New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-11
CAPTAIN ETANSS TESTIMONY.

Captain Evans of the Iowa gives some In
teresting Information concerning the value or
high-spced battle-ships in his account of the
destruction of Admiral Cervera's feet His
statements should not be overlooked by the
naval experts who are defending the Construc-
ton Board for preventing Commodore Melville
from putting an improved type Of boiler in the
new ships to give them additional speed without
adding 10 their size or weight, on the ground
that the defeat Of the nominally speedy Spanish
vessels shows that our slower ships are fully
ADEQUATE to all possible calls on them 1t Is
hardly necessary to point out that the perform
ance OF the illkept Spanish feet furnishes no
basis for Judgment to our chances in con-
test with a squadron Of like rating properly
manned and coaed. The failure Of the Span
iards TO get the nominal efficiency out of their
ships does not show that somebody else could
not do il. The difficulties which we met in
facing them. far short as they came Of their
rating in speed. only emphasize our imperative
need Of faster battle-ships In case we had to
deal with an enemy who could use his ships
for all they were worth.
The naval experts have said to "The New
York Times that ii makes little difference
whether ships are rated at 1G or Is knots for
'nearly all their steaming in either case Will
be at about 10 knots and that it is impossible
for them to use the extreme speed on ocean
voyages on account OF the necessity OF econo-
MIXING fuel and that at has been found I'M
practicable TO utilize it in squadron evOluions
'in action" Let us see what Captain Evans
says about utilizing extreme speed in action.
CAPTAIN Evans saw the Spanards coming
toward him. To get out they had to pass him
ard the rest Of our feet. He reports; "At the
"time general quarters was sounded the en-
"glne bell rang full speed ahead, and put the
helm TO starboa:d, and the Iowa crossed the
slows Of the Infanta Maria Teresa, the first
"ship out" There he was, crossing the bows
of the leading Spaniard. After that 1t was only
necessary TO fight Of course. No possibility
Of utilizing extreme speed! lie started to ram
the approaching ship, but soon sit became owl
IDENTITY impossible for the Iowa to ram either
"the first or the second ship on account of their
speed" The Spaniards made no bones about
utilizing their extreme speed, and the Ameri-
cans did not stop to consult the Bureau Of Con-
etructon as to whether 10 knots was not the
reasonable limit OF their steaming. and rs to
whether a 18-knot was not as good as an 49,
knot ship. Every knot they could make they
made.
The Iowa had been ahead Of the Teresa but
soon fell behind and turned across the stern
"of the Teresa in an effort to head Off the Al.
"mirante Oquendo. All the time the engines
"were driving at full speed ahead" She was
utilizing her extreme speed utterly regardless
Of the Bureau Of Construction. Captain Evans
says: 1.-The Cristobal Colon. being much faster
than the rest OF the Spanish ships. passed
RAPIDLY to the front In an effort to escape"
and he odds: "As II was now obviously impOs.
"sible to ram any Of the Spanish ships. on &C.
"count Of their superior speed, the Iowas helm
.was put to starboard and she ran Oh course
"parnIlel with the enemy" Nevertheless she
could not keep up. The Oquendo was fear
fully damaged, and seemed 10 stop her engines
"for a moment and lost Roadway; but she I'm
"medIatcIy resumed her speed. and gradually
"drew ahead of the Iowa and came under the
"tcrrlpc fire Of the Oregon and the Texas. "
Then the vizcaya. which had been trailing IN
the rear. drew abeam Of the Iowa, and pass
w ahead Of her. came under the fire OF the
swIfter Oregon Meantime the Brooklyn and the
sCrfstobai Colon were exchanging compliments
"in lively fashion at apparently long range; and
~the Oregon, with her locomotive speed was