New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-09
SPEED IN BATTLE-SHTPS.

The naval experts responsible for the aston
ishlng decision to build three new battle-ships
Of inferior speed to all the latest ships of for
eign navies and to some OF our own battle
ships, which have been several years in COM
mission. have at last thought It wise to try to
defend :heir policy and through the courtesy
Of 1.-THE New-York Times" have given to the
public n great many excuses for rejecting Com
modore Melvilles plan TO- water-tube boilers
and Quadruple- xpansion engines, intended to
give an increased speed without adding to the
tonnage Of the ships or changing their general
design. The most noticeable thing about their
excuses Is that they do not excuse. They sim
ply raise mass Of side issues which tend TO
confuse the question and distract attention
from the important point, which Is whether or
not these new ships are to be as fast as they
could be without sacrifice Of efficiency In other
directions.
We shall reserve discussion Of some remark
able statements that water-tube boilers take
more space than the old-style boilers and re-
duce coal-carrying capacity. and that 1S-knot
ships cannot be built without increase Of about
a thousand tons displacement and 30 to IS feet
in length over the 18knot ships designed and
shall confne ourselves for the present to exam
ination Of some Of the general points urged OIL
behalf OF the Illinois type Of battle-ship. AT
tenton Is directed" reports 1.-THE Times" ito
1.-The fact that there are many elements to be
considered in the design Of a battle-ship be-
"sides that Of speed That question has been
Thoroughly canvassed by the Navy Depart
''ment In years past. and the fixing Of q sus-
"tained speed Of 10 knots an hour for our
"battle-shps was made after careful considera-
"tion Of the question In all Its bearins3' That
Is well enough so far as II goes. but the naval
experts neglect to notice tina: the contractors.
while ordered to build 16-knot ships. are to be
permitted to furnish 15-knot ships on payment
Of a small penalty. and 1t Is perfectly conceiv-
able that contractor might deliberately figure
that the saving in the cost Of 15knot ship
would be more than the forfeit for failing 10
build one Of 10 knots. At any rate, the Gov
eminent has no assurance that It will have
ships "of a sustained speed Of 10 knots" 1t
can only count on 10 knots. and therefore dis
cusson Of the value Of the new ships on Ie-
knot estimate Is misleading
Furthermore. we are told that the rating real
~ makes no difference that really all that any
battle-ship will do in actual work Is about 10
knots. Fuel supplies limit them to that on long
voyages, and higher speed Is mpracticable in
squadron evOlutions In action. But the value
Of great speed Is not that II will be used ordi-
narily. but that II will be available when need.
ed. and in face Of the speeds varying from 1S
to 20 knots in recent European battleships II
cannot be said that our vessels might not be
in a chase where the extra knots might mean
Overtaking an equal or escaping a superior
The experts point to the destruction of Ad-
mral Cervera's fleet rs complete answer to
the criticism on the lack Of Navy in fast
fighters. But the ineff1ciency OF Spanish gun
pers. and the failure Of their vessels to make
their nominal speed. covered with tropical
growth. ms they were, and lacking IN good fuel
and frcmen make such argument vaueless
The fact that we had to chase the Cristobal
Colon for hours shows how we might have been
bafied by any other navy.
The experts also say that the shalowness of
our harbors limits the draught Of our ships, so
that we cannot attempt to build battle-shp OF
great displacement rivallng those Of England.
and that the depth Of our vessels must not be
greater than "a feet. The obvious answer Is
TINT nobody asks for battle ships OF the great
displacement talked about and II Is knocking
down man Of straw to point out the defects
OF the type which all admit is undesirable here.
What Is wanted IL the use Of the best and
latest type OF machinery to give the ships o.
the size suited 10 our water the greatest DOS.
sible speed without diminishing armament. and
the Bureau Of Construction Is not planning to
do that. But there Is another word to be said
on the 24-fcet draught argument. II that "