brazi on the deck of Fl Cid. The Ericsson torpedo boat Destroyer has also been bought in this country by the Brazilian government. Coincident with these pur. chases are naval preparations on the part of Brazil in England and France.
 Whether the formidable fleet thus ac quired, which is to meet at some Brazil ian port, presumably Pernambuco, whence under the command of Admiral Cordovic MauritZ, it is to sail to the relief of Rio will succeed or not in crushing the rebel lious Mello is an interesting question Upon it's answer will largely depend the future of naval warfare. If it establish that dynamite can be safely handled aboard ship under the emergencies and stress of battle, then the age of gunpow. der and armor-plate will be superseded by that of nitro-glycerine and speed