The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-07
NEWS OF FOREIGN NAvIEs.

The British cruiser Leander, built in 1882,
is having her battery of 6-inch. breech-loading
rifles replaced with ten 6-inch quick-frers.
The cost, including refit will amount to $780,
900.
Japanese volunteer fleet is under consid-
GRAFTON among retired naval officers of that
country 1t is planned TO consist Of nine
steamers, ranging from 5000 to 5000 tons dis
placement, and fourteen steamers OF 800 to
5000 tons displacement In times of peace the
larger steamers will run between ports OF
Japan, Australia and America, and the smaller
class Will be employed on the routes to China.
There is only one cruiser af1oat faster than
the Yoshino, which is credited with speed of
% knots-the Argentine cruiser Buenos Aires,
having trial speed OF 23.2 knots In the
event of complications with foreign countries
the Yoshino and the two ships contracted for
in the United States would prove troublesome
commerce destroyers, as no European navy
possesses any vessels that could overhaul the
japanese ships.
The frequent dismal failures of French
vessels-ofwar is chiefly due to changes
OF naval administrations, each new one hay
ing its particular hobby to ride. The blame
for over-weighted, unseaworthy ships is there
fore not to be laid to the constructors, but
brief period of authority, make radical changes
in vessels under construction, and as rule no
armored vessel which takes years to build in a
dockyard is anywhere near the original design
when finally completed.
The Jeaureguiberry, begun at La Seyne in
1891 and launched in 1898 mas just had her
gun trials, which were satisfactory. Electric
power is used for the turret and ammunition
uao fhar 10 mn hud~ m
whatever on board. The turrets are SO placed
as to have an unvarying center of gravity and
may be worked by hand in case of accident 10
the electric power. She is OF an entirely dif-
ferent type from the Hoche, Neptune and Ma
genta having only moderate superstructures,
and is therefore likely to prove good ship at
sea.
There are twenty-four 100 and los ton guns
of 17-inch caliber in the Italian navy, carried
on the Duilio Doria, LAURA, Lepanto Moro
81 nj, Italia and Dandolo 1t is contempt ted
to replace these monster guns with more mod
eratesized ordnance, and the Dandolo has
already been fitted with four 10-inch rifles
and seven 6-inch, quick-fring guns The fact
that some of the I7-inch guns have been in
service since 1873 and have therefore long
ago fired their 100 rounds, which is said to
constitute their lifetime, may account for this
material reduction in armament
An Austrian naval officer has invented
night signal system for use at sea. The appar-
atus, constructed fifteen years ago, was tried
last month at Pola, the Austrian naval port,
and gave good results. 1t consists of two
lamps of 200 can6le-power each. containing
five systems namely: fixed white light,
fixed red light white fiashlight, red fash
light and white and red fiashlight. Thirty
signals. therefore, can be given with two of
these lamps, which are visible at great dis
lance. The mechanism is independent of
weighing power and is in no way affected by
the movements of the ship.