New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
THE NETWORK AND COLUMBIA BOUND
NORTH
WHAT THE FLEET EvoIUTIoNs HAVE SHOWN
THE NAMES HEAVY GUNS MOUNTED


,he principal incident, of importance at the Navy
Yard this week. As has been previously announced,
the last of the four suns arrived from bethlehem
on time and on Friday afternoon the big steam
crane picked up its load Of twenty-seven tons and
holsted 1t over the starboard rail Of the battle
ship and when il let the gun resting on
the carriages provided for X. This leaves the work
OF the Ordnance Department confined to the mount
ing of the big 13-inch guns OF the monitor Puritan
now In the stone dock and. the fitting Of tHe Ian
caster for her duty gunnery practice ship.
In the Bureau of Steam Engineering there Is lit
tie going on except the work the new engines
for the Chicago and the preparations for taking
out the machinery which the cruiser now has. The
announcement that the Chicago's flag would come
down last week was somewhat premature, as IL IS
not likely now that IL will be down before Tuesday,
and the pretty white vessel will be in commission
when the New-York and Columbia arrive at the
yard which will be this afternoon or tomorrow
morning. While the Columbia is in good condition
for her trip across the North Atlantic. the crack
cruiser New-York will probably have to go into
drydock. she left the dock on December % last
and will have been out of water much longer than
the regulation time before her return from the
ceremonies attending the opening of the Baltic
Canal at kiel.
Nicaraguan troubles do not seem to have bothered
the Navy Department and that the big fleet under
command OF Admiral Meade mas been scat
tered Is a practical declaration that the Navy De
partment will be represented in Central Amerl-
waters. by the smaller boats. for some
time The Montgomery is still at Mobile. and there
will be none of the big vessels sent South again
soon unless there should be further difficulty over
the Venezuelan boundary question and other mat
ters pertaining the larger republics of the south
The Atlanta will remain at Key West for few
days. and the Minneapolis is on her way 10 Norfolk
from Kingston Rear Admiral Meade will transfer
his flag to her during the absence of the New-lork.
nd ha tharN a n. SQUAD
ron will do what little cruising duty IS required.
One result Of the fleet evoutons under the direc-
ton Of Rear Admiral Meade has been the exploding
of his idea that the triple equipment OF crul'
ers was an unnecessary waste OF power and coal
The logical result of the trial Of the Minneapolis
while in West Indian waters shows that the Admit
raj was greatly mistaken In his theory. The report
from Trinidad. where the Minneapolis Joined the
fleet, shows that on leaving port he ordered thir-
teen-knot rate of speed TO be maintained to La
Guayra. When half the distance had been traversei
the Admiral signaed 10 the Minneapolis to learn
II she could go any faster without increasing the
f-boler power which she was using and on re-
ceiving affirmative reply ordered her to 80 ahead
for seven hours. This at Il m. The order was
obeyed and at shutdown the Minneapolis was hull
down ahead Of the fleet. At O'Clock her speed
was reduced 10 eight knots and the fleet caught up
with her six hours later. The next day at noon II
was found that she had burned onl siXtyseven tons
OF coal in twenty-four hours. while the New-fork
had burned eighty-four tons in the same time. The
Minneapolis had averaged twenty tons a DAY less
than the NewYork. 10 maintain thirie~-knot
speed and the New York had to be pushed 20 run
fifteen knots while that rate was only "child's
play" for the big boat with the three screws
This real victory of the threepropeiler ship implies
more TO marine architecture than is indicated by It's
advantages for naval purposes Even the twin-screw
ships OF the transatlantic service have done what
the slnge-screw ships OF equal horsepower could
lot accomplisl. and now the record Of the Mnneap-
ellis brings up the question what would be the re-
silt IL they were fitted with triple screws.
Engineer-in-C hies George W. Melville contended
when designing the cruisers with triple screws that
better have economical performance
at medium speed in a cruiser than an expensive
performance full speed. and the new theory has
been amply justified 1t would seem from the per
Torrance OF the Minneapolis that the solution OF
the prcblem OF how 10 improve on the speed Of
merchant ships like the Iucania and Canpanla
without enhancing the cost Of their steam power
Is in sight. and OF the most intensely interest
ing questions OF the age is almost answered.
The value Of tina lessons learned by the fleet
manoeuvres is something which cannot be reckoned
until the detailed report OF all the proceedings has
been made public. one thing Is certain, however.
Annual feet manoeuvres have become a familiar
part of the naval training OF the leading nations
and should be a regular par; Of the programmes
Of this country They rest upon the same founda-
tton the division corps and army manoeuvres OF
the land forces and their first advantage IS In the
mobilization OF many vessels thus giving the line
and staff branches experience OF their require
ments and capabilities in case OF actual war In
addition 10 this feet commanders get practice IN
movements similar to those which might be required
OF them in actual hosttes and the authorities
can observe the action of officers and men under
such circumstances. The merits and drawbacks Of
particular ships DO noticed, ana IN countries
where strategical movements carried on upon
f,l o1ern dor Na1 ne la
legislation needed 10 increase naval strength In
tbs way practical lessons learned problems
are solved experiments are tried and all sorts OF
prcpost,ons are tested which would otherwise re-
main matters OF mere speculation
Wh.,e Great Britain and France can carry on
these manoeuvres a scale far beyond the power
OF the United States 1t Is well that this country
should tho vessels II has in fleet practice OF
that sort. In last years manoeuvres or the BriIsh
Navy nlnety-sx vessels took part. France some
times has Two sets Of summer manoeuvres. one In
the British Channel and one in the Mediterranean,
and extensive notifications are common also IN inc
navies OF Italy, Germany and Russia That all
these countries have profted by the knowledge
thus obtained there be no doubt. ana thit inc
expense attending the operation Of Admiral Meaoe
feet IN the last few months has been money Wen
invested is point which all who are Interested
In naval affairs and acquainted with naval matters
are agreed
The work OF improving the Brooklyn yard is go
ing on at a steady rate The new crematory' ior
which the Stanley Company has the contract mas
been practically completed. as workmen were Pu'-
ting the finishing touches TO the iron roof or inc
building yesterday. IT expected that TINS Ht'ie
building will furnish object lesson 70 New-1orH
and Brooklyn In the matter Of the disposal OF gar
baee and refuse. The office building, NO o. De-
gins to show signs OF how 1t VIII look "hc" YUM
ple,ed as much OF the iron girder WORK mas Oeei.
MT in Mace and the officials Of the Bureau oi
Cons truction and Repair beginning TO inquire oh
how long II will be before they receive oruerS 10
get out OF their present building in order TO mime
room for Improvement Bids are to be receiver up
IN Nav H. and as work will begin ten days ailer
tho signing of contracts IL is doubtful IL the pres
emit quarters can be occupied much later than inc
first OF June on the quay wall there has peeh an
addition to the force OF ple-HrlyerS, anu tne in
a short time , ,,ut,g NJ
Tba no