The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-17
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WASHINGTON. Feb. 1G-It looks ss ~ IN the
building Of our new steel feet point had
been reached where Il IL necessary TO review
and an carefully what has been done in or
der TO ind out what errors have been sommtt-
ted and to settle upon the means OF avoiding
their repetition in the work Of the future.
The disclosure OF the want OF stability IN
the cruiser Detroit has been followed by simi-
lar discoveries in vessels NJ other classes and
disblacements and BY the appointment OF a
| Stability Board which IL 10 20 carefully
through all the new ships. as far ne they are
/ now accessible. with a view to aseertaining
/ whether they are top.heavy.
When the discovery in regard to the Detroit
class was male. the conclusion was eagerly
jumped at that the error in question was con-
| fined TO rhem, and had resulted from lncreas-
ing their aggressive power by putting 5-ineh
guns In place OF the 4.inch originally designed
for them. But when IL was found that the Ma :
chins and Casiine wero also top-heavy. and
that their batteries had never been altered
| from the original design. II was plain that
there was something else at fault
but even In the case Of the :. OUO-tonncrs OF
| the Detroit class IL was shown that when the
proposition to increase the calibre OF pait OF
their batteries was originally made the matter
J NNS IettEIbu US WINS proper Huu neCtsbhlJs W
| the Bureau Of Construction for an opinion on
its feasibility. and the answer came that while
! the ihetacentric height. which determines the
\ question Of stability. would be affected some
| what. II would still remain sufficient and safe
/ The alternative thus presented is that. II the
! increase 81 armament was the cause OF the
/ present crankiness in the 2OO0.tonners. the
| Bureau OF Construction was at fault In report
ing that 1t would not produce such an effect;
49, 49, L.. -
as seems not unlikely. in declaring that this
alteration was OF no material Importance In
! affecting stability. there being margin enough
! In the latter to allow It, then the original plans
| must have been wrong. These plans were
| made ut tho Bureau Of Construction. and the
/ chances seem to he that the mistake with these
vessels. as with those In which the original
| battery has never been disturbed. was that OF
lining the lines OF the vessels below too
| much. our new war ships. thanks to their ex-
| cellent machinery and their generally good
| lines. are fast. and the Bureau OF Construction
result. But IL it goes too far in It's part and
/ makes them top-heavy. thatis none the lees it's
again il Is said d that s the bureau OF Construc
tion has already become anxious about the
stability ~ THO three great coast.llne battle
and has recon mended that 1t should be aided
BY reducing the batteries for which they were
designed. In the process Of inspection by Ad-
miral Walkers stability Board, the Indiana,
which Is close upon her preliminary trial trio
was assigned Tor exam nation at early day
| Now 1t appears that In anticipation OF the pub
LEGATION OF the report ofthis board. the present
should be decreased. He can do this with
consistency since he was not at the head Of
practically the recommsnGation recalls the
TACT that they were designed under his prede-
lated. and their present battery assigned to
them in accordance herewith.
1t has been a source OF pride that they carry
n combination OF armOr and n
eaun equal by that Of any battle sbips in the
structor Hichborn Would pti NOT, he thinss Se.
crease the efficiency Of the vessels for lighting
purposes. and would increase the stability.
himself but the Chief Of Ordnance. who is
said 70 hold an entirely opposite view: But tho
NANCE 10 authority on the subject Of stability.
so that II 1t is found that mistake was made
as In the three vessels OF the Detroit class and
the two OF the .Machias something must be
The battery o. the three battle ships con-
! each vessel only four S.inch guns, or. in other
words to take one from each Of the four tur-
corners OF the superstructure. In this way
|. sixty tons would be taken from the total
stoIted tor remedying the suspected or appre-
henueu defect 10. q course. wholly a matter OF
SheSer any sST st"ssy has is
been made and perhaps anticipatlons OF trou-
stsSity BcsfJ will Settle o that anest:oS inc
But should such defect be found It may he
Tssmsd,td d, IN some other way In the case q
decided unon. as well as the replacing OF the
original masts bv smaller ones and the remov-
al OF the connIn ~ tower. But there Ia no Ques-
will thus bs decreased The change has not
been 10 the original battery proposed. but II Is
found necessary. as has been stated to replace
1ne two G-i9 IN guns mounted one each for.
will not carry even a 5-inch at bow and stern.
But with the Machias and the Castine. where
Detroit, class. and an effort had been
mSastRS staS,y B eSqde ra as rms
sanction 1t. Tho batteries were, exact:
% saGa and ought qoS carry TeIs
to sanction the further proposal 10 place a
vessels so as to retain their original lines even
at TIE expense Of carrying useless extra
Oao sna hS Board
mined to do an act OF what might pc called
Sense in altering the plan Of e"nstrSetlon 9S 90
as este TO apply the remedy iIst where the original
must he cut IN t%a and |n hs
added TO their length and the Secretary ap-
ens f IS on wh k In Of
should there he trouble with the battle ships,
the stability Board may again refuse the pro.
sufferer Tor the lack of stability. since that was
exactly what was accepted by the Construc-
The fact is that top-heaviness is not con-
fined even to the vessels discussed above. The
Philadelphia. designed long ago under Secre-
tary Whitney. was worse offender than any
OF them in this respect and even dangerously
her thus far to remedy the evil are well known.
One suspected cause Of trouble with the sta
hiity Of our new ships 10 the placing OF wsig hts
aboard them exceeding the allotment origi-
nally made. This is said TO have hesn found to
he the fact In one instance. and. so far as IL
goes 1t should in justice Re mentioned for the
benefit ofiths Bureau OF Construction. Here
after this matter will be strictly watched. but
the errors in planning may still not he fully
accounted for on that ground. We arc passing
through nn experience similar to that which
other HaEieS have had and fortunately the
disclosure Of shortcomings and mistakes
comes In time OF reAce when there is leisure
to study the causes and apply the remedy.