The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-21

THE NAVAL LESSONS
....0F THE WAR.


which confront VI than anything that has
ever occurred Before the eecsarasso Of
hssss.l:sAs cur navy was rated hardly or an
equality with that Of Spain. while even
eminent English authorities commented
adversely bash upon ogr ships and gsus.
How gfex, Is the change In their present
expressions. when they acknowledge that
snip fog ship. gun for gun, and man for
man, We are superior 20 any asioa:- TEE
English now even go 30 far as 30 state
saat our navy Ia more than match for
that OF France. although IT II .wtee az
powerful IN numbers The tasks Of oss-
diplomats have been very much simpisned
Try he results OF this war This alone h
worth this entire cost Of car new navy.
The wonderful naya: results OK this war
must be largely attributed 30 the personal
qualities of the American character, sup
pismsntsd 10y the thorough training of our
officers at the naval academy and olr
msn "a the apprentice system. This has
led To the construction Of efficient mate
RAJ. and the after perfect utilization OF IT.
The lesson In not only In the successful
Use % the guns In battle, but the fact that
our vessels have been kept al sea con-
Esansiy under way. for period OF several
months. and their efficiency fully pre-
served The practical example Of the Ore
CONS unequaied run from San Francisco
TO Key West, and her ability ID iynmenf-
ateiy engage IN battle without the slight
est repairs, and to then overhaul a eruis-
er with reported speed seven knots
greater than her own speaks volumes for
her builder and her officers and men, and
IS worth rea.ns OF theoretical propositions
and deductions. The Puget sound naval
STATEN can, perhaps, take some crealt for
this performance, as the Oregon started
%s,on after a stay OF two months in the dry
dock there where she received the clean
bottom aEd the biIxe kseis which made her
such q steady platform in action.
That our naval offers are entitled to
army pay 10 seif-evdent TO any one at all
conyersans with their relative expenses.
They receive only their pay and a single
ration for all ranks. while the army offi-
csr gets communication for fuel. fodder.
room rent. numbers OF ratlons and the per-
mission 10 purchase personal and house
hold nccessaries from the commissary at
wholesale prices. This difference in pay III
soma instances. with these things eonsld-
cred, on shore duty in Washington City.
amounts 10 almost third. Not that the
army officer receives too much pay. but
the fact that the navy offlcer with a fam
liz is often denied the necessaries OF life
incident 10 the position he must maintain.
When he goes 10 sea he not only has 10
support two establishments, but he Is fore
ed to expend part OF his salary IN the
entertainment Of foreign officials, and
keep up six expensive uniforms This
matter Ct entertainment IL a necessity,
and Is so recognized by European govern
msnis. who allow table money for this
purpose.
No patriotic citizen doubts but that the
requirement Of distant colonies and coal
Ing stations neceSstates large increase
or Our present navy. Our standing among
the nations OF the world has suddenly
changed. and In consequence our navy
must now be capable Of ofrense. well
as defense Tho Monroe doctrine - prac-
ticaliy dead letter. and a sigh Of salts
faction has gone up over the entire coun-
try AZ the fact, In view of the actions OF
the citizens Of the South and Central
American republics during the present
war. Their openly expressed sympathy
has been with Spain, and much material
assistance has been given her
That we need more battlest!ps as rapid,
as we'll armore6 and with as grea, coal
capacity as any afiaat admits OF no dis
pute. No offensive action can be taken
without bai'.eships, and We are now in a
condition to build them With as great
speed. with as efficient armor and guns
and at as small cost as any European
country.
Fast arrnorei cruisers are also q neces-.
sity to meet vessels OF their class. destroy
merchant steamers. act as scouts and sup
port the battleShipS in action. They have
taken the place OF the fas; frigaies Of
Nelson's time.
Auxiliary cruisers. where they have suf-
sicfent speed, have proven their usefu,
ness as scouts. transports. az hiockaa-
ers, and In capturing merchants vessels
Oar ocean steamship companies should be
literally encouraged hy siiss dies r. build
new steamers. capable Of conversion Into
cruisers. carrying batteries % rapid. ars
gums Of five and ssx-3nch caHbcr Tne
Yale. Harvard. 81. Louis aa.l 81 Pau
no..
war.
The monitor % wi'hou, sauh. The hes;
coast defense vessel ;hat IAN Ae construct
si OF hsh' draft. sinai. cost as compared
wsfh ha'siesfirS. carrying IN iaFVels tAe
heaviest guns. on account Of Their les
ffeehoa'a. offering q very limited tarEe9
Tor the enea3y, they are iCValnsiils for
barber defense especially IN :he sha!lnv
waters of Tire United States The Tuoas.ay
IS sssss excellent sea 18Af 81 has sss IN
gfsovsR on many OCCASIONS In eur service
HAT Is sioW speed, great dscugnsorfs for
offers and 11yN az sea. a0tl .oa ggtu plat
form 81 rough weather., prevent its con
slant use IA offensive wartAre However.
many instances might arise. A. in ilse pres
ent war. whege fhe monitor rgstsgd ~ 18th
sSei IN the kaurb8rlngsn; - !oeslt5rst$os9z
The 3eesTUct.on - t;4. Spanish shias M
Manila and Santiago furnished convincing
proof tia: Dons hus isenr@of cod Should
4eE A=s& ~ ne kN3&sr} Ettt-EtSfl - fEEf*-tBf
~ar. ths' uo tGrpstio@S or nsaraxines
shosid ne placed anave ti4 protcrt~a deck
sHA ,aat az hydraulic. puegguatfe. steam
ana electrical connections should ~ MADE
t7,saw JGa. 4 X
sseralsse . the paor shewins Sis1.s TX
.as spanish torpedo soats and fvss9uysrs
81 tass war rgapy afGssHseuts are gasiax
advanced against te1a e3sss az vessel n
xo9slt be "a wt<c 80 eunst.ran arfssa-.ssg
cruisers ah8 ias Spanish guns Tor 1hs : ssas
.Na@2@. Tia lessons - al navas nan
e'are0s. hafh 81 t7is r0un:Fv ARA anraasl.
3n3 80 the Par8.s .h.ie anal taasn-s nina
wgss&, sra fhag fhe<s 8Ssz~ssaS sg shc DARK
ga eft~H ha exceedingly dangerous IL
| @ss Nss1 proven ghaf sn an ssskck az nsgat
ey a HRtHasf * ts=rps,t3 BOATS weaa whe1
* EeGi@3. sspsacsatsy nE~ea Stage vessel
ysa, aHs ~ mioF~ - taafT ges wstH{g Sss}k-
tgr distance t<fasc EsesgS ae.ecsesi 'rhs,r
ss*sn. tne 1assal etTees - sae known pras-
1cf<e 3f ngspieef 80 torpedo, boats n 4
A~TsseT tH kegp5uE ss@ ss%se~rs an3 usea
- es'scSaG3Hg Yessras agi = h!Ka state %