The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-03
GOOD NAVAL LESSONS.
English AdmirnIs Say That the war
Has Given Them Valuable Points.
From the Baltimore Sun.


From the Baltimore sun.
London, July 28.-Several officers of the
British navy have furnished me with
their views on the occurrences OF the war
from a professional standpoint The sub
Jects dealt with cover the most import
ant problems Of naval construction, equip
ment and battle.
Admiral Sir George Elliott who has
held in his time nearly all the important
commands in the navy, and is the author
of treatise on Future Naval Battles
and How to Fight Them" assures me
that he does not consider the war has
been thrown away, but on the contrary,
that IL has taught England some valuable
lessons.
He is of the opinion that the experience
obtained strongly recommends the all
around belt of protection and armored
shields for all guns. Even weak armor
would be better than none for the great
object Is to prevent the shells from BURST
ing inside, and direct hits are very few
In the light of what has taken place
Sir George Elliott is of the opinion that
unless there IL an Interior object in view
of sufficient importance an attack en-
modern forts by ships should never be
attempted.
As regards torpedo boats Sir George FL
lott considers them TO have been shown
to be useless for defense Of sea ports by
day, their proper use and limitations be-
ing for night attack or where ships are
crowded together, as in naval battles at
sea, when the attention Of gunners is oc-
cupied against gun attack.
The admiral considers that at least Eve
important lessons hace been taught by
this war.
First-In a state of peace to be fully
prepared for war in every respect.
Second-The value of adequately pro-
tecting coaling stations.
Third-The value of superior speed for
the cruiser class, and, especially, for the
more weakly-armed vessels.
Fourth-The naval defense of seaports
by gunboats and the raising of naval vol
unteer corps as an integral portion of
the naval reserve forces.
Ffth-That great importance attached
to a steady gun platform for quick-hring
guns, looking 20 the small number of hits
compared with numerous shots fred.
In conclusion Sir George Elliot said:
my advice 10 the American admiral now
being sent to the coast of Spain would be
not to knock his ships against the Span
ish forts. but TO capture the Balearic ISL
ands Port Mahon would be invaluable as
coalng station, and in the event Of war
fine strategic position"
Admiral Sir Henry Nicholson said: This
war mas Taught Us AOtHiuS. 1Ae SNdtr VI
the Spanish navy has been for years 50
hopeiessiy rotten that when the moment
for action arrived its military value was
nil. Spanish forts seems to have been, prop
ably from various reasons, as inefficient
as their ships. Both the Spaniards and the
Americans In their use Of torpedo craft
have shown a remarkable absence of dash.
Practically neither side has made any use
OF their dreaded arm
Captain Montagu Burrows, Chichele pro-
fessor Of modern history in the University
of oxford and the biographer of Admiral
Lord Hawke, considers that we have not
sufficient information Of an accurate kind
10 deal with the question of the relative
value of belts and decks as protection for
warships, nor does he think that the old
question of ships versus forts has received
much illustration from the war He says
THE Spaniards were so far inferior on
AL points to the Americans that the duel
between the land and sea batteries was
never fought out. The policy of the Amer
leans in Cuba, which consisted of the de-
struction of a weak feet and an attack on
the forts by land forces was obviously cor-
rect Sea power has put the island into
the feet in an attack on Havana when
supplies could be absolutely cut off.
The naval historian does not consider
that the experience gained as to the use
OF torpedo craft is of any great value.
-s--e-S--
THE Maid Professor, madam
has just returned from her journey.
Professor-Remind me by and By 20 Give