The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-11
MAXIM ON WARS LESSONS.

CFrom the Chicago Tribune1
Hiram Maxim, the American inventor
of the Maxim rapid fire gun, which
has won so many of Englands battles,
has been drawing some expert deduc-
lions from our great naval battles. He
says the war has taught US that "a,
cruiser has no business with battle
ship" He might have added that
battleship which lacks speed cannot do
business with cruiser, either. He also
remarks that torpedoes and torpedo
boats have not proved as effective as
many experts expected. That is putting
the case mildly. The utter fasco of the
torpedo boat in Spanish hands is one
of the most amazing features of the
war when viewed in the light of the
direfuI predictions of European experts.
Mr.. Maxim might also have named
among the chief lessons of the war the
fact that all woodwork on warships
must be fireproof, but he was evidently
talking less as a naval expert than as
an inventor and student of rapid-fre
guns.
AS Mr.. Maxim says, the war has
taught US that future development
must be in the direction of guns of
higher power. The guns that can be
depended upon to do the most execu-
leaves at a high rate of speed, so that
its trajectory is fiat. The shells from
these guns may be depended upon to
penetrate armOr and to do the most
havoc for their weight. Guns with
high curve trajectory and dropping
fire are comparatively useless. Even
the tremendous guncOtton bombs of the
VesUvius have proved a Disappointment,
largely because they must be fired in
this style and cannot be depended upon
to hit anything smaller than a city.
Mr.. Maxim says: I'VE don't want an
other NeSuViuS or katahdin." This is
undoubtedly true, but in discarding the
VesuVius it should not be forgotten
that its nightly earthquakes, hurled in
to the country around Santiago, IN
dOubtedly had a great deal to do in ter
Tifying the SpaniardS and leading them
to surrender to Shafter more easily
than they otherwise would. The
Nesuvius is a failure for hitting any
particular fOrtifcatiOn, but its moral
power during siege is tremendous.
To sum up this part of the subject the
war has been remarkable in that 1t has
thrown into the background all new
tangled or experimental methods of
warfare, and has pointed the way to
success along existing lines The war
has introduced no notwithstanding fea-
ture like the Monitor of the civil war.
1t has discouraged the use of high eX-
plOsives, except in the ordinary long
range penetratiVe shells. 1t has dis
counted all the fadS of the experts and
has emphasized the supreme import
ance of fast battleships, armed with
high power guns, provided with smoke
less powder, and manned by skilled
markSmen.
Mr.. Maxim is right when he says the
war has shown that the man who can
shoot straight is worth his weight in
gold. Almost everything depends upon
the man behind the gun American
ey1nnerS have shown themselves to be
the best marksmen in the world, and
one of the lessons of the war is that
we should give the navy plenty Of am
munitiOn with which to keep in practice
during peace times. The accuracy of
our fire has set the EngHshmen them
selves to wondering whether they could
do as well. They and all the rest OF
Europe should be kept in that frame
of mind from this day forth, by giving
our e-unners constant drill and preserV-
ing their present efficiency at its high
est point.
The high esteem in which the English
have suddenly come to hold our navy
is indicated in Mr.. Maxim's statement
that 80 per cent of the English people
are III favor of an understanding be
tween the two countries, by which the
United States would pay its share
toward maintaining powerful navy
for the joint use of the two countries
The United States will not care to go
into any such scheme, but the compl-
ment of such an invitation from the
greatest naval power of the world is a
thing of no mean significance. NO less
striking is the unanimity of British OF
fetal circles in the opinion announced
by Mr.. Maxim that we should keep the
PhilinDfnes at any cost" Our naval
strength is one reason for doing So
The might of our guns at sea has Gre
ated not only the right but the DUTY
of holding the islands and giving them
a good government