The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-04-27
MEDIUM SIZED war SHIPS
Lord Brassey Advocates Smaller
Men Of War.
Very Complimentary Reference to secre-
tary Herbert-Advises Great Brit
ain to Study the American
- Naval Method.

Washington. April l9.-There has
been received at the navy department a
copy ofstlIe address recently delivered
by Lord Brassey, president of the In
stitution of Naval architecture. at the
third session of that body spt its meet
Ing in March. Lord Brassey has been
q member of the British admiralty and
has given a great deal of attention to
the building OF the British navy. The
Interesting point of the address Is his
/ advocacy OF ships of medium dimen-
sfons with increase of numbers. He
says that it has been the desire Of Great
Britain Ito build a navy equal to any
two other powers. The desired numeri-
cal strength has not been attained and
ne thinks that smaller vessels could be
built as to cost and equipment on a ba-
sis of about, five vessels where three are
now constructed.
Lord Brassey eriargad upon this
proposition, saying: Ithile fully rec
ognizing the superioI'ty of the latest
battleships in every element of fighting,
in efficiency, in dealing with every emei'
gency, 1T may be su~pernuous ito set forth
once more the leading arguments for
keeping down dimensions and distribute
ing the fighting power of the fleet IN a
great umbe of ships. With increasS
ing dimensions the skillful ava archi-
tect will show a more than proportion
ate gain in ~seakeeping qualities. speed,
coal endurance, armor and armament.
But when all that is practicable has
been done the officer in command re-
mains as undefended in the heaviest
ship as in the slenderest of torpedo
boats. Below the water line the largest,
-. ~. LIN 49, c-n11ync& Sc- ~ ot,n,
tected by armor from any blow which
may be dealt by the ram or the torpedo.
1t has. been sought to strengthen the
means of offensive defense by large ad-
ditions to the armament. Quick firing
guns will be of no avail on dark nights
or in rain, snow and fog, contingencies
sure to be. often experienced by fleets
engaged in the arduous task of sealing
up an enemy in any Of the ports of Eu-
rope. In SUI circumstances a large
fotillu of sea keeping torpedo boat de-
stroyers is the only resource. In the
consideration of this question of dimen-
sions the personal element demands at
tention. The fewer types of which
fleets are composed the fewer the OPP
portunities of a dashing and e%nterpris-
ing officer, whose qualities for command
must remain undiscovered until brought
to the test of actual warfare. Hydro
graphical conditions can be put aside.
| We must build vessels available for all
services THAT may be required from the
navy, vessels not excluded by their
draught of water from many of the
busiest harborS of the world, able to APP
proach allssoasts likely to be the scene
of nava1S l%erattions and capable of
passing trough the SueZ CANAL +,
Lord Brassey also takes occasion to
compliment Secretary Herbert. He
says: I'm framing a of ship
building for the future the policy of the
British admiralty should be hat recon-
mended to the United States by the Sec
rotary of the navy"
He quotes from the recommendations
and suggestions of Secretary Herbert in
which he pointed out that the strength
of Great Britain between 1892 and 1872
was due to her numerous battleships.
Closing his remarks in reference to
what h secretary recommended, he
save: II am unable to conceive of any
advice more suitable ITO our own re-
q~uirements than that quoted from Sec
rotary Herbert"
HI navy department has received
the plans OF an experiment that is being
made in Russia upon a new war vessel
to be built with triple screws. 1t will
be two heavy twin screws connected
with the most powerful engines to be
used for obtaining a high rate of speed,
while the outer screw will be used only
for securing moderate speed. The twin
screws can be uncoupled and will re-
volve in the water when not in use.