Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18
tary masts must he called under cover or


What is termed the armor belt of ship
extends ordinarily only along that part of
the water line WHICH is between the two
turrets on each side. 1t is eight feet wide,
feet above it. 1t does not stretch the whole
length of the vessel, because it has to be
so massive that ats. weight would be too
great. Its purpose is to protect the vital
hull and the machinery. Nevertheless, re-
cent happenings Rns eastern waters prove
that this belt must be extended so as to
cover the whole ref the water line, even
though it has toabe made thinner toward
the bow and stefnf During engagements
between the Chinese and Japanese shells
from rapid-f1re tYelve-pounders ripped
open the sides of vessels at the water line.
where they were unprotected, letting water
into some of the compartments. Such
damage, owing to; the weight of the water
taken in, is apt to cause ship to heel over
so that she cannot fight her guns, those on
one side pointing skyward, while those On
the other are inclined toward the water.
AT the Yalu fight the unprotected bows and
sterns CT many vessels were fairly riddled.
The Effect of Noise.
A plan of fighting found very effective
by the japanese was to concentrate the
attack of their fleet upon a few of their
opponents at time. One of the most ex-
traordinary freaks of the late war was
Incidental to the attack of Wei-Hai-Wei
The mikado's fleet got in front of the east
entrance to the port and turned on all Of
its steam sirens and whistles making ter
rible hullaballoo. at the same time firing
Its guns as fast as possible, many of the
latter being loaded only with powder. Sim
ultaneously the forts on land which had
been captured by the Japs opened fire.
Probably 1t was the biggest noise that was
ever made by human beings in this world
Inc chinese torpedo boats fled, running
back through their own fleet The Eu-
ropean officers in the Chinese service COM
handing the forts on the island fired upon
their own torpedo boats in disgust, sink
ing one OF them. The others ran ashore
their crews flying inland Not a single shot
struck Chinese fort ship. The whole
affair was simply highly successful scare
one hears a great deal of the contest
between the armor and the gun. 1t is in
reality a fight between the armor and the
projectile. Just at present the armor has
the best of it, and expermenters are try
ing to find something that will pierce it.
The revolution in the building of ships
within the last quarter of a century has
certainly been wonderful. The present
chief constructor of the United States ravy,
Mr. Hichborn, himself built the Marion
which was the last wooden vessel con-
structed by Uncle Sam for use in war Not
long ago the Navy Department trans
ferred to the Department of the Interior
the timber reservations which were SET
aside originally for the exclusive use of
the navy. On these reservations, in Ala
bama, Florida and Mississippi grew forests
frames of the vessels of the old navy. The
live oak being no longer wanted, it was
thought best to hand over the land to the
public domain, particularly as most of the
remaining timber had beer stolen by pr-
vate individuals.
Millions of dollars worth of roughed-out
live oak timbers are now lying at various
navy yards. Most of the stuff has been on
hand ever since the civil war. Though
formerly valued at about Sl.50 a cubic foot,
it is now almost worthless: the government
has 10 use for it. and cannot sell it to adj
vantage. Great quantities of it are in the
timber dock at the Norfolk yard, over
flowed with water; when a piece of it is
wanted, somebody goes fishing for it. Wa
ter does not hurt it. but on the contrary
preserves it. 1t is a very hard wood, close
grained and heavier than water. The live
oak tree is gnarled and m;sshapen, with a
short and thick trunk. 1t does not yield
planks but pieces of great touShness used
70 be obtained from 1t for the framing OF
the old ships of the line. The trees were
girdled and left to die standing, thus be-
coming hard ami impervious to water.
An old-tme warship had deck of yellow
pine. over which plarks of white oak We're
laid. The deck beams, masts and spars
were of yellow pine white pine berg used
for the interior nuish.. Now the deck is of
steel, covered with yellow pine. fhe spars
ard yards are OF yellow pine. spruce being
employed for lighter ,spars. however. Ma
hoSany is employed to some extent for
interior finish. The partitions of bulk
nCGuS, as We'll as lEe doors ana NOOu-
work. are of oak ard mahogany. In the
new battleship Texas light corrugated ron
is being put in for bulkheaiS, this being
regarded as an important Improvement.
To avoid the dampneSs resulting from the
condensation of moisture from the air
upon the iron. the surface is covered with
cork paint" The iron being freshly paint
ed, pulvefized cork is thrown upon it. The
masts of the modern warships are tubes Of
steel, and the hull proper is all of steel
The craft is nothing mere nor less than a
flcatirg fort. The Texas is a gigantic metal
box in the shape of d boat, weighing 6.i,'J
tens. Perforate her with few shots sni
such a vessel is transformed into a huge
coffin, carrying hundreds of human lives
and 100000 of value to the bottom OF the
sea. RENE BACHE.