The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-03

WASHINGTON, d. c., June H.-(Special
Correspondence to The Herald) 1t is ex-
asperating that the Spanish fleet persists
In remaining a phantom one, whele there
are so many problems of naval warfare
awaiting a solution. True, we have sent
the Philippine squadron to the bottom Of
Manila bay, but the destruction of tina,
collection of marine targets has done little
to help the naval designers by practically
testing the value of their numerous
theories. We want Spanish ships capable
of hitting back in a fairly effective manner
to come on and give the world a chance to
witness real naval fight. There are SO
many points regarding modern fighting
ships on which naval men are at odds. The
idea in naval construction that looks force
ful today may be weakened by an event
that takes place tomorrow. There are
mighty engines Of destruction in use in the
modern navies whose effectiveness is prac-
tically INFESTED.
Theorizing on the effect of the dynamite
guns of our Vesuvius, the naval men are
brought face to face with the question: "Of
what use is 1t to spend millions on a battle
ship that may be blown to pieces by a sin
gle explosive from the new demon of the
sea?" For it is fact that one shot from
the Vesuvius landing fairly on the deck of
the most strongly protected vessel afloat
would sink her as surely as though her
thick steel sides were mere match-board-
ing.
Even If the dynamite projectile from the
Vesuvius faileG>to land nearer than thirty
feet of an armored vessel, the force of the
explosion would place the vessel out of ac-
ton, disocating her machinery and rend-
Ing her gun gear apart.
The Vesuvius has had an opportunity Of
testing her dynamite guns on stationary
forts during the recent bombardments by
Admiral SIMPSONS ships and the result
has been sufficiently appalling to show that
the dynamite gun Is factor in naval war;
fare that seems likely to revoluticsize
warship construction in way that has
not been done since wooden vessels became
obsolete.
And again the theorists, deving deeper
Into the question, ask: "Why should not
dynamite guns be extensively used on land
rs we'll as sea?" Such charge as one CT
the three guns of the Vesuvius throws
would annihilate a regiment of men. These
being theories needing only opportunity
to be capable of practical demonstration
the students of modern means of killing
men are turning confidently to the high en-
plosive as the war projectile of the future.
Important experiments have been male
by the board Of ordnance to test the posi-
bility of using high explosives in battle In
O recent report 1t is stated: Experiments
are now in progress under the auspices of
this board with view to discharging high
explosives from powder guns. The batteries
of these guns that have been erected at
Fort Hancock and Fort Scott, San Fran
cisco, have shown that these guns are ca
pable of throwing 100 pounds of nitro-gela-
tine a distance of $500 yards, 200 pounds
$500 yards and 500 pounds 1900 yards with
great accuracy.
1.-THE board, however, has not abandoned
the expectation of some time being able to
discharge aerial torpedoes of great capac-
ity from powder guns and experiments with
that end in view will be continued"
In a government report of experiments
with shells loaded with gun cotton 1t is
stated: Believing the action of these sub
stances fired from Pinch steel mortars,
with 1C00-pound torpedo shell, holding
large charges, would be even more conclu-