The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-20
I. N. rord. I'm New York Trihnnc.

J. N. Ford in New York Tribune.
Sea power is a problem with factors |
of unknown value. Naval construction
during the last thirty years has been
essentially experimental There have
been no sea fights by which the utility
of the costly mechanism Of naval war
fare could be tested decisively. Owing
to the lack of seamanship of the Chin
es@. the Japanese victory Of the 1alu
was as uninstructive TO naval experts
as Lissa or the petty engagements off
the west coast of South America, or
the bombardment Of Alexandria, The
modern fleets have been built on new
and constantly varying lines. and there
has been no experience in actual war
fare by which the defensive qualities
of armor the seaWOrthncSs of battle
ships and the destructive energies of
torpedo flotilas could be demonstrated.
Among all the mysteries of the sea a
modern navy is the most inscrutable.
After a new Trafalgar there will be
light. Naval construction will be rev.
olutionized after Il decisive war in
which the values of what are now un-
known quantities of fleet are def
nitely ascertained.
In view of all these uncertainties and
mysteries of naval warfare, the only
practical theory on which a fleet can
be built and maintained is that of the
ultimate survival of the best types.
The British admiralty has acted upon
this principle in providing large
number of war vessels of every class
attle-ships, cruisers, gunbOats and
torpedo craft. Whenever naval war
comes on some of these engines Of sea
power will be proved to he miscalcu-
lated failures, and others viii be shown
to have superior efficiency; but what
ever happens, the British navy will be
found to be well equipped with the best
types.
JAPAN TO THE FRONT.
The japanese government in creating
a new and powerful navy is adopting
the same course. 1t is now building at
home and abroad siXty-five large ves-
sells of various classes and 126 torpedo
craft OF various designs. 1t is repro
ducing in England, the United States,
France and Germany the best types
known in four foreign naYies, and it is
constructing at home a 20-knOt cruiser
of $500 tons, three 20-knot cruisers of
5000 tons, three tOrpedo-CatChers, a
dispatch-boa and other vessels. When
this work is completed, in the course of
two 'Or three years, the Japanese gov
ernment will be able to forecast with
composure of mind the new Trafalg gar,
with it's inevitable revolution in naval
construction. Whatever may be the
results of practical experience in war
fare, it will have vessels of the best
classes after the survival of the fittest
and the condemnation of the least SER
viceable types.
This policy is well illustrated by the
vessels now under construction in Eng
lish shipyards for the japanese navy
The Shkishima, which is building in
the Thames Iron works, will be equal
in every respect to the most powerful
battleships of the Majestic class in the
British navy; and two sister ships
have been ordered and will be complet-
ed within twenty months at the
ThOmpsons' and the Armstrong; yards
Each of these three floating fortresses
will have a displacement of abou
14,90O tons, with a length of 800 fee
and IS feet beam, mean draught ot
VIZ feet and a speed of II knots. They
will correspond closely in armor anC
armament to the Hannibal Caesar. II.
lustriOus, Jupiter Mars, Prince George
Magnificent Victorious and Majestic
These are the most formidable war
ships in the British navy. The Jap
anese battleships will have a Harvey
iZed belt 16 feet broad and 220 fee
long, two hooded barbettes, heaVil,
protected decks, and $50 compartment
with 200 water-tight doors. Their bat
teries will include four l2-inch 46-tol
guns, twelve 6-inch guns in classmates
smaller Quick-firing guns, MaXims AN,
complete torpedo equipment TIL
Japanese battieships will have all tn
improv vements which experience am
scientific knowledge have suggested il
the course of the development of tn
Majestic class for the British navy.
OTHER BIG CRAFT.
In addition to these three battleships
another has been building at Elswic
by the Armstrong; as a sister ship t
the Full, recently completed. This
the Yashima, with a displacement z
l2,450 tons and a speed of is knots. Thi
oattleshp is 374 feet long and 1872 fee
beam, and has a mean draught Of 26i
feet. She has Harveyized belt froI
II TO is inches, two barbettes with tw
2-inch guns in each, a coming tOWe
casemates for ten 6-inch guns and
protected deck. She is fully provide
with quiCk-fring guns and torpedo
tubes and boats. The Yashima and II
Full are most formidable battle-ship
equipped with every defence and wea
pom which advanced naval science ca
supply.
Japan is building in Europe four al
mored cruisers of 5000 tons, with a
estimated speed of 20 knots. Two
these have been ordered in Englan
one in Stettin, Germany, and the fourt
i'm France. In addition to the two prt
tected 23-knot cruisers now under cor
struction in the United States for Ji
pan. a third one, the Takasago. is no
in progress at Elswck. This vess
will have tonnage of 1900 and
designed to have n speed of 23 knots
TORPEDO BOATS
he value of the torpedo. boat in n,
tual warfare is one OF the vital point