The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-01

necessity to this country of controlling Il
series of cOaling stations all around
the world. We should have Cuba. 1t IS
the key to the West Indies and the
Gulf of Mexico.
Il believe history will be made in the
coming year. -.rings are coming to Il
head, and there must, it seems to me,
be a break. Europe cannot stand the
heavy war burdens she is bearing. Eng
land is now building nearly two hum
dred war vessels, many of them ar
mored. This means something. When
we talk the possibility of war to some or
our Congressman, they tell about the
hundreds of thousands of men we could
turn into the field. But what are men
with muskets against battleshipS? Chl-
ma had plenty of men, but see what
the bantam Japan did to the Shanghai
rooster.
do I think this stir will arouse a
sentiment that will bring about proper
American navy? Well, all j can say IS
that it ought to. l hope lit will. 1t de-
ponds on what kind of Congressman are
SENT TO WASHINGTON.
'"The readiness of this country for
our preparation is not what it should
he. Congress should years ago have
begun to do what the government is
trying to DO now. With the recent
guns we have at harbors, and by block
ing the channels with sunken ships, we
might protect the coast. If we should
try with all our might, it would take
fully twelve months to get into deSir-
q An hoVn
II fairly good navy. While it is not as
large i'll numbers as the Spanish navy,
on the whole it is somewhat stronger.
The wreck of the Maine was n heavy
blow. The crew were picked men. /
might add that one other indication of
treachery is the fact that both General
Lee and Captain Sigsbee advised
against sending a ship to Havana"
The reporter, among the numerous
questions which brought out the CONVEX
sations, asked Dr. Gatling about some
of his ideas of what should he the ten
dency in the future development of the
navy, and whether there need to be
much encouragement should it so hap
pen that all of the big battleships were
blown up.
NO" he said in answer to the last
L
of New York harbor, and by placing
shields in front of them at the right
angle, and putting a dynamite gun in
the bow of each. even battleship
might be disposed of. | would engage
her from four quarters with these tugs,
and if the proper plan were pursued,
one of the tugs could probably lift her
out of the water / need not in this
mn ion Toll II, A.
shells could be made so that striking
against the side of the ship, they would
fall into the water and there explode.
A torpedo is used because an explosion
in the air does not amount to much
compared with an explosion under wa
ter. But n torpedo may hit.
AND IT MAY NOT.
Our millions of people could think Of
enough plans to help us out after "a
time, and our sailors are the quickest.
1t is well to remember that millions car,
of course think of more things than the
smaller number in the navy depart
ment, and no doubt when real need
arises, they will welcome suggestions
from the entire people,"
40 you believe in the development
of the navy by the increase of the
size of the sllips?" asked the reporter
No, l thing it better to provide
great numbers of small war boats, like
the monitors and torpedo boats. No,
it is not true that they cannot be de-
vsed to carry enough fuel. They
could be made to carry enough to take
them across the ocean. / would favor
making boats to carry one or perhaps
two heavy guns apiece, pointing foI-
ward, the boat being virtually the Gam
carriage. 1t should be the practice to
engage bow forward. If struck along
Sue, these boats would of course 20
down. But with slipping sides, and long,
narrow build, shot from the front
would glance off. Being little, they
would not be so easily struck, they
c0ul1 go faster. and they could be more
numerous, and not so liable to be blown
up. Inc loss, too, would be less. The
men could work in great protection
And the boats could be built much moro
rapidly"