The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-11-09
TORPEDO BOATS DEFICIENT
STRONG ARG UMENTS FROM THE
CHIEF NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.

STRONG ARG UMENTS FROM THE
CHIEF NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.
He Says In His Paper Also That the New
Cruisers VIII Not Decide Battles-It Is
Alone Through Battleships That an
Enemy Can be Met-Coast Defence Ves-
sells and Topedo Boats Are Important.
\ New York, Nov. S.-Dhere was a some
what larger attendance at to-day's ses-
sions of the Society of Naval Architects
and Marine Engineers Lieutenant A.
p. Niblack read a paper on Tactical
Considerations in Warship Design"
A paper on Recent Designs of Yes
sells for the United States Navy" writ
ten by Philip Hichborn, chief construc-
tor, u. s. N, was read by Secretary w.
l.. Capps. Constructor Hichborn's pa
per presented strong arguments in Ia
vor of a comprehensive systematic pro-
gram for obtaining a homogeneous and
effective fleet peculiarly adapted 10
American necessities We have grad
ually settled down, he says, to sea-
going battleships, low freeboard har-
Dor defence armor-clads, armored cruis-
ers, gunboats and torpedo boats as the
types required and we have continued
to gradually build up our fleet, but un-
til recently with too much emphasis on
cruisers and too little regard for the
real fighting machine of naval warfare
the properly armed and armored bat
tleship, which must in any naval war,
be it one of offense or defense, bear the
brunt of battle.
Cruisers are extremely serviceable in
peace and have a definite and useful
function in war, but they will not de-
eide battles. Coast defence vessels and
torpedo boats are virtually important
in defending a harbor or dislodging an
enemy after he has obtained an en-
trance, but 1t is alone through battle
ships that an enemy can be met and
vanquished before he has even sighted
our coasts and through battleships alone
that any successful demonstration may
he made against the enemys principal
seaports The great extent of our sea-
board which embraces 5000 miles of
coast line, would be almost appalling
not for the fact that our deep-water
11arbors are not proportionately numer-
GUS. This simplifies any problem of de-
fence, but renders efficient blockade by
an enemy much less difficult. The chief
constructor says also:
'The limited depth at the entrance
of most of our harbors has led to the
development of the Puritan and Am
phitrite class, which will completely
fulfill their design and have thesdisad-
vantage Of lack Of coal endurance and
extreme discomfort to the crews.
''In torpedo boatswe are very deficient.
Ut is upon this class, in conjunction with
our land batteries and low free board
ironclads, that we must mainly depend
in defending our harbors from attacks
o ia powerful naval adversary and lack
of foresight in providing inadequately
for this branch of our scheme of naval
defence might be fraught with serious
consequence in the advent of wal"
Commodore Hichborn declares that
the 12-inch rifle has been settled upon
by all the leading powers as the most
desirable calibre for the heaviest guns,
and he doubts whether torpedoes have
more than counteracted by their great
danger of prematurely exploding in ac-
ton. In conclusion he insists that the
United States should begin building a
strong fleet of battleships
At the conclusion of the paper Admiral
Meade discussed some of the points
made He believed that the flag sys-
TEN of signalling was clumsy and out of
date, and he suggested that the society
give attention to the invention of some
electrical signalling device. The speak
er agreed with Lieutenant Nlblack that
some provision should be made for the
protection of THE admiral or command
ing officer of the fleet during action
The admiral and other speakers advo-
Gated provision of a protected signal
tower.
A paper on Engineering Research in
the Navy" by Prof. William S. Aldrich
of the University of West Virginia, was
read by Secretary Capps. A paper on
t@The Performance of the Twin-Screw
Steamer City of LOWELL was read by
Prof James E. Denton Of the Stevens
Institute of Technology.
Admiral Meade then handed in the re-
port of the committee appointed in re-
gard to memorializing congress and the
senate in the interest of the Nicaragua
canal The report was in favor of such
a memorial. The admiral also present.
ed memorial to congress which recttes
tn Importance of the construction of
the canal and asks:
''That the Nicaragua Canal company
under the control of citizens of these
United States, may receive at your
hands such consideration, sympathy
and substantial aid and encouragement
as you may deem wise and just"
After discussion, the society, by vote
of 27 to 4, decided not to memorialize
congress on the subject.
Are Urged to Join,