The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-04-19

he battery and causing uehoIA
satlon generally. This fact has
II Will be remembered that IN inc
battles with the japanese the Chinese
ships were on FIRE almost continuously
rom the effect Of buntiug shells. the
men were called from the guns TO eA-
lngulsh the flames. thus diminishing
ne efficiency Of the battery and causing
Generalization generally. This fact has
ed 10 the movement 10 reduce the WOOD
9ork In men-of-war 10 minimum. "
a. a matter OF vital Importance. All
ships In our navy need thorough over
hauling In this respect. Before war
comes they shoulda all be sent to thenaNy
cards and the woodwork should be re-
moved. A process Of treating WOOD
chemically 10 make u fireproof has been
successfully tried In this country and
this wool will be used IN ships no"
building. But even this wood VIII FUR
lnlsh spllnters. and ought not to be used
In parts Of the ship whore men are ex-
posed. In an such places the hulkheada
should be Of light corrugated iron' as N
Tho Texas. covered With asbestos and
painted. This would prevent splintera
rs well as fire.
Many OF the pretty mahogany SKY
lights. ornamental brass hatch cano-
nles and pieces OF bright work that no"
add 20 the beauty Of our men-of-waf
nus, be sent ashore IN time OF war
The preparations In the engineer de-
partmont should be as thorough as on
ieck. Ships designed for great speed
must be ready to make this speed 10
,arc Il Is needed In battle, and the ma
.hinery must not be- exposed TO shot OF
she'll or to the debris falling from above
The battle hatches IN the protective
, ieck over the boiler and engine
, should therefore be- closed down, al
! Ores should be started. the blowers pm
In operation. and Il should be deter
mined whether the ventilation II sucl
that the men can live and perform th
! iutles that would fall 10 them during al
Engagement
II Is safe to say that few ships In th
G new navy" OF the United States hav
I ever been subjected TO a full-speed tria
under battle conditions. Il would seei
that the inspection report" should Ia
,lude such a test--it Is one OF the mos
important Of all practical requirement
In a man-oi-Sar.
= A squadron routine Is Incomplete
! the most vital OF all points II It does NJ
provide for maneuyering OCCASIONAL
: under the conditions that would prof.
ably obtain 10 battle Il should b. 81
rrrtalned whether or not the armors
coming towers are TO be used. and n
stations Of the captain. the exeoutl,
aud the navigator should be deanlle
decided upon.
A great deal Of arhltrariness. a con
mcndable thoroughness and zeal. Al
displayed In many OF the comparative
,, trivial matters In naval routine.
:, would be well II the same arbitrarine
!, the same thoroughness and zeal We
/, always shown In the vitality importa
tc matters that affect the efficiency OF
II ship for battle And this rule appll
ny not only to the material. but 10 the Pc
Y sonnet OF a man -of-war--io ita comp
! sltlon. organization aud disposition {
hi battle. Il Is In this latter respect mo
e than In all other points combined IA
n. there Is crying need for reform In I
~ new navy.
ln A close inspection Of the person.
y OF our ships, when all are al their n
~ lions for battle will uncover ma
glarlng and absurd defects. lndivl
he uais will be found at important POI
rs. who are totally unfit for the work. a
en- whose failure In action would eripl
H. the battery There are too few men
=, many important stations. while al oh
"a. points men are uGolessly employ,
There are men and officers whose ira
10 ing and habitual duty In time OF pei
- render them quite unavailable Cor r.
" eral duties In battle. and who could
eg replaced by others whose trainI
OF would contribute greatly to fight
m, efficiency. Conservatism and a slngu
ne and lnexplicable tendency. develop
.n' daring a period OF naval impotency,