Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01

travel straight ahead. all the while putting
forth automobiles one after the other un-
til she should have been assured that the
vessel was destroyed. minute and half
would be little time in which to totally de-
stroy boat with such great narrowness of
beam.
Each destroyer will be equipped with an
incandescent electric lighting plant. but
Hghts Will glow only in the engine and fire
rcoms. There will be no windows opening
from these rooms. They will be ventilated
throrgh tunnels which on account of their
single cannot conduct light The cabins
viii be fitted with round windows hut in
side these apartments almost total dark
ness VIII reign at night. For rea ling the
connsss either a small bulrs-eye or a
small lamp with a casing, emitting light
oEly through a minute hole will be used
10 prevent even the small glimmer of one
.. these lamps from being seen, circullr
steel plates, like lens shutters may no
Drawn over the windows.
In the Engine Room.
The engine room Will present an Interest,"
Ing spectacle. The twin screws mpst he
driven at an enormous speed and VET tha
tublngs and parts of the machinery must
De exceedingly delicate in order to decrease
weight. The heating surfaces of the steel
multi-tubular boilers must be very great
IN proportion to their water spaces Thu
engines and boilers can be made to work
independently, and one may be shut off
from the rest in case IL is crippled No
armor viii protect the yitals of the boat
considerable protection of these will he af-
aorded by the coal bunkers arranged
around in the compartments nearest The
exterior. The new boats viii Doubtless be
the wettest vessels in the navy on acrount
OF their monstrous speed and low deck
level
The first vessel of this brand-new class
was launched last year by Great Britain
In the English torpedo ma neuvers of sum
mer before last torpedo gunboats were used
n yaf.a rfrasr
boat attacks. The gunboats lacked speed
ana proved to be greatly insufficient The
British immed -ately ordered forty-two
boats, to be known as torpedo boat de-
stroyers. They were to have a mean speed
OF twenty-siX knots Shortly after il was
learned that France. one of England's fore
most rivals. was perfecting torpedo boats
which were TO attain a minimum specd Of
thirty-one knots. Not to be outdone Brit
ain ordered twenty-eight more torpedo
boat destroyers of at least thirty knots
Several of the twenty-six knot dcstroyers
already launched by the English have
greatly exceeded the estimated trial speed.
Other Torpedo Boat Fleets.
The latest foreign naval statistics received
al the Navy Department show that twelve
other foreign powers following the lead Of
England. have already launched OF are stilI
building swift boats Of this class. but most
ly of loH;er speed. Spain, who now dares to
same class, two of which viii make at least
tweEty-e!ght knots. They are much heav-
Ter than the English boats, and our 30
kEotters will doubtless he able to more
than cope with them. Chile lately ordered
four aD-knotters. They are similar TO tho
British destroyers and would Ice useful ia
Uncle sam in the event of the formation of
an alliance Of American republics against
Spanish imposition or British aggression.
Russia's destroyer, Sokol, launched last
year, has made a test speed Of y1.1 knots.
The worlds record for speed rested with
the French torpedo boat Forban until a
few weeks ago. The Forhan once ran as
fast 3l.2 knots. This and the Cyclone
which latter will also make 81 knots or
over, are not destroyers, but simple torpedo
boats The beat which few weeks ago
exceeded the speed of the Forban was a
French destroyer. Unofficial reports state
that she made a small fraction over thirty
two. A Russian torpedo boat is also stated
to have lately made about II knots Our
destroyers will therefore have to make at
least about 32l2 knots TO hold the worlds
speed record. Although they will not re-
celve any premiums. the contractors Will
undoubtedly use every effort to make them
the fastest boats in the world. The reputa-
lions to be thus gained would be much
more valuable than the highest premiums
ever paid.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS IT