The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-08


sells were first designed they were officias-
" known as gunbOats, but the depart
ment wisely saw that "a limit must be
otaWn somewhere. ana. placing the gun
boat limit of size TO craft under 200 tons
the three vessels at once became dignified
as cruisers. Besides their promised speed
and their fulhllment in reaching over
eighteen knots reasonably made them de-
serving of the title in conjunction vita
their pretty heavy batteries of rapid-hre
guns.
The simple or unprotected cruiser, in
common even with gunboats, has no pro-
lection IN the shape of armor for her wi
tals'' as her engines, her boilers and her
magazines are called. She has water
tight deck, though, of moderate plating.
which extends from side to side and from
bow to stern, completely roofing over the
"vitals. While not proof against even
moderate shot. this deck prevents the ad-
mission of water below which may come
in through breaks in the plating above
this deck, and in that materially aids In
preserving the stability OF the craft If
pierced by she'll just above the water line
but near enough TO admit water In ca
reening. SO far as possible coal is placed
upon this deck and against the sides a
buiwark against the attack of an enemy.
and while the coal remains there il forms
u eupu OSAtAst 70 guns ranging from one
Founders to six pounds The armored
shield borne by some of the guns of the
armor plates about some OF the gun ports
Is not considered protection to the craft
herself, and while either may be present
on simple cruiser the fact that her vi
tals remain undefended makes her an I'M
protected cruiser.
The protected cruiser is the next adj
vance upon the simple cruiser. Here,
again, we have a water tight deck, but
this time 1t IS supplemented with a coat
of mail and many range on the hat por-
ton from one inch TO two and one-half
inches, and vary on the slopes at the sides
from one and one-half to four and three
quarter inches. This armor presents a de-
Elective front to shot passing through the
sides and Threatening the magazines and
the motive power, and, of course, gives the
vessel the powr of standing up bfore craft
capable of dealing out certain destruction
to the simple cruiser. Again the coal is
slowed along the sides above and below
the water tight and protective deck. and
a new defense, In the shape of a band of
ceiulose, stands ready to take the first
shock OF attack and TO plug automatically
by It's own swelling all shot holes admit
ting water. OF course ID Is not proof
against explosive shells, which may dis
place il rather than merely passed through
it.
OF the protected cruiser type the Olym-
pia is by long odds the most typical yes
sci In our service Aside from her hun
protection, the guns Of her main battery,
four S-inch guns, are mounted In two tur-
rets, an all-around shelter unequaled by
any ship of like class and size In the
world, and some notion of what this and
the other phases of this 5,S00-ton ships
defensive qualities constitute may be gath
cred when Il Is realized that she could
stand up and give a good account of her
self agaist either the British Powerful or
Terrble-ships of over 1900 tons dis
placement.
The armored cruiser, represented In our
service by the New York and the Brook
lyn, Is the protected cruiser bettered by
slightly heavier armor on her protective
deck slightly heavier armor about her
turreted guns and the presence Of a band
of water-lne vertical armor and plating
of from three to four inches on her sides
just above this heavy belt. This water
line armor Is placed amidships and
reaches fore and aft throughout the re-
gion occupied by the vitals. AS can be
seen, the armored cruiser is a larger ana
heavier protected version Of the protected
cruiser, and, again, able 10 withstand
blows that would render an unprotected
or even a projected cruiser, defenseless in
a very short while. She has great speed
lin the case of the two vessels named
fully twenty-one knots, and she Is, as the
old wooden frlgate was, the next most
formidable craft to battleship. In battle
she may take her place In the line and
bear with the slower, but more powerful
ships fair share OF the enemy's attack,
but her special service Will be to look up
the enemy's armored cruisers-not battle-
ships--or the larger Of her protected cruis-
ers and give battle with reasonable as
surance of victory.
The armored cruiser is the cavalryman
Of the sea, and to them VIII fall that serv-
ice demanding dash, force and qickness OF
execution.
The protected cruiser Is really the com
merce destroyer and Is coated with just
enough mail 70 give her preponderence
Of defense over the armored escort proba-
bly, detailed to watch over an enemy's
merchant craft Swift OF considerable
gun power and Of great ease Of movement
she is indeed TO be dreaded by everything
but craft of ample speed fine protection
| and great power Of retaliation.
The simple cruiser falls In behind the
protected cruiser in The same line Of serv-
ice; but she must be wary lest her quarry
be merchantmen OF guupowder or be
| conveyed by a sturdy craft of speed and
superior battery.
The gunboat naturally must confne IT'S
| operations TO domestic service, the guar
dianship of merchantmen In our own
waters, dispatch service or picket duty
for the heavy ships that must meet the
foe in force and to a conclusion.
| II seems quite needless to remark that
so far as possible each commanding officer
! is expected 10 size up his approaching foe,
and, depending upon the known chances Of
| a conflict, either TO engage or exercise that