Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08


power. unmarked for special seryi,, a. a.
any peculiar characteristics OF el,bo, "
fence or defence VI
with US the gunboat has a raavf.-.
displacement or total weight on IN I'm
thing Just over no tons. and r,i,i.,.
of $50 tons, the Castine and Machi,s IN
resenting the major extreme ang ~
little Bancroft representing the r,,,-e'
extreme.
or this simple OF unprotected cr.,..
type we have three--the Detroit ~
blehead. and Montgomery-each n
triie over 1000 tons displacement W
these vessels were first resigned ~,
were officially known as gunb0ats h,
the department wisely saw that a urt,
must be drawn somewhere. and plsr.-,
the gunboat limit OF size 10 CRATE ma
1000 tons. the three vessels at or.s y.
came dignified as cruisers. Besides ft..
promised speed and their fulaIlrc-t 81
reaching over eighteen knots reas3rst'v
made them deserving OF the title ln c5..
junction with their pretty heavy bst.
teries Of rapid-fre guns.
The simple or unprotected crulet- t-
common even with gunboats has DO ors.
lection in the shape Of armor or bs-
''vitals," asher engines. her boilers. art
water-tight deck, though. OF m08ersf.
plating, which extends from side 20 SIC
and from bow 10 stern. completely r5of.
ing over the "vitals." While not pr6o,
against even moderate shot. this fe,.
prevents the admission OF wat,r below
which may come IN through breaks IN
the plating above this deck. and .n thst
materially aids in preserving the stability
Of the craft II pierced by shell just above
the water-line, but near enough t0 admir-
water in careening SO far as possible
coal is placed upon this deck and against
the sides as a bulwarN against any a,-
tack OF an enemy. and while the coal
remains there is forms good defense
10 guns ranging from one-pOunlers t0 six
pounds. The armored SHE'D borne ty
some OF me guns. or the arm0r-pafes
about some Of the gun-pOIts is not con-
sidered protection 70 the craft herself
and while either may be present o1 a
simple cruiser, the fact that her vls
remain undefended makes her an unpro.
tected cruiser.
The protected cruiser is the next az.
vance upon the simple cruiser Here
again. we have a water-tight deck. blt
this time IL is supplemented with coax
of mail, and many range on the fat p0.-
ton from one inch 10 two and 0ue-haf
inches. and vary on the slopes az tl8
sides from one and one-half 10 four and
three-ouarter inches. This armOr pc.
sents a defective front 20 shot passing
through the sides and threa tening ths
magazines and the motive power ard
of course. gives the vessel the power ~
standing I'D before craft capable Of deal
ing out certain destruction % tae simple
cruiser Again, the coal is slowed a.ors
the sides above and below the water
tight and protective deck, and new c,-
fence. I'm the shape Of a band Of celuloa.,
stands ready 10 take the first shock u
attack and 10 plug automatically by rs
own swelling all shot-hOies admitting
water. OF course. It IS not proof against
explosive shell, which may dlsplace %
rather than merely pass through o.
OF the protected cruiser type the Oiym'
MIA Is by long odds the most typical ye.-
sci in our service. Aside from her bull
protection. the guns Of her main battery.
four S-inch guns, are mounted m tRo
turrets an ali-around shelter unedla.lel
nv any ship OF like class and size ln DE
world and some notion Of what this and
the other phases OF this 5.sp-ton ships
defensive qualities constitute may 10
gathered when IL Is realized that sh1
could stand up and give a good account
of herself against either the British Fo"-
erfuI or Terrible-ships OF over ltoy tons
displacement.
The armored cruiser. represented ~
our service by the New York ond lls
BROOKLYN, is the protected cruiser pe.-
tered by slightly heavier armor o1 1H
protective deck. slightly heavier afAi
about her turreted guns, and me lfe-
ence Of a band Of water-line yeruca. at
NOR and plating OF from three io i'li
inches on her sides just above This hety
belt. This water-line armor ls ld..'
amidships. and reaches fore ana al
throughout the region occupied oy W3
vitals. As can be seen, TIDE afmoi'i
cruiser is a larger and heavier pio'el''
version OF the protected cruiser an,
again. able 10 withstand blows mat "oDN
render an unprotected. or even pro.
tected. cruiser, defenceiess DO 'ty
short while. She has great speed-la pc
case Of the two vessels named-il.f b"
knots ana she Is. as the old wood'l
frigate was. the next most fofnlli.''
craft TO a battleship. In battle she my
take her place in the line and bear "'.-
the slower but more powerful th'ls =
fair share of he enemy's attack. p'l pr.
special service will be % look Up l'
enemy's armored cruisers-not pi..'.
ships-or the larger Of her pf2'r
cruisers and give battle with a reah'
bic assurance Of victory.
The armored cruiser Is the cavalfyl, .I-
Of the sea. and 20 them VIII ran U-'
service demanding dash. force, and GUM
ness OF execution.
The protected cruiser is really me COM
morce destroyer and IS coated "lh W.
enough mail TO give her preionAt 4,
OF defence over the armed escort :.
detailed 10 watch over an enemy
chant craft. Swift OF consllei awe -lh.-,
power. and OF great ease or ..,g
She Is indeed 70 be dreaded by eve.
but craft Of ample speed, une pio'',
and good powers OF retaliation. .-, cha
The simple cruiser falls IN urNI"t
protected cruiser In the me Ni' D..
vice; but she must be wary le'l ~ L,
nv be a merchantmen Of glnpQWe.l
conveyed by a sturdy crait OK ~
superior battery -s.. ..,
The gunboat naturally must conhne
ouerations 10 domestic service, the go
ianship OF merchantmen m otL r..y
waters. dispatch service. or pleNst -r.
for the heavy ships that must "''
foe I'm force, and 10 conclusion. .r,,
IL seems quite needless 20 remaIh
so FAR as possible each commandlnt on. ~
is expected 10 size up his approlch..-
and. depending upon the known ,.
OF a conflict, either 10 ensage on 'N. ..f
that better part OF valor, discretion
scoOt ,.rr OBJ u
Type for type. our ships VIII ho'4 49,,
own with those Of Spain. sno Pa
more can be expected lest the com. ....
action OF two weaker craft Wits .l
tory by hardness OF manas '.....,.-
a less ably handled single foe OF a + .'
power.
COMEDY AND DRAMA THIS WIFI
The s,ml.in.-FabeI Company 10 h''~
Al. aoarss mt the AcRdem1'