Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-12
with our navy pitted against theirs III
one great sea fight
SPAIN KNOWS Our WEAKNESS.


with our navy pitted against theirs in
one great sea fight.
SPAIN KNOWS OUR WEAKNESS.
But the weakness of our feet, as com
pared with that of Spain. has not
been the subject OF eloquent speeches
and lengthy newspaper articles on this
side OF the Atlantic. although II has in
Spain. II is well TO face the truth, how
ever unpleasant it may be 10 this patri-
otto people.
We are entirely lacking in that small
hut terribly effective, war craft, the tor
pedo-boat destroyer. So important does
Great Britain. the leading naval nation
of the world, consider this type of Tight
ing vessel. that she possesses nearly a
hundred of them. Spain has seventeen
and is building more, while all the ma
tions have small fleets of "destroyers.
They are inexpensive boats, when COM
pared with the big fighting machines but
experience may prove that they can do
an enormous amount Of damage In sea
battle. In recent English naval ma
noeuyres the eyes of the admiralty
on5ciels were opened 10 the importance
OF possessing a numerous contingent OF
this speedy, wicked little craft and the
British ship-builders are at present en-
Kared In building many of an improved
.yps that will shortly be added 10 her
Majestys navy.
poNS HAVE THE NEWEST TYPE.
The torpedo-boat destroyers possessed
BY Spain are mostly Of the newest type
The Furor and Terror, two destroyers
built TO order for the Spanish Govern
ment in British ship-building yard, are
splendid little craft. They have length
OF 20 feet a breadth of p feet, and a
. licnlaCa
when equipped for service, they are
armed with two 1i-poundeF rapid-tire
guns. one forward, above the coming
tower, and the other aft; two 6-pounder
guns. one I'm each brOadside, and two
automatic machine guns, IL inch diam
eter. They have two torpedo tubes on the
upper deck, from which torpedoes can
be fred on either side. Each vessel car
ries four torpedoes.
The great value of these small boats
lies IN their speediness. They can easily
make twenty-eight knots an hour.
seventy tons of coal will be sufficient 10
carry the little craft from Spain to Porto
Rico or Habana. and this amount of coal
they can easily carry. Seventy men
usually comprise the crew OF a destroyer.
THEIR USEFULNESS.
with their rapid-fire guns, and their
torpedoes, these small boats are threaten
ing enough. but they are useful in more
WAYS than one. They can take chances
that would be madness for a larger craft
10 attempt stealing up TO an enemy s
boats under cover Of darkness, and hit
ting around when the big ships are in
aetion, awaiting the first opportunity to
discharge a torpedo at the nearest enemy,
protecting the cruisers and battleships
from the attack Of torpedo-boats by en-
gaging ana destroying those dangerous
craft; running the blockade Of closed
ports, and acting as dispatch-bOats when
a small feet of marine messengers is
needed. Their usefulness Is incalculable,
and yet the United States navy Is with
out them.
WE MAY PROCURE SOME.
We have some splendid torpedO-boats,
but Spain has nearly a score Of the de-
stroyers. which are, in reality, a larger
torpodo-boat, while we have nothing OF
the kind to oppose 10 them. There Is a
possibility that Captain Brownson. who Is
now abroad on a ship-purchaslng expe-
dition for the United States. may be able
70 secure some tOrpedo-boat dostroyers
from foreign ship-builders. and IL he can
there Is no doubt that he will get Them.
When IT IS remembered that 500. COO will
buy destroyer capable Of steaming al
dashing speed. II Is not too much e
hope that Captain Brownson will be able
: 10 send back a whole feet OF destreyers-
say enough TO give as one Of the useful
little boats for every one that Spain
possesses. II will be money Wei Invested