The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-03

etructive IRE against unarmored parts
OF q vessel, to rake exposed positions.
to drive the crews FROM partly protected
gun stations, aud to resist TIE attack Of
light craft aud especially torpedo boats
Besides these means of offence there
are six torpedo tubes for the discharge
of the deadliest engine Of modern
warfare, and woe 10 the craft that is
struck by that burden of 120 pounde
of gun cotton
Either in the iue of battle or 10 tae
distant BON mbardment Of city these
vessels would prove monster masses Of
destructive might.
The Texas and the Maine. second-
class battle ships, are most effective
vessels, and. while not SO powerful as
either the Indiana, her sister ship, the
Massachusetts, could be counted upon
for able and effective service 10 support
of Old Glory.
In the Amphitrite, Puritan and Ter
ror we have the ideal fighting craft.
CT low freeboard and limited exposure
of hull, with ponderous guus we'll pro-
tcc,ed BY turrets Of tougbened steel,
ard secondary batteries, of rapid fire
guns Of considerable calibre, these
ships would, in moderate sea, prove
unpleasant antagonists for the most
formidable battle ship aAoat. and would
be many times harder to bit than the
massive enemy The moderate draft.
from Il to 18 feet, makes them acces.
sib!c to many bases of supply otherwise
denied the heavier laden battle ships,
while their unquestioned seaworthIoe-s
grants them very wide radius of ac-
ton At distance of eight or ten
miles they woula prove far too elusive
targets for the bcst Of shore guunery,
while their own guns would still be
within effective bombardiug range
TLey will form the reserve or inner
line of battle and 10 be the object OF
their gun fire is Dos comfortable pros
pecs for the heaviest armcred craft.
In the Katahdin we have vessel de-
slgoed purely for ramming, aud every
thing las been strained to that end
The battery she carries is composed Of
our 8.poundcr rapid FIRE guns, aud
their mission will be the repulse Of
torpedo boats, for while her thick sides
of hardened steel may defect ponder
Gus shot they are still vulnerable to the
discharge OF these tiny craft At a
speed of l6 knots, she will rush her
body of 2,155 tons at an enemy. and
nothing yet fabricated by naval archi-
tects can Withstand that awful blow.
The purpose of the Katahdin would be
the guardianship Of harbors and narrow
passes, and the delivering of blow in
the confusion of battle
The Columbia is principally vaua-
Bile because of her speed, but still car
res battery which would permit her
to put up good fight against ship Of
her class, auxiliary cruisers, Of the IN.
armored craft of an opposing force. As
a lookout, dispach boat, or rapid
means of communication between bases.
she would serve most nsefully, but as
ao ambulance ship for the transfer Of
wounded and the supply of fresh forces,
she would be particularly admirable.
In the Newark, Montgomery and
Marblehead we have effective CON-
merce dcstroyers and blockade patrols,
while 10 their batteries and range Of
action they would prove helpful fight
ing ships against everything but ar
'nored craft IN the coming maueu-
vres these vessels will, in all proba bill
ity. be the most active, while the mod
crate draft of the Raleigh, Marblehead
aud Montgomery will make them par
ticularly useful for inshore work.
The mission Of the torpedo boats
Gushing aud Ericsson is sufficiently
macifest, and besides picket service
some very hazardous duty will fall to
their lot
The groas displacement of the vessels
comprising the blockading feet will be
well-nigh 100000 tons, and against
the concerted activity and might of this
force the Vesuvius, mass Of only 929