New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-22
NAVAL MEN ALL AGOG.
TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED BATTLE-sHIP
DESIGNS.
MANY INTERESTING REPORTS FROM DEPART
MENT oFFICERS-cAPTAIN sAMP-
SONS ARGUMENTS.
fey TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE.l

IBy TELEGRAPH THE TRrBUNE.I
wasb,peton July H-The adopted designs OF the
nronosed battle-ships Nos. and are the subject
OF chief interest in Naval circles. ana talk ~ COLI
fined 10 doibe-deck turrets. thrteen-lnch guns anu
heavy high armor belts. among officers on duty al
the Navy Department and the gun foundry. AS
has been stated these dispatches. the controversy
Il, re,at,on 70 the turrets guns and armor belts OF
the bis shps has been the most earnest that has
been excited since the work OF rehablntating the
Navy commenced The discussion was engaged IT.
by the brightest officers in the service. and reports
on the subject submitted to Secretary HERBERT
BY Admrals Ramsay and Bunce Commodores
slcard and Selfrdge Captains Sampson and Taylor,
Commanders Corvern and Bradford, Chief Con-
structor Hichborn and Constructors Stahl and
Bowles are remarkable for the value OF the IN
formation relative to the construction or battle
ships which they contain Secretary Herbert re-
earls these REPORTS as mos interesting and i'm
portant contributions to TIE literature bearing on
the qualities Of fighting ships and fine points OF
naval tactics To Ensign Joseph Strauss IL due the
credit OF proposing the adoption Of the douoe-decK
,urrcts The idea Is original one. and IN de-
scrbing its merits Captain Sampson has alluded 10
Il az IAN Inspiration
Among the reports submitted 10 Secretary Her
bert in the course OF the discussion that OF Captain
Sampson. arguing in favor OF placing the armor
belt higher I'D on the sides OF the ships than has
been customary in this country is regarded az con-
tanning Information OF much technical ana gehera'
Interest II has been commended that the arinor
belt on battle-ships should extend well pe'o" Inc
waters edge in order that under no conditions
would she expose any weak places This argument
is the chief reason assigned for lowering the belt
below the position advised by the Bureau OF ORD
nance Captain Sampson points out IN Ills report
that the draught OF all the vessels OF the Navy
always exceeds the estimated draught' ana mat
er,fore the armor will be lower IN the water ne
says In part:
This ship was designed to nave a mean drausn,
OF q feet inches When completed, she drew
one foot more. which represents an added we,gh h
OF the Marblehead class was "A feet inches: the
actual draught is Is feet The same reina npiv At
degree 9'sr This dleaty Of overdraushi is almost
unless st every Is
Which is estimated the ship. either a. as
sGSed iO have ANY not "efSe een Allowed for
the Of ns iA the ha be in the
slightest degree gauge; If IT be found necessary
or or 1 to asa new 4 It be add
other wacsh, bushe9d as was 5ns case In t b
come necessary to put in another mssi FOR signal
all these changes affect the dravght and the post
tlon OF the belt one way only. IL is no saiesuard
the ship. Weighing 1t does not prevent Its being
Incorporated into the ship and once there II can
ton as Is about be applied TO the French ships
Brennus c.ass.
II is proposed that the belt OF these ships should
he feet & inches below water. with 800 tons or
coal on board or 5 feet II inches. with l.HV tons
OF coal This exceeds the extreme OF foreign prac-
iice by : inches and exceeds the same practice for
the same width OF belt by II inches Therefore
submit that II due weight Is given 10 the probability
that the estimated depth OF the belt will fall short
OF the actual depth. and to the fact that /, is pro
posed TO deliberately place the belt lower by from
! inches to II inches than is done in any other
service the belt should be placed foot higher. Be
fore leaving this part OF the subject desire TO re-
lterate my conviction that the belt should be main
tanned In action at a fixed depth and that depth
should be whatever theory and observation may es-
tablsh To accomplish this IL is necessary that the
depth Of belt below the surface should be estl-
mated with all weights on board: then. coal or
other supplies are consumed the draft Is preserved
by the admission OF water or course this Is only
necessary when going into action; for In times OF
peace or when cruising In time OF war. the belt
bc OF 10 any extent. III. on the
other hand, design our ships so that when load
ed the belt IL lower than II should be- there Is abb
solutely help for the difficulty. The constructor
NAV say that II does harm for being lower than
necessary but IL must not be forgotten that buoy
ancy and stability not then receiving the pro-
lection which the armor II properly placed, Is capa
bic OF giving.