The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-03

overhaul tho valuable prey During the
Revolution and the war Of 1912 snpe-
rior speed on the part Of our war yes
sells was a great factor in their success.
In the first year of the war for Amer
lean independence the Yankee warship
Providence, under the command Of gal
liant John Paul Jones, time and again
escaped capture by her ability to Outsail
the pursuing British frigates. Good
sailing also enabled the Reprisal to
escape a British ship of line and con
tinue her depredations along the English
coast in I777, and superior speed alone
allowed the Lexington, Surprise and Re
venge to remain in English waters and
sweep away the enemy's commerce IN
that memorable conflict.
During the war Of 1919 the United
States navy of barely II efficient ships
was pitted against l, 900 vessels Of the
British, and yet by superior speed such
famous Yankee cruisers as the Presi-
dent, Essex, Chesapeake, Wasp, Pea
cock, Enterprise, Siren and Adams
secured the seas where Britannia was
supposed to rule and inflicted unprece-
dented loss upon the kings commerce.
In one cruise the Adams was chased five
times by British frigates Of superior
armament and at one time remained
within gunshot for 40 hours before She
succeeded in getting away. How valu-
able then was even an extra quurter Of
a knot of speed
In 1915 the Hornet was chased for 70
hours by the "A gun ship Of line Cornwall
lis Commander Biddle lightened ship
by throwing overheard arms, powder
and about every movable thing aboard,
but he finally succeeded in eluding his
big pursuer- At another time the Re
prisal escaped by saving away her bull
warks and throwing overheard her guns
and shot. She at once ref1tted and con-
tinued her career of destruction. Run
ming away, however. was not all our
gallant ships did, for during the first
seven months of the war of 1912 they
captured over 90 British armed vessels
$50 merchantmen and 8, 900 prisoners.
The premium and penalty system,
which has given the navy such excel
lent ships. was introduced by Secretary
Whitney. Since then IA vessels have
earned III premiums the big sum Of s.,
264, $50, according to the New York
Sun, and vessels awaiting trial Will
increase the sum to an even 3, 600, 600.
Among the 10 contract ships remaining
to be tried is the torpedo boat Ericsson.
which must show a speed Of "a knots
She viii receive 50. 500 for every quar-
exceeds % knots So, 500 per quarter be-
yond that point. She viii probably dis
place the Minneapolis as the navy's
fastest ship. The ram Katadin will re-
ceive $15. 600 for each quarter knot be
yOnd the contract stipulation of II
knots, and the gunboats Penguin, Al
batross and Porpoise are to get $50. 900
for full knot in excess of the contract
speed
The battleships Indiana, Oregon and
Massachusetts. built for fighting and not
running away, viii receive $25, 600
per quarter knot above Is knots. The
gunboat Castine earned $50, 600 pre-
MUM and the Machias and Bancroft
SIS, 600 each. In tho case Of all these
ships similar deductions are made pro-
vided they fail to develop contract
speed
The Minneapolis is 412 feet long, s.
feet beam, - feet y inches draft and
displaces $50 tons She can carry
?, goo tons of coal Her armament con-
sists Of one 8 inch 10 caliber rifle, two
inch, eight 4 inch, eight six FOUNDERS,
fS0r one pounders and four gatllng gunA