New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-04
OUR TWO UNDERARMED CRUISERS.


The efforts now being made by the Navy
Department to form a swift and powerful
squadron for raidlng the coast OF Spain call
attention again to fact which was 30 much IN
evidence when Admiral Cervera's ships were
still at large upon the seas. namely: Inc
marked absence In the United States fleet OF
vessels which, having high speed, possess ade-
Quate gun power as we'll. Our Dattle-shlps,
notable as they are In armament and armor,
are at least two knots too slow; and II the ar
guments advanced by the Chief Constructor are
permitted to prevail over those brought Tor
ward by the Engineer-in- Chief 1t would appear
that we are to continue the policy OF building
other battle-ships which, like those already
planned, will be laggards In the chase. Turn
ing TO our few feet vessels we find only two OF
large displacement-the New-YOrk and the
Brooklyn-which have both high speed and pow
erful batteries. The Columbia and the Mime
apolis, the swiftcst ships Of the Navy and or
their date, are, for their size, mos aDsurdiy
undermined. carrying in their main batteries
only eleven guns--one Of S-inch two OF 6-inch,
and eight Of 4-inch calibre. These vessels cost
more than 100000 each. and yet some aux
Hilary cruisers, such as the Yosemite, the Yam
kee and the Dixie-bOught for probably one
sixth of this sum, and now only mere converted
merchantmen-carry, on about the same us
placement, batteries practically as heavy ana
In their homog eneity decidedly superior when
this is considered in connection with the further
fact that the cruisers cited were built without
armOr and at enormous cost, solely as gun plat
forms, 1t seems apparent that there have been
grave errors in their design, involving undue
restriction with regard to the spaces and weight
assigned for armament.
This view as to the serious lack OF offensive
strength in these ships Is held by many aDle
officers Of the Navy who are familiar with
their capabilities 1t is a well-known fact that
Rear Admiral Sclfridge. while flying his flag on
the Minneapolis. convened n board Of officers,
experts in ordnance and naval architecture to
suggest such alterations In the internal arrange
ment of that ship as would give space for the
much heavier battery which 1t was so evident
she should carry. The report Of the Board
was In effect that below the protective deck
the existing arrangement was admirable. adj
hitting no changes: but that the gun deck was
encountered useeSsly with large quarters for
officers. storeroOms etc which restricted within
narrow limits the armament carried on that
deck. The Board recommended that the off,
GERS be quartered in the superstructure on the
upper deck leaving the gun deck clear through
out. and giving space for mounting there either
twenty 4-jnch or sixteen 5-inch guns, in place
of the eight Of finch calibre there carried.
further advantage by the proposed change lay
in the greatly increased berthng room for the
crew furnished on a deck thus cleared. The
part of the original armament on the upper
deck--one S-inch and two 6-inch guns-it was
ct{lI ho Ind
increase in that below. Complete plans in ac-
cOrdance with these recommendations were pre-
pared by the Board were forwarded by Ad-
miraI Selfridge to Mr. Herbert, then Secretary
of the Navy, and are now on file in that De-
partment Ex-Secretary Tracy has stated that
in his opinion the type OF ship which at thls
time is most needed in our feet Is one or
about twelve thousand tons displacement. Of at
least twcnty-one knots speed, with ten or
twelve inches Of armOr, and carrying about ten
10-inch guns. The Minneapolis and the Column
bia, If armed as herein Indicated, will approach
closely the requirements as to armament and
will exceed them as to speed. AS an alternate
arrangement Of armament to that proposed by
the Board, 1t may be said that it should be
wholly possible to substitute for the eight 4lnch
guns now borne on the gun deck not less than
ten or twelve of 6-inch calibre rapid fire, thus
giving, with the guns now mounted on the up
Der deck, q total Of one S-inch and twelve or
fourteen Gnch guns-a homogeneous and most
effective battery.
The early ending Of the existing war. with
its legitimate aims achieved Is desirable on
both National and private grounds. To accom-
plish this every naval gun which can be fOated
should be trained upon the foe. 1t seems
therefore, most unfortunate that the weakness
in artillery Of these two noble cruisers should
have relegated them thus far to mere scouting
duty. With proper batteries their speed and
sea endurance w0ul1 make them most effective
In the work on the Spanish coast which has
been laid out for Commodore WatsOns squad
ron. The Bureau Of Ordnance can supply,
without doubt, the necessary guns for the in
creased ornaments. The changes required, in
vOlving only the ripping out Of useless wood
work on the gun deck, could probably be ef-
fected in two weeks time at Cramps shpyard
or at Newport News. If, In view Of the i'm
pOrtnnt results to be obtained. the Navy De-
partment shall undertake this work. these fleet
cruisers. fully armed, may yet be able to sail
with Commodore Watson's squadron, or to
overtake 1t before 1t shall reach the shores Of
Spain