The herald., 1898-01-17

JAPAN'S NAVY
Is Assuming Formidable
Proportions
THE BIG BATTLEsHIP KAsAGI
70 BE LAUNCHED AT CRAMPS ON
THURSDAY
THE BIG BATTLEsHIP KAsAGl
When the Fleet Now Under Contract
Is Completed Japan's Navy
Will Rank Third
associated Press Special wire

ASSocldteu FTeSs opecfui VHv
PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 1s.-The
launching of the Japanese warship kas-
agi, which was built at Cramps ship
yard, will take place on Thursday at
noon. The Kasagi is the most important
ship ever built in the United States for
foreign account, and Is the first foreign
warship launched in this country since
the Zobiaca in 1878.
In compliance with requests for infor-
nation from all over the country,
Charles H. Cramp today gave the fol-
lowing interview to the Associated
Press:
1.-THE Kasagi is a protected twin screw
cruiser or commerce destroyer of the
latest and most improved type and de-
sign in her class. She is built through
out of mild steel of the United States
navy standard. Her model Is calculated
primarily for high speed, the contract
guarantees being twenty two and one
half knots as the mean OF six runs
buck and forth over q measured course
of ten nautical miles.
"She is powered with two four-cylin-
der, vertical, inverted, direct-acting
triple-expansion engines, driving twin
screws. Steam is supplied by twelve
single-ended cylindrical boilers pro-
vided with St. John gear and bearer
bar, and the machinery calculations
contemplate a maximum collective in
dicated horsepower of about 1900. The
Kasagi is among the largest of the ships
of various types and classes embraced In
the new naval program of Japan.
IA sister ship to her is building on
the Pacific coast, and others of various
classes up to IL 1880 ton battieship
either in England, France, Germany or
in Japan's own dockyard at Yokosuka.
TT is worth while to call attention to
the fact that she is a representative OF
the most marvellous and formidable
naval development of this age; de-
velopment that is rapidly bringing into
the front rank among civilized naval
powers a nation, the ports OF which
were first opened to commerce through
the instrumentality of an American
naval expedition clearly within the
memory of men not yet past middle
age. From this point of view alone her
launching is an event worth remem-
bering in the history Of American
shipbuilding.
when the fleet Of which the Kasagi
Is an important factor shall be COM
pleted an event not more than two
years off at the farthest, japan will
rank as the foremost naval power in
the Pacific ocean and generally speak
ing, nearly, If not quite third in rank
among the naval powers of the world.
She will certainly outrank in the all
around sense all but England, France
and Russia, and so far as the Pacific
ocean Is concerned will be far superior
to all except England, perhaps, and 1t
is doubtful If even England could, with
due regard to her requirements in her
own waters or in the Mediterranean and
the defense of her commerce. spare
naval force enough for concentration on
the Pacific to equal in that ocean the
new Japanese navy, of which the Kasa-
gi Is q factor.
"rhis superiority Is due not so much
to the mere number of the vessels Japan
is building as to the fact that they are
Of carefully selected types. perfectly
elaborated designs and wisely distrib-
uted classes, all of the most approved
construction and highest attainable
efficiency.
"The men who operate the material
of this force have demonstrated by their
behavior in the late war, and as evinced
by the professional skill and ability
they displayed in the work of supervis-
ing vessels under construction. that
they have no odds to ask in that re-
spect of the naval officers of any power.
"In short. the whole naval policy of
49, L. IT, I<..
the object lesson, the Kasagi, is one
which nations far older in the arts of
western civilization would do well to
emulate. Failure to emulate or keep
up with 1t may, in the not distant future,
bring some Of them 60 humiliation and
defeat.
''The principal dimensions, qualities
and armament of the Kasagi are as fol-
lows: Length on water line, 374 feet
6 inches; breadth, 48 feet inches; depth,
80 feet inches; draft Is feet 9 inches;
displacement, 1900 tons; speed, 22h
knots.
Armament: Two 8-inch breech load
ing rifles; ten 47-Inch rapid fire guns
twelve 12-pounder rapid fire guns; six
Hotchkiss rapid fire guns"
The ceremonial attendant upon the
launching Of the ship will be exclusively
in the hands of the Japanese minister,
and the affair win be conducted in ac-
cordance with the customs of the Japan
ese In such matters. On the part OF the
Cramp company there will be no special
provision for guests, but the shipyard
will be open to the public at the time
Of the launching.
----------- = -s.--k------
THE ENYrrrrr " A u wun,S