The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-07

ton be correct the great guns
did not give cut, for most Of them
rounds as Is generally conceded to be the
life OF heavy artillery. Most of the bat
ter'es fired almost continuously at long
ranges and with extreme elevation. and at
the close of the revolt. after six months
use. did fair shooting.
In view Of the question which has arisen
since the Japanese cruisers defeated the
Chinese battle ships at Yalu, as to the
actual value Of armored ships. here is
some interesting information about the
Aquidaban, which sustained the brunt of
the battles with the forts. She is a double
turret ship. built in 1885. citadel and turret
inches thick. speed seven knots. Says the
report: IN February the port side OF the
Aquidaban showed that she had been hit
bent port shutter there was no evidence of
injury The indeEtations that were visible
seemed 10 nave been msde by small pro-
~jectiles. An authentic report stated that
during an action between the ships on the
Goth of September the vessel was hit five
times. A six-inch shell passed through the
there; bulk heads were destroyed, but no
fire resulted. A six-inch shell shot pene-
trated the starboard side and hit a six-inch
shell standing in a rack on the gun deck.
The SHE'LL which was fused, exploded,
wounding one officer and three men. A
third shell penetrated the starboard side,
and. without bursting, destroyed the fit
tings of the admirars bath room. Another
penetrated the Port side amidships and
III a " a &Oal Ohll4.Nl III plOIEC
tile made a hole in the ships plating off
the same circumference as itself. It also
struck the inner bulkhead of the coal bum
ker, tearing two irregular holes. through
which fragments passed and wounded an
enlisted man. The fifth projectile, a. solid
shot, struck the shield Of the port bow gun
without injuring it enough to prevent the
working of the weapon. In addition sew
eral solid shots struck the armored por-
tions of the hull. leaving only slight linden
tations.
1.-THE Aquidaban, as Admiral De Mello's
flagship, was. from the outbreak of hostil-
tiles 10 the end of the revolt, the head
center of operations. In the fighting in
Rio bay she bore the principal share, now
dropping her shells among the enemy's
positions on shore, now serving as target
for every gun that could be brought TO bear
on her. and with but little harm to the
ship. Three times she ran successfully the
government forts at the mouth of Rio har-
bor. She passed out and in practically un-
scathed. despite the searchlights of the
forts and the heavy cannonade. And per-
by this war is the fact that the Aquidaban
was the strength of the revolt. Without
hers the rebels would have been crushed
in a short time, for, considering the num-
Der OF guns at hand and the land forces
available at that time, no excuse could be
offered by the government forces for not
capturing the islands and driving the ships
from the harbor or else forcing them to
surrender. The lesson is most important
as demonstrating the great value of battle
SHIPS In attack upon a coast and their re-
ciprocal value in defense. Her movements
and operations were constantly before the
Brazilian government and people as the
most important Of all. Every one felt that
IL she were destroyed short work would be
made of the other revolving forces. That
she did not try conclusions with the Bra
lillian fleet on it's way south was probably
due to lack of men, coal and ammunition.
Her central and commanding position en-
phasized the conclusion already reached
by some leading tacticlans that battle ships
will be the principal units in attack or de-
Tense. and that without a sufficient num-
Der of them no adequate defense or line
of battle can be presented against a hostile
and modern fleet. For more thar six
months this one battle ship practically held
at bay the city and harbor of Rio de
Janeiro. despite the numerous well-armed
forts and batteries"
Other chapters in the volume are de-
voted to naval administration, ships and
torpedo boats, ordnance, small arms, naval
dynamos, marine boilers, qualities and per-
formanceS of new battle ships, the great
European maneuvers of 1898 and the re-
port of a special committe upon the pro-
polling machinery and boilers of British
naval ships.