New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-26
FOREIGN NAVAL MATTERS.

BRITISH OFFICERS on THE TACTICAL SCHOOL,
QUESTIONABLE TURKISH SQUADRON.
Reference was made in The Tribune a few weeks
ag) 10 a movement on foot by some Of the officers
OF the British Navy establish tactical school, or
war college. Some OF the officers do not favor such
a college, on the ground that "overmuch study tends
10 weaken character" One opponent says: 1--WE
require in the ordinary naval officer. the COM
maadcr the lieutenant and the sub-lieutenant, the
capacity 10 lead men. which necessarily Involves
strong character. Quckness of decision and cour-
age" Another says: I'VE do not want bookworms'
for these will invariably fail In the handing OF
men and In the moment of a crisis Another wants
attention be given first TO the need OF promotion
and he advocates that this be made by selection
rather than by seniority lie forifes his position
bv quoting NAPOLEON who said: Genius does not
as men imagine reveal 10 me suddenly and secretly
what 10 dot Is study reflection, medl'a'iol'
Another critic says: "A man who would be Yer!
poor admiral may make an excellent captain JUS
az on land there are generals who are all that could
be desired in command OF brigade or DIVISION out
who are absolutely useless as commanders OF corps
or armies"
one OF the English service journals recently had
this TO say about the Turkish navy: After all the
Turkish navy has succeeded In getting squadron
TO sea- composed of one fairly modern and four very
ancient ironclads, besides a gunboat, a torpedo
g,nbolt and two torpedoboats The best ship Is the
Hamidyeh Of 600 tons, launched in 1886 and armed
with ten l02-lnch Krupps. on paper this squadron
will be hard nut for the Greek fleet TO crack Out
In real fact | imagine that 1t Will be capape OF
very little work. Even the best ronclads, without
trained officers and men. are usecss-much more
such rusty. dilapidated vessels as those composing
the Turkish squadron. Stll, every day Will add TO
the efficiency of the ships and the training or the
men If the Greeks mean fighting they are throw
ing away their golden opportunity
specimen Pinch projectile. weighing $50 pounds
for the wire gun. has had successful test in Eng
land II pierced an 1s-inch compound plate. backed
by a 6-inch wrought iron plate. eight feet OF OAK
and another 3-inch iron plate. After passing through
all Of these II was found deeply imbedded in bank
OF clay behind the target on July H. 1874, a pro-
jectile of the weight and calibre was expert
mented with in the United States. and perfora ed
a l7-nch Harveyized nickel-steel plate and was re-
covered almost unnjured.
NJ. Jean de la Poulaine In a recent article IN a
French journal makes some caustic criticisms on
naval matters and men. one sentence reads: OF
all the naval officers In Europe and North America.
the worst educated in all matters are ndisputdbly
those of the British fleet OF Sir George Tryon ne
says: "He terminated his career mLseraby. causing
the loss Of 23S men and of battleship OF the first
class and that entirely through his own fault ana IN
spite OF repeated circumstances.
The new japanese battle-ship Fusi has had her
steam trials, and they were eminenty successful
tnder forced draught her engines gave HlOO horse
power and speed Of 1872 knots