The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-28

OF ancient design. but would be most use
Iul Tor harbor defense work
Great Britain's armored cruisers are the
hhest ahoat. They were no better six years
ago than the New York. but OF late she
mas ADDED vastly TO the protection. speed
ana number of guns. The New York was
IaVofabiy compared with the Blake, the
best Of British armored cruisers, in 1898
when the latter was at the naval review,
out advances in the designs of this type
have placed Great Britain at the fore
front in both number and effectiveness.
OF armored cruisers The four Spanish
vessels under Cervera We're far more form
idaole ships, so far as batteries and pro-
lection Were concerned, than the New
York, yet Great Britain has a number of
vessels IN all respects. superior to the Span
ish vessels.
The st. Louis and Charlemagne are per
haps the highest type of the French bat
ueship, each having a displacement of
u, 260 tons, 9,500-horse power and a speed
of II knots. Their armament consists of
four n.S-inch guns in two turrets, fore
and aft, ten 5.46-inch guns, and a vast
number of smaller guns and machine
guns. She has other battleships which
are larger, notably the Carnot and Charles
Mantel, but naval experts regard the St.
Louis type as the more effective fighter
There is but one opinion among naval
officers as to the result of a conflict be-
tween the two governments-the French
fleet would be destroyed, but not with
that quickness and completeness which
some Frenchmen are asserting would fol-
low. American naval officers are not in
chned TO underestimate the fighting quail
tiles of the Frenchman on the seas or
the effectiveness of his war vessels. Ad-
mittedly, they say, Great Britain has
vastly superior navy, but not so much so
as to crush France until a terrific blow
had been dealt England. British seaman
ship and ordnance would, they say, re-
suit In reducing Frances sea power, We're
the two governments evenly matched in
naval strength, but sight must not be
lost, they assert, of the wonderful prog
resS of French science in recent years as
applied 10 the construction of Frances
navy, and the high state of its efficiency
through constant drilling and maneuvers.
American officers say that France has
not been asleep by any means when Eng
land has been putting her fleets through
summer evolutions, and that she has
maintained drills with squadrons, boats
working singly, and at target practice to
a surprising extent. She has devoted es-
pecial attention to torpedo boat practice,
and as a result the Frenchmen know how
to handle his craft and fight her with
daring and expertness. Our naval Off
Gals have no doubt that a war would
bring about some startling lessons to the
world and that French prowess would be
developed to a great extent
Chief Naval Constructor Hichborn holds
the views natural to his corps that Ameri-
can battleships have no superior, and that
next in rank are the British, but he by
no means underestimate the French YES
sci. France made some big mistakes. he
asserts years ago when faults in designs
resulted in some of her finest ships being
tOp-heavy and unsafe. She has prof1tted,
however, by experience and her later YES
sells are without doubt equal In class to
those of the, best produced by British
yards. Like all naval officers, he is con-
hdent that the British-navy is vastly su-
perior in all essential respects, and that
conflict between the two nations could
have but one result.
Engineer-in-Chief Melville regards the
torpedo craft of France highly and has
learned many valuable lessons which the
has applied In the building of the Ameri-
can boats, from the French. France was
the first government to adopt the triple
screw system for her warships and copied
this idea from the American navy, whlch
was the first to produce in the Columpia
and Minneapolis perfect specimens OF
feet. high-powered cruisers. Other hlgh
officials of the navy place the relative
fighting strength of France and Great
Britain at a ratio of two to one, and none
question what the effect of war would
he if fought out on the seas. There Is
not an officer of the navy, however, VINO
would not stake a years salary on the
result. even though France and England
were evenly matched. Anglo-SaXon PLUCK
the fighting qualities of the race and the
indonitable spirit which have carried 1t
through perilous positions, would they
eav he pre-eminent again in fight be-
tween the British and French.