The times., 1897-08-14
INSPECTING THE INDIANA.
Military and Naval Dignitaries Visit
the WarshIp.

Halifax. Aug. g. All day the Indiana's
sailors have been engaged in scraping AND
cleaning preparatory TO painting. This
morning the dry dock was thrown open
to the public generally and visitors
throngad the place. Several proIninent
military and naval dignitaries visited the
Indiana, Including Col. Anstruther Duncan.
r.. A.; Surgeon Colonel Oliver, Capt. Powell
and Officers or the Crescent Governor
DAILY WAS also among the number on
the Indiana deck this forenoon.
Tonight the jnnior officers or the Indiana
entertained the gunroom officers or the
Crescent On application OF Copt. Taylor
10 the mayor, Antoine Johnson, the seaman
who fel from the batteship Into the COCK,
was today admitte uto the provincial hos
pibai and Is doing well.
vice Admiral Brskine is one OF the best
known officers in the British navy and
has seen service for fifty years In all
parts Of the world. He was one of those
favored by Queen Victoria at the jubilee
with knighthood, and now he Is about
retiring from active service. His term
expires this Month.
The Times correspondent called upon Sir
James today 10 learn his opinion OF the
big Unired States battleship.
IT don't thnd giving you my opinion
of the Indiana said Admiral Erskine.
yet | can speak only from cursory
examination of the ship. | had net tho
time nor was there opportunity for
thorough Investigation. But there Is
no doubt about it that the Indiana Is a
most formidable and u very heavily arnored
ship or war and that she is an efficient
battleship in every way AS sailor
would nc loath to express an opinion OF
her value unless had seen the ship at sea.
The value o. battleship Of the lndianas
size and armament depends on whether
she Is able, effectively and readily, under
any conditions, to use her great guns.
Admiral Erskine assented TO The corre-
spondent's statements that the ba6tieship
Renown, which is TO replace the cruiser
| Crescent on this station as the flagship ot
| the NorGn American squadron, has 5000
! tons greater register than the Indiana, Dut
| guns OF only about half the weight of those
on the American battleshp. The admir- al
appeared 10 think that there was very
| little doubt on which side the advantage
would lie Between a ship OF great tonnage,
| but comparatively light guns, easily handled
| at sea, Rnd the Indiana, with heavy guns
| and with, to him, at least. unknown sea
| going qualities.
'T can say without hesitation, though y
! said he, that the fndiana's ships COM
| pany consists OF very fine young set
J OF fellows The marines, particularly
! are u splendid body OF men, and the
whole ships company, as l said before.
| are generally young, sInart-looking crew
OF whoE. any captain might well be
! proud"
The reporter asked the admiral II he
! did not think II almost as important for
q nation To have good dry-doeking faciii'
/ ties for its navy as 10 possess efreetlys
ships OF var.
That goes without saying" Admiral
Erkshine replied, but do not wish 70
| discuss that Subject for obvious reasons
| would be able TO say great deal in this
line, vet It would be ont of place IN me 70
speak st this time"
It appeared quite evident from Admiral
| Erkshiue's manner and significant tone
that he had decided opinions on the specta-
Gle preserted by great nation With power
ful ships Of war, but without the means OF
dockiug them and under the necessity ol
going to a foreign port.
The principal conditions imposed by the
British government on the Halifax dry
dock management is that imperial wal
vessels shall always have the precedence
tn claims for admission to the dock. Thil
is In return for the annual subsidy o.
| II O00