Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-09


of the ships Coal Bunkers-says Span
the West Indies.
In all the Spanish naval plans to raise
the Cuban blockade the question of coal
capacity and coal consumption by the
Spanish fleet is of paramount impor-
lance In view of this fact the New York
World has obtained from II. W. Will.
son, author of .IronclaGs In Action,
the most noted living British naval ex-
pert, a precise statement of just how
coal considerations affect the operative
powers of the Spanish squadron. He
writes:
lin view of the various very discrep-
ant statements made respecting the
Spanish cruisers coal capacity it is I'm
certain what quality of coal is ON board
and whether it is the best Welsh steam
or the rubbishy Spanish or German coal.
OF 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
probable that there is much poor stuff
in the bunkers. The calculations below
are for the best Welsh coal, and SPANS
assurance must be somewhat reduced il
Welsh coal is not on board.
besides the coal carried in bunkers,
some can be slowed in bags for long
voyage The quantity thus carried is
naturally uncertain, but about the ex-
IRENE limit for the size of the ship is
allowed. All the Spanish armored cruis
ers have economical triple expansion en-
glnes. but the stokers are believed to be
inferior. The speed used will be eco
nomical-about ten knots-until the
American feet or cruisers are sighted
The figures for the Spanish ships are as
given below:
1.-The Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya
and Infanta Maria Teresa have all l, 200
tons bunker capacity, and with spare
coal in bags-say 800 tons-they can
carry a total of 1900 tons. The Cape
Nerdes and Puerto Rico are 2, 400 miles
apart. With ten days economical speed
at a consumption of from 60 to so tons
a day the total burned on the voyage
would be from 600 to 500 tons. There
remains say 600 tons, enough for eight
or nine days economical steaming. To
New York is l 1 or I2 days and would
require. say, $50 tons. There remains
$50 tons, of which 800 is needed to get
to Halifax and a reserve of ESQ tons for
operations on the American coast. The
Cristobal Colon has 1000 tons in her
bunkers, and liquid fuel is reported in
her double bottom. This is doubtful,
but allow that it equals 200 tons of
coal, with deckload of $50 tons, this
u,r Of f,n torc
The Niclausse has very economical
boilers, with a consumption of so to 30
tons a day, giving a total to Puerto
Rico of about 700 tons and to New York
of about $50 tons This leaves $50 or
200 tons. allowing for rather more ex-
tended operations than the other cruis-
ers. The destroyers Pluton. Terror and
Furor tan carry at their extreme limit
100 tors, which may last fortnight at
economical speed if bad weather is not
''If the Spanish feet meets Rear Ad-
miral Sampson east of Puerto Rico,
they must either run or fight. If che
fights. Spain will lie smashed hands
down. If the feet runs, the Yankee
cruisers, fresh from port. full up with
Goa. and III fine trim, will quickly over
take the rear ship and attack it. If the
other Spanish ships stop to give help,
battleships will come up and
send the Spaniards to the bottom.
The destroyers are very dangerous
n sricrfh water. but in q heavy sea
IRE not So formidable. Therefore Samp-
'on should attack as far east as NAV be,
Is Ire ceal turned in their boilers leaves
he huuke.s empty of coil protection.
)estr9ye-s have been coaled in a sea-
way from large ship but rarely. Spain
nay try tn run the feet to an uuobserved
anchorage and ccal there from colliers,
int it - believed that there are no
OILERS with the Spanish 1eee.
british sympathy prevents British
olliers from going 20 help the Span
ARDS. Tie transport San Francisco. re-
,orred to be with the torpedo boats
Ariete. Azor and Raye. fu., of coal, has
transferred much ,s II IN the Spanish |
rrisers at Cape Verde. and their where
bouts are uncertain Tie torpedo boats |
Guild cross with some difficulty under
all, and an anchorage that might be |
sed ty spain is the gulf of Coca. on |
he Haiti coast. There /. q very good /
barber at Martinique and |
nany Gu the South American coast.
Spain might temporarily seize an /
pen bay ON the United States coast,
nj this would tie very risky and would /
,eal her probable destruction I see
othing IN the neutrality declarations
D proven, the Spanish from coaling
rom coIliers III neutral port provided !.
aey do uo. make it the hasis of . pro-
1nged stay. Much depends on the atti-
AIDE toward America Of the power own