New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
DOCKING ONLY RARELY

and - If the new Navy. the Atlanta. the Boston.
the Chicago and the Dolphin. are nearly fifteen
Years old and from the time Of their conception
to the last year the policy of the naval experts
as been To- turn the formerly picturesque Jack
tar into a mere coaI-heaver. abolishing those
duties of which poets sang. such a going aIoit
in bowling gales, splicing main braces ami all
that sort of thing and substituting in their
cad slavishy monotonoUs shoVelling in a
lrimy superheated freroom. When the men
lived outdoor life. constantly WORKING the
ships they built themselves up as brawny.
harry fighters with that vitality which meant
victory after the longest, bloodieSt battle. bu'
the advent of the new Navy brought mechanism
To- the front and the sailor had To adapt himself
to mere notwithstanding.
; The first of the new ships and all of their nifty
: or more successors. however formidable are
mere SUBSTITUTION" affairs from the sailors
standpoint in which the captain loungins in his
cabin presses an electric button. the engines 20
ahead or stop guns load and fire: in fact. ma
chinery does the rest
But the purpose Of all the ships of the Navy
paradox though it may seem. is not T." fight
The big heavily protected hatte-ships are de-
sigu.l for fierce encounters with foes of th-i
own formidable class. ana the function Of the
torpeI, notilla Us 10 take almost suicidal h'Z-
aids DO tn thick of an engagement among
arnor-cIads Cruisers. however. haN" always
proven "A most effective arm Of naval strength
in wartime. capturing mercantile prizes. ami
hilatius the enemy's commerce and d'-ti'>Iu1
his TRANSPORTS. i'm time of rclatiN" p.a'" guard
ing their flags interests iu odt-of-t he-WaN ports
rolicine their own coasts, iuhictiu- punishment
lu far-away scmi-civilizcd countries and "i'n"I
10 commerce. tn, wealth Of harhar"us o"mmuu'-
tbs
DEPENDENT oN coal CAPACITY
Tn. United States already has thir>-too Of
these new cruisers and sunboats. hut until th'
last fow months every one of tn -m has l".''
utterly dependent upon steam p'""i for pi"i'H-
son and therefore exclusively OF th" puSh-hui-
tln" category The tru, STANDARD If their ciii-
,'rncy while affected 10y thu number of guns
sg4ed complement and draught. is their coal ca
racitv which is synonymous with Their radius
of action and their endurance Whenever they
ave mort their coal begins To- dwindl-. ana ih"
captaiu's chief concern H. to reach another p"fi
While his fuel lasts. When merchantmen j.
thrown back 10y headwnds ana her engines stop
for lack Of coal she may WalloW h"lpIrSSIN al
SEA until towcd into port 10y friend OF foe. Ih'
di,ablernent of a man-of-War j. another matter
frequently a national catastrophe. ana a r"aI|-
ing sense of this has at last come I" IN" Naval
rolicy-moulders of the United States resulting
in the Annapolis class. the first of the ne" shIpS
t. have practical auxiliary sail power
Several of the earlier steel ships have spread
some canvas. but it was an insignificant area
devised solely TO hold the ship steady IN r'uEh
weather and not relied upon 10 promote any sea
way The ANNAPOLIS the Vicksburg. the Newport
and the Princeton can be thoroughly ind"r"nd-
ont of their bunkers. and. properly pr"Vlsl'h'd'
can cruise around the world without hunting i"I
coal wharf every few weeks. II ordered ar'uhd
tae Horn or across the Pacific they can -