New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

II seems doubtful whether in the minds Of enthu-
siasts there any limit to the speed which modern
gtnboats can attain. one does not mark
stopping place, but only encourages the naval ex-
perts TO press to greater attempts. 1t Is stated
that plans have been submitted to the British Adj
miralty for the construction of a fouila of small
gunboats which intended to attain to the mar
veous speed OF forty knots hour In addition TO
this seemingly incredible speed these vessels are to
be made capable of being submerged. ether wholly
or IN part Electricity T. said 10 be the power TO be
applied to carry the vessels through the water AT 80
per cent or more Increase OF speed apoYe mat mere
tofore attained and II IL also to be used for lighting
PaTO The pa e Of pr are f. BE
IS considerable sce9ticism among men OF the naval
service that rhe scheme will be practicable az pres
The British Admiraltys designs and recommends
tons favor the policy Of building smaller. swifter
and handler ba;t.e-shps in the future but they
only speculative thus far. However the matter is
receiving serious constellation. and If II should be
decided this retroeade movement IN the naval con-
struc.ion policy will put the Admiralty in awk-
ward position 10 explain the reasons for spending
much money on enlarged craving docks. for 1t would
b. going back to size OF ship that could be lifted
that the Russian Swedish and Dutch Governments.
and many dock owners have turned their attention
TO i ipe OF estns docks The CHOICE OF sites for
such docks Is much larger than for the craving
they can be located in the water. well
the land In time Of war Is believed that the float
The Imperial Russian yacht Standard. recently
launched be ready for service early in 1897 She
is built Of steel sheathed with wood. and coppered.
is 55s7 tons displacement and is intended to have
a speed of twenty knots. The boilers are OF the
Belleville type which has long been a favorste in
the Russian Navy.
Admiral Sir William Fanshaw- Martin. Of the
British Navy. long carried the nickname OF Fly
Martin but attery he has been dubbed "Pincher''
NJ small
which he was popularity supposed 10 have command
ed. He credited with having shown consider
able severity IN the days when hogging was permit
ted in the English Navy.
The French Minister Of Marine recently INDUCED
in some sharp criticism OF the English vessels.
their speeds etc. He asserted TIA, English
ships could carry the coal set down for them on
paper; In fact that they were unable to carry more
than twothlris OF the coal which they were report
ed TO have capacity for on the other hand. the
French ships could carry more coal tnan appeared IN
posed be: whereas. the English ships had moth
turns The reply made 10 this by of the Ad-
miralty was: 'The statements are all rubbish but
they may please the French
The French have had some remarkably success
full trials lately OF their new ships The armored
cruiser Friant recently attained speed OF 49,
knots with lis revolutions OF the screw. for two
hours under forced drauen The third-class cruiser
Ilnols has reached 10 knots with natural draught-
on the other hand. the unarmored cruiser Lau-
bat. intended for speed Of 1914 knots. only
tanned a speed OF 1878 knots ms deficiency OF
speed Is attributed defect Of the bull the
engines maintained $500 horsepower IL Is reported
that graver defect than loss OF speed exists In this
vesseI and that she lacks stability. TO overcome
which sixty tons OF lead have been put on her keel.
The hospital ship lately built IN France by private
subscriptlon to be utilized among the fishing boats
on the Banks OF Newfoundland. which was described
in The Tribune about three weeks ago. was totally
wrecked her arst VOYAGE only lew days ago.