The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-18
POWER OF BATTLEsHrPs.
Seattle. Wash. Feb. II. 1885.

Seattle Wash. Feb II. 1885.
To the Editor: In an issue Of February
IL there appeared an article in a Seattle
paper commenting or the lighting quail
ties. etc. Of ships OF the type cs the
L. s. 5. Oregon. To person who Is at
all familiar with the subject of naval
architecture an answer is no; necessary. as
the writer's knowledge OF vessels. Or any
thing else pertaining TO that subject. is
less sha2- nothing. as a man OF reasonable
intelligence would no. express such uor-
sense, for fear of bringing upon his head
the condemnation Of the thinking people.
He says: Nor does she appear capable of
as much destruction as one would imagine
from reading the accounts that have been
written Of her byseorrespondents who are
unable 10 tell the difference between an
iron bath tub floating around with toy can
mons on board, and really modern war
ship heavily equipped with destructive APP
planes" I do not wish to disparsge one
iota from the knowledge OF the author Of
the above communication. OF course, the
opinions OF the best authorities on the sub
ject OF naval architecture go as naught
compared with the self-styled opinion of
the aforementioned naval expert.
As the writer OF the article Is SO well
informed regarding modern warships,"
little information would be greatly aa-
preciated by the naval authorities on what
u
The naval authorities Of the greatest
powers of Europe have admitted time and
time again that the United States has the
finest ships in the world, vessel for vessel.
Undoubtedly they have been deceived by
the drawings and descriptions which they
have, and it is Very likely that the So
called naval expert" would be well paid
II he could subs,antiate his assertions to
their satisfaction.
har he a p5f Inn
officer of the Indiana. which is a sister
ship TO the Oregon. used hypnotic influence
TO compel the English admiral who visit
ed the ship officially at Halifax 10 remark
that the Indiana was the finest ship that
he had ever been aboard OF, in battery,
armor and general fighting equipment"
The naval expert probably is a very
strong willed person. or else OF SO little
consequence that they did not think him
q worthy subject for hypnotism. and
therefore he was permitted to give an
unbiased opinion. as far as his knowledge
went, regarding the ship. His opinion
was graced with one nautical phrase that
showed that he was not as ignorant as
an ordinary person would imagine. judg-
ing from his article. 1t was sent TO Davy
Jones' locker" That quotation clearly
indicates that the writer is thoroughly
familiar with the phrases used in the
yellow literature, such as "Beadle'S Hail
Dime Library, etc. very likely ne COuiu
tell more about "a low, rakish craft, hug
ging the horizon than he could describe
the destructive power of modern war
ship" l might say, judging from the
tenor of his article, that he has had
great deal OF experience discharging
schooners, and undoubtedly had emp:ied
several 10 work his courage up to the
point of embarking on the Perley for the
tumultuous trip TO the navy yard.
1t might be possible that the author OF
the said article aspires to the position
occupied by Voltaire In the sarcastic
world. If such is his expectation, and the
article Is fair specimen OF his ability,
/ am afraid that he will make a lament
able failure of it, for there Is neither
sense nor sarcasm visible in. his hands
work
Trusting that the Post-Intelligencer will.
az 1t has done in the past. try and coun-
teract the effect OF the disgraceful at
tack upon the Oregon and win the APP
probation Of all alr-minded people. 1 am,
f. r. G.