The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-12
SPANS STOCK OF COAL


,,~,snd's Noted Naval Expert Tells How
os.i Considerations Ansss tAs spanish
sousdronss Opsrstivs Powers Capacity
~ the ships Coal Bunksrs-says Span
,.s Fleet II Sure to Loss-May Meet In
the West Indies.
Tn all the Spanish naval plans to raise
the Cuban blockade the question Of coal
capacity and GOAL consumption by the
snanish feet is of paramount impor-
lance. In view of this fact the New York
World has obtained from H. W. Viii
sou. author of "Ironclads In Action"
tina most noted living British naval ex-
mart. q precise statement Of just how
coal considerations affect the operative
nowers Of the Spanish squadron. He
writes; ia. r.S.l.
ain view Of the various very discrep-
ant statements made respecting the
Snauish cruisers coal capacity it is un.
certain what quality Of coal is on board
and whether it is the best Welsh steam
or the rubbishy Spanish or German coal.
or the latter three tons will only do the
work of two tons Of the former. Spain
had not large stocks of coal, so it is
nrobable that there is much poor stuff
In the bunkers. The calculations below
ara for the best Welsh coal. and Spain's
endurance must be somewhat reduced if
Welsh coal 10 not on board.
"Besides the coal carried In bunkers,
some can be slowed in bags for a long
VOYAGE. The quantity thus carried il
naturally uncertain, but about the ex-
treme limit for the size Of the ship is
allowed. All the Spanish armored cruis-
ers have economical triple expansion en-
c1pes, bus the stokers are believed to be
Inferior The speed used will be sco-
pomical-Sbout ten knots-until the
American feet or cruisers are sighted.
The figures for the Spanish ships are as
given below:
1.-THE Almirante Oquendo, Vizoaya
and Infanta Maria Teresa have all 200
tons bunker capacity, and with spare
coal In bags-say 800 tons-they can
carry total of, 500 tons. The Cape
Verdes and Puerto Rico are 2. 400 miles
apart. With ten days economical speed
at consumption of from 60 to 80 tons
a day the total burned on the voyage
would be from 600 to 800 tons. There
remains say 600 tons, enough for eight
or nine days. economical steaming To
New York is 1 or - days and would
REQUIRE, cay, 900 tons. There remains
500 tons, of which 800 is needed to gel
to Halifax and reserve OF 900 tons fol
operations ON the American coast. The
Cristobal Colon has l, 900 tons in hel
bunkers, and liquid fuel is reported IL
her double bottom. This is doubtful
but allow that it equals 200 tons O
coal, with deckload of $50 tons, thi
gives total of /, 400 tons.
"The Niolausse has very economical
boilers, with consumption OF % to u
tons day, giving total to Puerto
Rico of about 700 tons and to New Yorl
of about 500 tons This leaves $50 O
700 tons, allowing for rather more ex
tended operations than the other cruis
srs. The destroyers Pluton, Terror ant
Furor can carry at their extreme llmi
100 tons, which may last fortnight a
economical speed if bad weather is no
encountered.
eff the Spanish feet meets Rear Ad
miral Sampson east OF Puerto hlco
they must either run or fight. IL sn
fights, Spain will be smashed hand
down. If the feet runs, the fanke
cruisers, fresh from port, full up wiz
coal and in fine trim, will quickly over
A.. A. 81; aft T..
other Spanish ships stop to give heir
Simpsons battleships will come up all
send the Spaniards to the bottom.
"The destroyers are very dangerou
in smooth water, but in heavy sc
are not so formidable. Therefore Saml
son should attack as far east as may OF
as the coal burned in their boilers leave
the bunkers empty of coal protection
Destroyers have been coaled IN . SEQ
way from large ship but rarely. spar
may try to run the feet to an unobserVe
anchorage and coal there from GOLFERS
but it IL believed that there are
golfers with the Spanish fleet.
British sympathy prevents 6rl'ls
GOLFERS from going to help the opai
iards. The transport San FRANCISCO =
ported to be with the TORPEDO poa
Ariete, Azor and Rayo, full OF COAL ~
transferred much Of it to the SPANS
cruisers at Cape Verde, and their whe sr
abouts are uncertain. The torpedo poa
could cross with some difficulty uno !
sail, and an anchorage that mign'
used by Spain is the gulf OF oooa, J
the Haiti coast. There is very 81.
unfreouented harbor at Martinique ~
many on the South American coast.
"Spain might temporarily seize .s
open bay on the United States ooaS
but this would be very risky anu WV =
mean her probable destruction. : IS =
nothing In the neutrality deoiara. ,;r
to prevent the Spanish from coan.
from oolliers in aneutral port PROV, ~
they do not make 1t the basis Oh " r..
longed stay. Much depends on the az az
tuds toward America of the power wv
ing the port. Gain has