New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-17
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.
ESTIMATES FOR THE BRITISH ADMIRALTY's NEXT
YEARS wORK-NEw FOREIGN SHIPS

ESTIMATES FOR THE BRITISH ADMIRA1.TY's NEXT
YEARS wORK-NEw FOREIGN SHIPS.
The estimates Of the Admiralty of 1.-The Queens
Navee" for 1878 foot up a total OF f2l S3s 900
el@l5e $50. OF this total construction is to
absorb $34.0 00o almost exactly one-thrd OF the
entire sum asked for. The Admiralty is reminded
by its critics that it fails appreciate that
possible future antagonist IS building fast cruisers
which may be made available for the destruction
Of British commerce. and they want TO know why
England should not follow suit. The principal
Hem IN construction provides for four new battle
ships, eight hght-draught steamers for special SER
vice which any English firm viii turn out in
iwenty-eisht days. and they will be ready for the
scrap heap In about as many months" and the
new royal yacht which it is promised shall be
yacht pure and simple. and not a hybrid tumble Of
palace and barracks" Then s295ll,7l6 is required
Tor the officers and that are 10 comprise the
crews OF the fleets for the next twelve months.
Tremendous amount Of money when compared with
the S8z353S5 appropriated for the officers and en-
listed serving the ships of the United States
Navy. the Coast Survey and Fish Commission. and
tho clerks to commandants. paymasters. etc. at
naval stations. Naval armament swallows up
N2@s,2jo more OF the Admiralty estimates.
a few days ago a report appeared that the ag
gregate displacement Of vessels launched in the
United Kingdom in 1896 was 1883 tons The reader
naturally drew the inference that this tonnage was
added 10 the British Navy, but the detailed
schedule shows that A. s09 tons were in vessels for
o'her foreign nayies. In other words, all over
1880 tons must be divided between Japan. China
Brazil. Spain and the Argentine Republic. all
liberal paying clients OF Engand's builders. While
only le,sio tons" are for Britain's Navy 1t Is
large amount compared with the ~ 4G5 tons built
Sst year for the United States Navy.
Scotch naval architect has been turning his
auenton 20 the better protection Of the engine
sao boiler rooms Of torpedO-boats and destroyers'
lie proposes 10 make the hul,s Of such vessels OF
less breadth Of beam and Of greater draft in re-
h,on 10 length than is the practice nowadays
This would bring all Of the vtals-magaznes.
engines and bolers-boow the waterlne, ana they
would be further protected by the protective deck
and third inda-rubber belt over the curved SIDES
o. The deck and around the skin Of the ship 1901
TTyio" and eighteen inches above the wateTiih ne
ns rubber belt would also prevent or retar4 ne
ssnlIy Of water IN the event OF the SIDE Oh t1s
$50 esse Deln8 penetrated by shot Ihere "Urdd
seem 10 be a question In connection with this pro
posed posed change which the inventor does not touch
spVh-hOW TAR IN the way Of addod Weisht ~. 81
greater Displacement, Il will interfere WIN the
,peed Of The vessel The dominant factor IN ba
safety Of such vessels largely depends upon IT,
The Chinese Government has decided TO order
TOUR more armored cruisers. fast cruisers or
Commerce destroycrs. and several torpedo destroy
efs al Of which are 20 be modelled after the Eng
hsh type. Inasmuch as China has neither harbors
hol docks suh eicnt for the largest battleships OF
,o-oay. none OF her vessels will be 1000 tons
!" Ioct. the largest will bs Of about 5000 tons.
sNhna's activity IS, no doubt, the result OF The
sSsrand FOR an increase in Jqpan's Navy The
..aval Intelligence Bureau at Washington, has re-
s,eved Information that the japanese Government
y soon to contract with English builders for the
construction OF one or two Of the powerful war
vessels In the world The two ships-one OF which
Is 70 be laid down-wil nearly 81 900 90
sach. Will have coacarrying capacity OF 100 tons.
INC displacement Of 1850 TONS or My tons less