New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-12
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

The torpedo-boat has been costly experiment In
all navies and lattery there has been discussion
| among some OF the foreign naval officers as
TO the wisdom OF continuing TO spend money
in that way The opinion prevails among
MANY that the automobile torpedo has been devel-
oped to such an extent that 1t VIII be the great
weapon In future wars. and the fact that 1t can De
fired from a tube through the bows or sides OF the
shin from the launching carriage on deck or AT the
grinpors shows that the torpedo boat itself Is not
necessary part of the nava! equpmeht as !,
vessel calculated do effective service AT sea- ana
that IL Is not really necessary for harbor service
In view OF the success OF the automobile torpedoes
A special commission has recently investigated the
condition OF the French Navy. and Comnandant
Vidal director OF the submarine defences at Toulon
testified that out of forty torpedo-boats In the re-
serve only twenty-five ready for service Many
~ those incapacitated are made by corroson OF
their hul-p,ates. Commandant Vidal also gave
proof OF numerous defects in the organization ana
Sherpshooter OF the British Navy. has had a num-
Der OF trials preparatory for her commission, ca,
as in the ase OF the Ericsson. or the American
%avv after each one some defect. either with ner
boilers engines, has made delay necessary one
IS also expensive cca!-ourher
The question OF building new cruiser OF twenty
three knots and about 9oo TONS OF the type OF the
commerce destroyer Columbia, OF the American
Navy Is now being discussed In France. But
where l. the money to come from Is the ques-
ton with the French Admiralty. Economies nave
! =, he made somewhere is now the cry. and there
IL tllk OF reducing some OF the squadron IL II rec
opriZed that the new vessels are vastly more e%
pensve than the old ships because tney are SUI
extravagant coal burners when cruising, Se'' ~;
electricity and mineral Oils nave take" the p''e u
sails and elbOw-greaS
..Top-heaviness' Of new vessels Is not conhhed 10
those OF the American Navy. There nave Deeh
many instances OF this fault with vessels OF the
foreign navles The French have discovered that
the new battle-shlp Brenmes. ike the Magenta Is
opheayy. The alterations to be made lncIuds .me
,,kIng out OF about 100 tons OF superuu9us
weight. and Of one OF her military masts rranch
natural that much chagrin Is felt by the rreheh
idniraltv that such very serious defects should De
found I'm A Ship lifted with all the newest improve.
ments and supplied with an armament OF 'he hios'
modern type.
Tho Turkish Government recently launched SIX
ney war-vessels simultaneously in the Golden Horn
They comprised two corvettes, two gun-vesseis ana
two c,,nhoats The former TO take the place or
two obsolete vessels OF the names. each OF
40 tons displacement and twelve knots speed Each
will carry four 4T-nch rapid-frlng, ana SIN hotGn
kiss revolving cannon, and Two tolPeuo iauhLhihs
tuhes The gn-yessels are each OF 200 tons dspace-
ment and Will be armed with four sinaI guns
The British Admiralty has issued Instructions 10
obtain and be put in store. ready for immediate
,nataa,ion armamcnts for Transforming into auXil-
larry cruisers merchant vessels which are supsi-
died or are by special agreement. to be held az
the disposal of the British Government. In case Oh
war These ornaments will consist or rapid-nrln
and Nordenfeld; machine guns and VIII De slo!eu
as follows. that the steamers may De SEN w ~
such places for their batteries Devonport ana w DOL
wich each eight sets: Portsmouth ana HonS hohB'
each four sets; Sydney, Australia. TWO sets.