The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-28
AMERICAS CHEESE BOXES.
Old Monitors Ready to Clear Decks
for Action.

Philadelphia, March 2S.-For about
eight years the old monitors. which did
such valuable service for Uncle Sam in
the late war, have been anchored in the
back channel of the navy yard at League
Island. Philadelphia. Two of these lit
tie fighters are the Nahant and the ia
son, which have been ordered to the
Brooklyn navy yard. About two years
ago when there was the first intimation
of trouble with Spain. the monitors were
looked over by the Government engin-
GERS. 1t was found that their hulls had
been well preserved in the fresh-water
basin at League Island. Even at that
time the Government went quietly to
work to put the engines into shape, and
the work has been going on ever since.
During the last few days, since the
cheese boxes" have been ordered into
service. the work on them has been
pushed along. until now four of them.
the Nahant. the Jason. the Lehigh and
the Catskill, are nearly ready for their
trips to New York and Boston.
When cleared for action in time of war
the Lighthouses of the monitors are re-
moved. the matches battened down, and
only the turret from which pro-
trude the muzzles of two 15-inch guns.
is visible above the deck, which is on a
level with the water.
The two monitors assigned for service
at New York in1place of the more formi-
dable vessel of the same type. the Ter
ror, are of the old single-turret design,
and took part In the notable engagement
resulting in the fall of Charleston.
While there ~ a vast difference between
the old and the new type of these pecu-
liar war vessels. yet they are In principle
the same. and naval officials say IL Is a
great mistake to believe the effectiveness
OF the old monitors Is past The turret Is
ii inches tn thickness and Is built In crate
layers. each layer being l inch In thick
ness. This gives the turret more give
and Springfness than IL II were solid,
which makes Il less vulnerable Extend
Ing few inches above the top of the tur-
ret and directly above and between the
two guns IS the coming tower. 1t is six
inches In thickness. and 1t is I'm this little
place that the whole action OF the ship
Is directed. The commander has only
small holes through which to see the en-
envy and direct the fire of the guns. When
the monitors were built there was no
means supplied to Communicate the orders
OF the commanding officer to the men be-
low: now. however. an electrical system
of signalling TO the gunners and pilot has
been adopted. Formerly the orders were
shouted from one man to another
The turrets revolye. and each contains
two l5-inch guns of the old type The fact
that the monitors will proceed under
their own steam from Philadelphia indi-
Gates the confidence OF naval authorities
in their seaworthineses. In time of battle
the hatchways opening on the deck being
tightly closed, the only means of escape
in case OF damage TO the vessel is through
the portfolios in the turret
There Is but one deck below the water
line. The forward part is occupied as the
Officers quarters. The engines are locat-
ed aft while the spaces on either side Of
the turret are given over to the maya
zines. storeroom and crew quarters. Those
little lighters were built solely for fight
ing purposes, and comfort was not con-
sidered or even thought of by the de-
signers.