The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-27

a number of electrical ventilating fans
insure a supply of fresh air TO the people
below the deck. This makes them more
habitable, especially in the tropics. where
these vessels are bound. The vessels have
q length of 220 feet, breadth % feet and
depth of Is feet. The displacement is $50
tons. The armament consists of two A.
FOUNDER rapid-fire guns, one mounted for
ward on top Of the coming tower and the
other aft; wo 6-pounder guns, Que in
each broadBide. and two automatic ma
chine guns. 1h-inch diameter. forward
These are also equipped with two torpedo
tubes. There is of course a completes in
stallation of air COMPRISING machinery
for charging them.
Firing trials of the guns were also car
ried out to the entire satisfaction of all
the inspecting officers. The terribly de-
structive nature of the fire, especially
from the automatic guns, was very ap-
parent, a perfect hail of projuctiles of one
and half inches in diameter being deliv-
cred by these guns. and continued so long
as the person firing the gun kept his
finger pressed on the trigger. the whole
of the operations of loading and firing be-
ing automatically performed by the en-
ergy of the recoil.
These Spanish destroyers are fitted with
steam stearing gear. steam capstan. four
cylinder triple expansion engines and four
French (Normand) boilers. The propellers
are three bladed manganese bronze.
There was 4 report that the Spanish
government had ordered sixteen OF this
type Of destroyer. There is little doubt
that six of them are ready now-namely
the Furor. Terror Audaz. Osode. Pluton
and Proserpina. all built by the Thomp-
sons. They store 100 tons of coal. suffi-
Gent TO carry them across the Atlant
at a moderate rate OF steaming. and the
crew consists Of seventy men. These are
the boats We can truthfully say we would
like very much to have N our navy.
AS an example of how inestimably val
liable the type Is regarded abroad. the
number OF those owned by the different
countries is herewith given: Great
Britain. %: Argentina. 4; Brazil. s, Chill.
4: Denmark. I: France. i; Germany. IS:
Italy. &c: Japan. 5. Netherlands. e; Rus
STA. i: Spain. 6. How many Of these are
building it is difficult to say
The various ways in which a destroyer
can be utilized in addition TO her work
against torpedo boats arc to assist IN the
attack on a harbor or hostile feet block
aiding. keeping blockaded ports open by
running the blockade. and on dark nights
letting drive her torpedOes IS she flashes
by: protecting narrow channels by lying
perdu under some lee until the Homen.
for making a bold dash arrives. and by
accompanying and acting with the feet
In general appearance the torpedo boat
destroyer closely resembles the torpedo
hoat-ln fact. she Is Aut q large torpedo
boat. viii all her armament, equipment
and fittings greatly improved We have
some excellent orpedo boats n our ser
vice. as good IS any 70 he found in any
other. but Ne have TO craft that ap-
breaches the destroyer type. nor y We
depend altogether on our ovn home mar
ke,s viii We have auy fcr q year % come
Carrier Pigeons on Ocean steamers
London. March 3s-The French line IS
testing the possibility ot establishing
communication with Tire shore oy car
rier pigeons in cases OF accident II tae
experiment Is successful al steamers Of
the French line XII hereafter carry pig
cons. The experiment ts viewed With
great interest, thought sksptIczGy.
Wales is Learning the Bike
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