Evening star., 1898-10-20
the absence of trained engineering super
u ha of hnats for duty 10

the absence of trained engineering super
vision and the use of boats for duty TO
which they were not adapted
The report explains its last comment by
saving that it did not require much exper-
ience to prove that torpedo boats cannot be
safely used as dispatch boats and as tenu-
ers on blockading ships far from baSe7 OF
supplies or facilities tor eflclenl repairs
Primarily they are intended for hlgh-speed
spurts, where success or failure in the use
of their special weapon should be quickly
demonstrated For this they are especlihiy
| built, and for this they should be solely
kept.
Water Tube Boilers.
Great stress is laid upon the Importance
uf water tube boilers, and it is said that 1t
would now be hard 10 find any design for
the machiners of new vessels which does not
include water tube boilers, owing to the
demand for small weight and high speed
1t is said that the bureau had prepared
plans for such boilers for the battle SHIPS
last contracted for, but was prevented from
installing them because of the department
decision that the ships should /" tdenucally
of the Alabama class. The individual plans,
however, which were finally accepted, Will
result in the use of the water tube Doliers
for these ships. Reference is made 10 the
remarkable performance of the little Tur-
bina In England, but it is said that the re-
suits obtained do not yet warrant an eH-
pectation of the substitution of the turbine
for the steam engine IN the near lutuFe'
though the experimental work will be care
fully watched. The engineer -ln-chlet IN
cludes in his report very strong recon-
mendation looking to the early advancement
of the personnel bill now pending IN Con
gress which he supports by a train of the
most cogent reasoning.
The OresOn's Performance.
Commodore Melville is most enthusiastic
over the performance of the oregon. 1t
has not been customary he says, Ito call
special attention to the performance of YES
sells except on trials under maximum con-
ditiOns but that of the Oregon is so eXcep-
tioual that 1t deserves a record in the bu-
reau'S report. She was ordered from the
Pacific to the gulf before war was declared,
and leaving Puget sound Marcn o. arrived
at Jupiter Inlet May "A, having steamed
over IA 800 miles, stopping only Tor coal,
and not being delayed an hour anywhere
through any arrangements OF the maehine, lt,,
ry Stopping at Key West only long enough
to COAL she took her place in the biockad-
ing fleet at Santiago, and was always ready
for service.
paralleled record among battle ships, but
the elimination came in the great battle OF
July 3, when she surpassed herself AL
Ways ready for action, she speedily attain
ed power greater than that developed on
the trial giving a speed ION account OF
greater displacement and foui oottom1 onty
slightly less than then attained, and dis
tancing all the other ships except the
Brooklyn, which is five knots faster. Every
official report comments on ner wohderIuI
for it one at least, and possibly two OF the
Spanish ships might have escaped.
The whole record is thus one whlch mas
never been euualed in the history of navies,
and it will remain the standard for long
time to come. The credit is due, In the
first place, to the builders-the Union Iron
Works-for the excellence OF the material
and workmanship, but still more, and
chiefly, to the engineer department of the
vessel. The bureau. therefore, takes great
pleasure in commencing to the departments
most favorable consideration Chief Engi-
neer Robert w. Milligan, the executive
head of the department, for his professional
ability untiring care and excellent dis
cipline; and also the Junior engineer officers
and the enlisted men, whose faithfulness
and zeal, under most trying circumstances,
have enabled our navy to add this to the
other brilliant records of our vessels"
The Men Behind the Desks.
The engineer-in- chief takes occasion to
pay high tribute to the officers on shore
duty during the war.
I'm time of war" he says, every active
officer worthy of the name has a natural
desire to be at the front rendering service
where there is both danger and the chance
for glory; but to make victory possible
there must be a vast amount OF quiet
though laborous work, which goes almost
unnoticed and which brings no glory, per-
formed at headquarters and at the navy
yards and elsewhere on shore The ofhcers
thus employed are rendering just as Vaiu-
able and faithful service as those at the
front although their reward is likely to be
a loss Of numbers through the promotion
of those who have had the good fortune to
be in battle 1 feel that I would neglect a
duty If 1 failed to place on record my high
appreciation Of the faithful and conscien-
ttous performance of duty by the engineer
officers who could not be spared for sea
duty, and whose requests for such duty I
was compelled to disapprove. Especially
is this the case with my personal assistants
at the bureau. who worked without regard
to hours, day and night and Sundays, until
many of them were on the point of break
ing down 1 ask no special reward for
them as they have simply done their duty.
as every officer should, but it may be some
consolation to them for the loss of glory
consequent upon not having been In the
actual fighting to have this public record
of their sacrifice of personal interest to the
public good
The total expenditures for engineering