Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-09-21

and circle around each other, keeping
up an incessant fire, until one or the
other was disabled. Perhaps another
opportunity to discharge torpedoe:
might occur. or perhaps one of the
vessels might attempt to ram. As
suming that the fire OF the Cincinnati
was continuous and that the action
lasted fifteen minutes before the en-
emy surrendered, let us see what has
been expended on board.
WHAT EACH DISCHARGE COSTS.
Each proiectile fired from a 6incl
breach-ioading rife costs 1923, and the
powder about $1j, the figure varying
slightly on account of the variation
in the weight of the charge with
different lots of powder. The total
cost of each round, including cart.
ridge bag, primer, freight expenses to
the ship and other minor items, may
be safely estimated at very nearly $40
Each round from 5-inch rapid.tire
gun costs $33, of which SIS is for the
metallic cartridge case.
Each round from 6.pounder
Hotchkiss rapid-fire gun costs $3.50
and from 1-pounder SLIP.
Finally, the Whitehead torpedoes
cost the Government $4,000 each.
During the action the 6-inch rifle
has been fired twelve times at a total
expense OF $3.50.
Five 5-inch rapid-fire guns have
each been fired six times a minute
the total cost amounting $l4,S5O.
Four 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns
have been fred ten times a minute at
a total cost of $3,420.
Two 1.pounder Hotchkiss guns
have been fired thirteen times a min
ute at cost of 1886.
Two Howell torpedoes, 81 400.
Two Whitehead torpedoes, 5000.
The total cost OF the ammunition
expended amounts, therefore, to $2S,.
5S5. The consumption OF coal dur.
ing the engagement has amounted to
about $3.50, SO that the direct expenses
of fighting a cruiser of 1900 tons for
fifteen minutes has been $2S.738.
But suppose that instead of fight
between two comparatively small
cruisers we consider the cost of an en-
gagement between the great battle
ship Indiana on one side and a
squadron. composed of two armored
cruisers like the New York and two
protected cruisers like the Cincinnati
and the Raleigh, on the other.
There is something fascinating in
the picture which such a battle pres
ents to the mind-the dash tempered
judgment; the knowledge of appre'
hension; the knowledge OF his ships
and captains necessary on the part OF
the foreign Admiral in directing the
attack against the monstrous armor.
clad, from which any one OF the vessels
under his command, if unsupported
must seek safety in flight; the cool.
ness and the nerve which the captain
of the armored ship must possess to
beat off his antagonists; the prompt
ness with which he must act to meet
the attacks made upon him from all
points of the compass; the perfect
knowledge and control of the resources
OF his ship, and the responsibility, not
merely of saving his country the ST.
O0O,OO which has been built into the
vessel he commands, but perhaps oi
maintaining the control OF the sea and
thus of deciding the fate OF a great
war. Men must be put in command
young to bear successfully such
burdens, and the habit of command
must be so incorporated in the man
that he must handle the ship and his
men as though they were a part OF
himself.
GUNS THAT WOULD BE FOUGHT.
In such an action we may well
imagine that all the resources of the
Indiana would be taxed to their ut
most and that a desperate fire would
be maintained. The Indiana is an
armored vessel carrying four 13-inch
and eight S-inch breechlosding rifles,
six 4-inch rapid fire guns, twenty 6.
ponnder Hotchkiss and four 1-pounder
Hotchkiss guns. She would have op.
posed to her twenty 8-inch and two g.
inch breech.loading rifles, twenty s.
inch and twenty.four 4.inch rapid fire
guns and thirty-two 6-pounder Hotch-
kiss guns. Only one-half of the rapid
FIRE guns, however, could be brought
to bear against the Indiana at time
so that, with her ample armor protec-
ton, the battle would not be go one
sided as would at first appear.
In fifteen minutes of action the In
diana would fire each of her thirteen.
inch guns six times. Each time one
of these guns fred 1,10O pounds ol
steel, costing $41S, is hurled at tie
enemy with a velocity of 2,1O0 feet a
second by means of the pressure de
veloped in the combustion of 55C
pounds OF powder worth SO cents g
pound. Allowing for cartridge bags
primers, freight and other items, the
cost of each fire from these guns may
be estimated at $500, making twenty
four shots costs $4,000. Her eight 8
inch rifles would be fired ten times
apiece, at a cost of $l60 for each dis
charge, making total of $12 800.
Six 4-inch rapid fire guns would each
be fred seven times minute, a tota
of $50 shots, each of which would cos
$25, making in all $l5,75O fired away.
Twenty 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns
if fired ten times minute each, woult
add $3.50 to the cost for the 3,0Ol
discharges.
Four 1-pounder Hotchkiss guns
fred thirteen times a minute each