Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-03

to whether the torpedo is to rise to the
position OF governing type, as the ram
did; and whether, supposing opinion
places il in that position once held Dy
the ram, that will be it's true and lasting
position, or whether 1t will rise TO power
only to fall again, as the ram diu. IL
was at an early date proposed to build
rams pure and simple to contend wlth'
and so to supersede the ironclad pattls-
ship. They were to have oeen sindLi'
swift, and but lightly arrnored-Just sum
GENTLY armoreo, in fact, TO ensure tLa'
a numerous, and yet not enectiVe' nre
could not be employed against theIh W
the battleship. Such a ship was never
buiIt and II is impossible 10 say what
might have been the result had one Deen
built and tried. But at a very carry
period the torpedo. which had TIL theh
been an adjunct to the battleship's gun
and ram power was given g. vessel TO u
self and for that moment the torpedo
became an independent threat TO the pat
,leship. which the ram had never peen.
THAT threat has been greatly developer
in recent years, and the place 1t VIII take
ultimately may be determined by opNuon'
even though that opinion IS wrong
mrhe point is that this Is only one OF
tba many questions vital 70 the future
90 naval war. vet we do not know any
thing abou. Il in reality The immense
nrogress that has been made IN IN
creasing the propulsive power OF the
pound of coal destroyed sati-poWer, am
there IS no reason 20 suppose tnat ueFci-
opment has ceased. 1t has, py greatiy
adding 70 the speed OF the torpedo-boat
or vessel greatly strengthened the threat
OF that instrument OF war. as against
the battleship, and not impossibly may
destroy the type. In the torpedo ltseIi
the Improvement has been immense; IL
has a straighter, longer, and moro GER
tain trajectory than II originally had,
and travels at much greater speed. Inc
experiments now going on In applying
the evroscope 10 the rudder may possibly
extend the effective range Of the weapon
70 1. 900 yards The destructive erect from
q. blow OF the weapon has been cohtihu-
ously increased by charging the charge.
ON the other hand, the Improvement on
the anti-torpedo-boat gun may really DE
a complete answer TO the torpedo-Doat'
The Maxim automatic H-mm. gun ma ,
been brought ur TO a fire OF 300 rounds
per minute; and with smokeleSs powder
This terrible stream OF fire Is, sure TO be
much more accurate and deadly than
that OF the Nordenfeldt gun could ever
have been.
"The difficulties Of foreeasting the future
OF tactics is greater than in forecasting
that of strategy. though the questions IN
terlace. II is as yet quite a matter OF
opinion. and Of very loosely-formed opin-
ion. whether the future sea fight VIII be
between battleships alone. as in the sail
ing DAYS; or between torpedo vessels
alone; or between torpedo vessels and
battleships on one side. or between YES
sells armed with dynamite guns alone.
] do not myself believe 1t possible 10
fight mixed fleets. but others quite as
competent 10 judge as / am feel conn
dent that IL there are 10 be sea fights III
the immediate future, they will be fought
on both sides by torpedo vessels and bat
tleships closely associated and intermin-
gied. The decision 10 be come TO Is
evidently crucial and fundamental. l be-
neve IT can be truly arrived az by proper
courses Of experiment. But L am bound
10 say that were I responsible for the
naval expenditure OF any nation. should
not dream of large and sudden expansion
until knew the results Of these expert
ments. When England awoke. some
thirteen years ago, 10 the conviction that
she was I'm a unique naval situation, re-
curing dominant naval force. she was
oa.re night 10 follow the lead OF her pos
slble opponents, and to build what they
built only in greater number"