New-York tribune., 1897-07-18
mot SO EASY FOR JAPAN.
THE PACIFIC SQUADRON ABLE TO GIVE A
GOOD ACCOUNT OF ITSELF

CD-''''
THAT ENGLISH WRITER'S MIGHT PONDER
The reports as to the objections on the part
of Japan to any steps which might lead to the
annexation of the Hawaiian Islands by the
United States and to the effect that in case OF
trouhIe between the two nations the japanese
Navy wouId have no difficulty in defe ating that
mart of the United States Navy which is sta
Toned in Pacific waters has caused much in
ouirv as to what constitutes the Pacific
Squadron.
London dispatch on the subject caused nuch
comment 1t said that the Japanese hne"
the strength of the American Navy, ana that III
an open conflict the United states would make
poor showing.
1T is morally certain" so said the dispatcn'
that the Japanese ships would ravage the IA
cific Coast If the United States ever became III
volved in hostilties with Japan. In that event
Spain would have opportunity OF which sne
would hardly fail to take advantage
This English view of the situation has caused
some amusement in naval circles, where IL was
said that the Asatic Squadron could be brought
to the Pacific Coast in a short time to reinforce
The Pacific Squadron now on duty near the
coast, which the English writer expects TO see
"ravaged" The Pacific Squadron consists Of the
oregon, IslllauelpHlS, -
Alert, Bennington and Marion
The Oregon is a coast line battle-ship, and is
sister ship of the Indiana and Massachusetts.
She was launched in 1893 and is able to take
and keep the sea: in emergency, and to cope
with powerfully armed vessels. She has a coal
capacity of ! 800 tons Her general features are
34S; breadth of beam. G94 feet; draught, ~ feet;
displacement, 1920 tons, and her hull is of
Will hell Of 10 feet
wide and IS inches thick. of which feet art
below the water line. She is armed with four
13-inch 3J-calibre breach-loading rifles eight y
inch breach-oading rifles, four 6-inch breach
loading rifles, six 4-inch rapid firing twenty g.
pound and four 1-pound rapid guns, four Gatling
guns and six torpedo tubes.
TGe Philadelphia is RearAdmiral Lester a.
Beardsee's flagship. She is also a formidable
steel protected vessel She is not at Honolulu.
In the Monadnock a different class of vessel is
represented. She is of the twin -turreted monitor
style and well calculated for harbor defence.
The Monadnock is at present at Portland, ore,
where the Monterey, also double turreted twin
screw armored coast defence vessel, is stationed.
The Monterey was designed to afford a floating
defence Of the highest character for the harbor
of San Francisco. She is constructed entirely
of steel and has a double bottom throughout,
with 10 water tight compartments in her hull
that can be readily filled with water, submerging
the vessel until about one foot of her sides shows
above the surface Of the water
The twin screw gunboat Bennington is at Mare
Island, Cal, where the Alert will soon arrive
from Stka. The Alert is gunboat Of the old
style built in 1873 but she is not old as the
Marion, wooden steam sloop Of war This YES
sci was once trainings on which naval
apprentices received instructions. She was 50
thoroughly ''repaired' that nothing of the old
vessel remained and no one would recognize in
the Marion now in the harbor of Honolulu. with
her improved machinery, perfect armament and
additional size in length and beam, the Marion
of generation ago.
It will be seen that the Pacific Squadron in
cudes the latest and best designs in naval archi-
lecture and several examples of moGernized old
vessels.