The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-06

those sunk he credits two-thirds to the
ram, one-sixth to the gun, and one
sixth to the torpedo. This calculation
shows the Importance attached to the
ram by naval experts. OF the One-half
| of vessels to be captured, the ram is
/ credited with third. The value of the
! ram exceeds that of all TIE vessels
guns at the opening of the duel in the
single comba: which is expected to
form so large part of the naval COM
| bats of the future. Later in the action
/ the ram becomes of less Importance,
and the guns are relied upon to achieve
victory. 1t is thought to be certain that
| as the world grows older and battle
/ ships more frequent, fleet actions Will
decrease in number, and single COM
| bats and two to ones become more
| common. The ram is designed specially
! for use in affairs of this kind. 1t Will
not be used, however, as was the orig
| inal intention, to administer the coup
de grace Its blow will be delivered, if
possible, at the beginning of the en-
gagement. 1t will open he fight, and
not close it. The rule in modern sea
fighting is TO sink or destroy the adj
versary. Capture is a secondary con-
sideration, and does not enter into the
preliminary intention.
The force of the ram varies directly
as the weight of the ship and the
square of the velocity. High speed is.
of course, an essential. Into ramming
vessels are placed the most powerful
engines, and 20 them are attached the
best models of propellers. The ram It
self is made as sharp as is possible con-
sistent with massiveneSS and crushing
strength. There is no ram now aflOat
incompetent under fair conditions to
tear q hole below the water line of the
strongest battle ship. In the shape of
the vessel everything is sacrificed to
strength, speed, and, above all, handi-
ness To be able to get quickly under
weigh, TO attain high rate Of progress
in a limited distance and to turn quick
ly in response to the helm are absolute
necessities. 1t is believed that the Kat
ahdin meets these requirements more
fully than any boat owned by foreign
ers.
1t is evident that the success of the
ram in it's duels will depend almost
wholly upon the captain. 1t is not a
question of workmanship or bravery,
or even of high discipline. 1t is queS-
ton of GOODNESS, steadinesS, good judg-
ment and skill in maneuvering. That
vessel which strikes the brOadside Of
the other vessel head on, or even partly
so, is the vessel which wins. The ram
may be likened to a foil in the hand
of its commander. and he must know
how to use the weapon which his cOun-
trymen have given him. He must know
his ship. He must know what she will
do at various speeds and with different
helm angles-what she will do while
backing with Roadway on and while go
ing ahead with engines reversed. He
must know her turning area TO a foot
and the exact force of her striking ca
pacity with given distance and num-
Der of screw revolutions. He must
practice. From her coming tower he
directs her every movement, and he
alone is responsible for the result.
If he commands a first class cruiser,
but has determined 10 open the en-
gagement with an attempt to ram, his
bow guns will be in the best working
order and his brcadsides will be train
ed forward. He will make straight at
his enemy. and at the proper moment
will fire the bow guns. putting the helm
hard over. 1t will be his aim to strike
the foe amidships Owing to the dis
tance and the speed of the opposing
ship his calculation must be of the ut
most nicely. The enemy's best recourse,
having observed the maneuver, will be
to slow down for a minute and then go
full steam ahead. The object of this.
OF course, is to diScOnnect aim. To
turn tail would be fatal and his at
tempt will be to get his bow pointed at
his attacker as soon as possible. Each.
ship will endcavor to avoid a head-On
collision. The point aimed at is the
ing blow at worst. 1t is the belief OF
students of sea power that many ac-
lions of the future will be settled by the
ram. with a minimum use of powder.
The rules for arming. driving and
steering a ship which is to use it's
ram to best advantage are few and
simple. She should have twin screws
and steam or hydraulic steering scar.
The bow and stern fire should be
strong, and the bow guns should have
a wide arc. 1t should be possible to
discharge both brOadsides or either
from the coming tower. There should
be capacity for high speed all through
the action. The attack should be made
from windward, on account of smoke
from guns and tunnels yelling move
msnts. OF course the first ship to en-
ter the turning circle of the other, bow
on. obtains an immense advantage, and
it will be the duty of the commander to
get this vantage if he can A hundred
years ago it was the AngloSaxon
maxim in sea fighting TO get the
weather gauge and board" Most of
the English and American fights were
wen in that way, but ocean combatS
between steam driven and steered ar
mored vessels have become much more
complicated.
The use of the ram in naval warfare
is as old as history itself, but il had
sunk into allegiance in late centuries
Recognition of it's high value and it's
deadIiness was forced upon the atten-
ton of the powers by the - ccess of
the confederate ironclad Msrrimac in
Hampton Roads. A slow. uncouth,
cumbersome craft she was, but YER
liable Bosom of destruction to the
wooden ships opposed to her. The Of.
fensive powers of the ram has been
developed as rapidly as the defensive
power of ships, and it is likely to fur
nish some startling instances of its de-
struetiveness before the year is out
o.
Bucklen's Arnlca Salve-
The Rest SaIye IN the world for Cuts