New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-18
SPEED AS A FACTOR or NAVAL WAR.

In the very beginnings of the modern era ~
warship construction there far sighted
men who knew the value Of speed as a prime
factor of warfare on the sea. Cloude1 as tho
subject was nv the revival Of armor, the growth
In the range and power Of the gun. and the mp
nearanco later Of the automobile torpedo. high
speed had It's advocates then. as now. Shortly
after the ending Of the Civil War there was
launched by the United States the phenomenal
cruiser Wampanoag. a ship which. despite her
wooden hull and geared engines reeled off over
II knots an hour in long stretch over n stormy
sea-a speed which remained unsurpassed for
years by liner or by warsh!p. Fractional strife
in the United States Navy sent this marvel OF
her dav 10 the scrap heap.
Revond the sea- too. were able mon arguing
more than generation ngo for the primacy OF
speed in warship designing In 1863 that omi.
nent British authority, Mr.. J. Scott Russell,
said "All that has taken place during the
American war has tended 10 confirm the doc.
Urine I have advocated always. that speed IL
'the first and indispensable requisite Of n mod
FERN warship." In the same year naval
architect Of worldwide fame, Mr.. J. d. Aguilar
Samuda, said before the British Institution Of
Naval Architects that 'the greatest possible
speed" was one Of the qualities indispensable
TO an efficient ironclad navy" Admiral Sir
John Hay, r. ". addressing this institution In
1887. said: 81 cannot too much urge upon this
meeting my belief, a naval officer. that
really the first quality after seaworthness is
speed" In discussing before the same in
sitution the designs OF British battle ships. Lord
Charles Bercsford. r. ~. said:
Hardness comes into this question Of short
sltp n hi N n
ION the best thing that you can have 70 enable
you 10 win an action is speed What is the use
Of q ship being in an excellent position. as re-
CARDS offensive and defensive power. II she is
fighting faster ship? Sped IL the weather
gauge.
In the same discussion Admiral Sir Godfrey
IIornhy. G. G. B., said: They fhe proposed
"hattle-shlps, have great speed. which | con-
slider is the highest quality TINT any ship can
have; and, mind you. do not want TO put my
Gown opinion forward ! go upon the opinion
"of our highest authority. that OF Lord Nelson"
Lord Armstrong almost lifelong advocate Of
high speed in warships. has predicted that some
day "armored ships will be- as obsolete MS mail
clad men," and that light vessels Of great
speed, armed with qulck-iirng guns are like
"ly to be the order OF the day" Tho Earl OF
Hopetoun In addressing, as It's president, the
Institution Of Naval Architects said, In 1896:
History teaches us the importance which our
forefathers attached to the weather gauge. II
was regarded by them as all important TO that
feet which hoped TO assume the offensive. The
weather gauge OF to-day IL the power 20 out
steam the fleet OF the enemy the power TO con-
centrate quickly and bring n general action
at the most favorable moment.
The latest British authority TO speak upon
this subject Is Mr. William Laird Gloves. who,
In a noteworthy essay on "Sea Power" has
said.
We may take II that while no factor OF sea
power can be neglected with In punity. the neg
lect Of no factor Is 30 fraught with danger.
! neglect Of that group II elements which have
cassed constituting mobility Those ele
ments are all OF great importance but al the
! head Of them stands undoubtedly speed-loco-
/ motive speed-with. as Its complement. coal
endurance. Fast ships are naturally Of little
: value unless there are behind them knowledge
and organization. and In them science and bra b
very hut may be that. other things
being approximately equal. speed will tell more
than any other single factor In the naval war
fare OF to-day and tomorrow.
When turn from speculation and theory
to the stern teaching Of the naval battle we
find the same lesson driven mercilessly home
Captain Evans says: THE Oregon, with her
locomotive speed. was hanging well on to the
"Cristobnl Colon and paying attention also to
1.-The vlzcaya"; and again: AS 1t was apparent