The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-10
WHAT THE ENGINEERS SAY.
THE skILoR OF T. T. AND THE
STOKER or TO-DAr.

haps one might better say have set IN n chorus
Of steam whistles. in the current number Of tho
North american Rcrieir. No fewer than FIVE
articles are grouped In battery to show the im-
%portancc Of the engineer In naval warfare and
the means OF recognizing that Importance.
Chief Engineer Melville lends Off with a very
recent quotation from the London Engineer,
declaring that "thc naval supremacy of Great
Britain rests in the hands of the engineers"
and that Mr.. Goschon, the First Lord OF tie
Admiralty. must take steps to add to their
number, since their pay and tho 10 ,ting on
which they are placed are now not good enough
to attract men. That, of course, was, as tho
name of the newspaper indicates. an express
tton Of opinion from n mouthpiccc of engineers
but La Marine Frducdisc. from n rather differ
ent standpoint, also recently declares that
everything Is engines In the navy" and that
in the strife between the deck and the engineer
officer tho role of the latter Is constantly in-
crcasinR In Importance. 1--WE refuse to admit
II, but strife does. exist. and IL is only whom
compelled that we give the engineer due rank
and authority. Formerly everybody had to
he a sailor; now everybody should he an engi-
ncer." This is going very far, bat Chief Engi-
necr Melville holds that the reason is that
speed, and particularly its control. is the car.
dinal element of tactics In modern times.
In former days the great aim of the naval
commander was to get the advantage of tho
WtlllltT gauge bNtT n~ tHtInN. IuI \ HUIs
Mnhan has shown how steam now furnishes
the weather gauge. and the Earl Of Hopetoun
repeated tho idea a shor! time ago In declaring
that 'th" weather gauge of to-day is the pow
err to outsteam the fleet of the enemy" The
ability to manu'uvrc successfully has become
largely dependent upon the shape of tho hull,
the number. form. and position of the prOpel-
lers. and the power of the steering and other
engines. In former days skill in seamanship
| regulated the 'tnrtipnl Iiatnptpr'' of the shin.
and victories were won 10y the way in which
the sails were handled; hut now n ships tao
teal diameter Is determined once for all by
her engineer. and the commander can secure
1t at will by using the degree of engine power
needed for II given speed.
Thus II is clear how great is the importance
of properly designing vessels, not only as TO
their hulls, but as to their steam machinery.
For while n sailing shin had hut one weapon.
namely, the gun. the modern steam war ship
adds the ram and speed; for the latter allows
her at will to bring on or avoid n conflict. But
Chief Engineer Melville insists that besides
the importance of the engineer in planning
the ship. he has the greatest influence upon
its efficiency in battle:
1t will he Influenced 10y the enhur ancc Of the FIRE.
man behind the ram. that unseen stoker whose sta
t,io. Is in front Of the roaring Furnaces. 1t may lie
MAINTAINS in order the hydraulic gear Connected
weeks To Train a man to ,igni q weapon mi pun The
i"ck~rrlns. Will 1t may require >"ar- 10 master tho
making hydraulic joints.
Especially does Chief Engineer Melville object
to calling the engineers and the trcmcn non
ComtltHnts, when they are exposed to all tho
dangers from the ram and the torpedo, and to
the periis OF the boilers and engtaes. II he
falls beneath II maze If wrecked machinery,
or with n blast OF scnldinE steam. or SINKS to
ocean DEPTHS ii, ia" Closed c,omrartment,
been honorable, or til" worlds ideal needs re-
vision In the trying character of the engi;
neer's work carried ON in Crainpei quarters and
a %vitiatc'l atmosphere. Chief Engineer Melville
in"s another reason for giving the engineer
all the official recognition and cmolum.nts pos
sihl". lie l. subjected Ia n great mental strain
i'll his work. While trying 'cn,tantly +" avoid
and in time OF battle he engineer officer must
inspire the Isolated band 2f, ircmen and me-
chani y hcrnr"tically sealed below the prutec-
tive deck. Even in peace The hard work of tho
engineer officer cannot IL" long endured.
Grafton between Annapolis and tho engineer
ing schools Of tie scientific colleges. Not
Naval Ac,ucmy, and it is hoped to recruit tho
corps " here. What arr known as tho
advocated in some of these essays. and also
the. establishment OF naval engineering ex.
NcW" london. and otI,rr" in various states.
Prof, Aidrich OF the University OF West
gain for me Government. which would STE
cure the best MATERIALS and the highest types
henciiciarL". Of the Land Grant bin of lsH2,
and the Morrill, act Of Isnoi NTH, tornish
1TllllUI GtSlllN w l'~'NItn, " UNIV any 'ph-
nectcd with the Government.
Prot. Hollis 81 Harvard points out that tho
war ships have become great workshops. Tho
New YORK contains srvcnty-three engines and
pumps, and the Columbia ninrty-four.
In lso': att"c n" "xn@r,Tn.c of 4 long war. The
ncrrs on rnc list OF regulars in the navy
wsrr about Spual. being 1893 and 49,; r.sg"st,ysIy:
ori'rrs ana LES engineers. including volunteers;
steam navy, thrr" are ia or,crr, Of Tie line and
1913 Officers 81 IN" engineer corps. III" duties ~
tirar,ous. q, Ia" number NJ engineers has decreased
ami the number OF his commanding officers has he-
come greater, During tut, period mere has been a
growing struggle b"twecn the engineers aud the
the Sayy. % that now all legislation looking toward
vent yea Of ]nachnery /, "rr""tuaIIy checked. The en-.
elncors have become disconienlcd and unhappy In
largely in their effectiveness, Congress has re-.
sS!yGi dozens Of memorial, grEims mat the Sdu.
and that II Is The practical m"rnaml. who Is needed:
hammock, aud In he content win a maximum pay
OF SO l"r month, IT," rmEinrcr,, force, from one,
charg" ."t on" commissioned engineer officer; These
""I"T Mon 1"' AZ th@ n"im a." AID at at The sunS. Congress.
men may not h" well informed ON naval anairs.
distinction hct"ccn the two CLASSES of Officers 10
dlnicult 10 make clear.
1t is further urged that since line officers
and engineers are cduratcd together at the
Naval Academy, taking the same military
drills, the theories which would deprive tho
former of definite, military rank. simply be-
cause they devote their attention. 10 the portion
ot.the ship ana of HE crew below decks, are not
well founded. Tho rather striking assertion
Is made that the only logical outcome of pres.
ent affairs IS to fuse all parts u the crew 70.
gcther. 80 that the greater number of men
may work at the engines when stcaminR and
nj the gqas, when iiGhting. Prof; Hollis, IL
may he added, was an engineer IN the navy for
many years
Mr.. q. G.. Sims of the American society Of
Mechanical Engineers gives "A general review
of some needs of tln navy, particularly as re-
lated to construct. ON and engineers. He sug-
gesIs that engineers and maclliRistS should ho
enrolled II the naval reserve CORDS. He also
points out the pretln!nrncc at NarrHgauseLt
lay HS IL hArbur for our merchant marine.
Mr.. I hlcr. President nj the Marine Engi-
ncer-' BrnciirIa! Association, shows that tho
registered and licensed tonnage Of our mer-
chant marine comprises Sam steam vessels,
on whirh serve II ,OOU licensed masters, mates,
and pilots, with lT,jiU engineers for duties
relating TO the motive pOwer.' But there
~ - Dnnnu ILL., ~ n.ELuLA AlunLn- L.. Auln