Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-09
Spain S Navy.

While a war with Spain is not a dan
to have an understanding Of the naval
power which that nation could send 10
our shores in case OF trouble. Just
now the public is Interested in the com
ing to New York harhor Of the VIZ
caya, one of SPANS best warshps.
This is a response to the presence Of
the Maine in Havana harhor, and is 4
peaceful diplomatic counterstrokv.
OF course the mission Of the Maine is
called, property enough, a peaceful err
rand. but it is well understood that Jae
real purpose was 10 make a precedent
for sending our ships to Cuban ports
in eXigcncies when sterncr duties might
possibly await them. However. I'm
welcome was the arrival OF the Maine
under the shadow of Moro castle III,
Spanish authorities made the most Of
the situation aud gracefully acted the
part of the delighted host. But they
ar" quick 10 respond 10 our act Of in
ternational courtesy and the Nizcaya
was at once ordered to New York
where it will be given a cordial greet
ing by Uncle Sam.
Possibly Spain had d purpose besides
that of CLOSING with her own inter
probation, in the worlds eyes The
Names mission. and of keeping up her
specimen of her naval strength would
make a timely exhibit for our waters.
In that View she has chosen well her
Iepresen tative. The Nizcaya is one Of
half a dozen 700O-ton belted ships which
constitute. With the 9090-tOn F,mpera-
dor Carlos v. the armored cruiser
class of SPANS navy OF the six ZOO
ton vessels the three already built are
the Nizcaya, the infanta Maria Teresa
and the Amrante oquendo, The TIN e
under construction. which will have.
ii is said, somewhat more horse power
tt4t' 30 itR - ~ tu 'tt l'pt anu a. ma
ment, are the Cardenal Cisneros. Ca
taluna, and Princesa dc Asturias: but
these need not he considered now
These six vessels. properly called crui-
sers from their high speed. sometimes,
also. like our Maine and Tcxas.are rat
ed as second class battleships. from
their thick belts and barbettes.
Spain has one modern hattIeship. the
Pelayo, of 1900 tons, which is beyond
Vizcaya, for various reasons, is deemei
a suitable envoy for the United States
We, in like manner. did not send our
heaviest vessel to Havana. The Viz
caya has a length between perpendicu-
lars of $40 feet, beam of s., and a
draught of Pig. Her horse power is
1900 and her speed is put at 20 knots
Her Water-line belt is II inches thick
and her barbette 1912 inches. while she
carries two ll-inch Hontoria guns and
ten 5l2inch. besides eight 6-poundels
and eight l-pounders. Compared with
the Maine she is longer and broader.
on the same draught having some
what more displacement. the same
thickness of Water-line armor. and
greater speed. The Names battery
consists of four 10-inch and six 6-inch
guns, with nineteen smaller pieces
On the whole. the Nizcaya makes a
good response to the Maine; but, con-
sidering her as an armored cruiser, We
may properly put her in comparison
with our New York and Brooklyn. The
Brooklyn displaces 927l tons, being SO
feet longer than the Vizcaya on the
same beam and greater draught, while |
she carries eight S-inch guns, twelve
5-inch and twenty smaller pieces. The |
ViZcaya has the thicker waterline belt |
and turrets, but the Brooklyn is much |
the faster
The Nizcaya will of course. be an 90
ject of great interest here but as to
contest between her fleet and ours |
SPANS wouldn't be in it long.
A PaWtucket fR. ID man was recently |
locked IN in the police station ut his own |