The age-herald., 1898-05-24
LESSON LEARNED
 BY THE WAR Armored Cruiser the Best Type of Modern War Vessel. CEVERA'S PHANTOM FLEET Has Caused the Naval Experts to Open Their Eyes-We Have Been Employing Our
 Coast Defense Ships For
 Offensive Warfare.
CEvERA'S PHANTOM FLEET

Washington, May 23.-As a result of the manoeuyres executed by the Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral Cervera, future naval constructors will give the armored cruiser a prominent place in the types adapted for offensive warfare.
 This perhaps is the best lesson taught up to this time by the war with Spain. Such is the opinion of naval experts since Ad- miral Cervera with his speedy squadron arrived ten days ago at Martinique. It marks the downfall of the theory so strong ly advocated by Captain c. F. Goodrich, now in command of the Yale, and formerly professor of the naval war college, that the armored cruiser had no place in modern nayies.
 Goodrich Probably Convinced
 "Captain Goodrich is now probably con vinced of the value of the armored cruis- ers," said prominent navy officer, 'in view of the fact that, as commanding offi- cer of the Yale he has been scouting for the enemy's fleet since a few days before its arrival at Martinique. The armored cruiser is nothing more than swift sea- going battleship Japan recognizes this fact, and Is the only nation that was quick to take advantage of such recognition. Her lesson was learned at Yalu, where pro- tected cruisers of great speed and equipped with rapid-fring guns, drove from the scene of battle the Chinese battleships of slow speed and thick armor.
 'srThat the lesson was well learned is shown by the fact that Japan immediately placed contracts with the Armstrong; Of England for the construction of six battle ships of great speed. In order to get the speed, bes des eighteen knots, with the protection and armament specified by the Mikados government, it was necessary to make the ships of great displacement. Two of them, Yashima and Fuji, which are now on their way to Japan, are of 12,OOO tons displacement each. The latter ships have displacement of 14,S50 tons each. On their trial the Yashima and Fuji developed speeds of IS and 192 knots respectively.
 Armored Cruiser Developed
 "These vessels are really the development of the armored cruiser type. What would we now give for such vessels under com mand of Rear Admiral Sampson? Two of them, with the New York and Brooklyn, would be able to drive away or destroy Admiral Cervera's squadron. This govern ment, in building the Iowa, obtained type in some res Fects similar to the armored cruiser, but her speed is only 16 knots, and under present conditions is probably but IS or 14.
 "Since the war began we have been using vessels for purposes for which their types unsuited them. For instance. the Indiana and Massachusetts are coast defense battle ships. Yet they have been sent to sea cruising for the enemy, when they were rally intended for defensive purposes.
 "Then we have been employing harbor defense monitors for blockading purposes, and for offensive warfare, the result being to cripple manoeuvering quality of our fleet and handicapping Rear Admiral Sampson seriously In his offensive and defensive op erations. Our shipbuilding policy has been all wrong. The country has gone on the theory that a defensive navy was all that was necessary. The present war teaches that an offensive navy Is absolutely re- uuired