The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-15
Our Proposed BattIeships.

OuF EEOpONtO
An unlocked for conclusion was reached
by the board of bureau chiefs in
the matter Of The speed of the three new
battleships authorized by Congress at its
last session, and for which bids are soon
to be received. The question of speed is
one that has been under careful discussion
since the results of the recent war have
been noted. and Cervera's squadron of fast
and heavily armored cruisers, practically
second-class battleships. has to some ex-
tent been responsible for this discussion
The original plans for the new battleships
as prepared by the construction bureau
contemplate vessels of about 1850 TONS
displacement AMI sixteen knots speed. The
need for vessels of greater speed and yet
che same effectiveness in other lines has
been the subject with which the bureau
chiefs have had 10 deal.
4 day or two ago Engineer-in-Chief Mel
vile presented to them ten proposals, four
Of which were to develop eighteen knots
ON the present displacement of the YES
sells and the others not less than seventeen
ana one-half knots. In order to do this
however, he stated that il would be neces-
sary to curtan the bunker room space,
thereby reducing the coal supply. This the
bureau chiefs would not consent 10, and
voted to postpone the matter until after
Sept. 1, so that the ship builders might
be heard from IN the meantime with re-
gard to the present plans. When they have
heard from the ship builders, they will de-
eide whether to have the new vessels built
on the present displacement plans and un-
der the designs for machinery originally
submitted, or to completely redesign the
ships and ask Congress to authorize yes
sells of p, 500 tons displacement which they
believe to be the better class of battle
ships Both the Cramps ana the Newport
News Company have announced their in
tention OF presenting proposals for 1S-knot
ships, and upon these proposals much may
depend. If they are unsatisfactory, it Is
likely that the whole matter will be referT-
ed TO Congress with recommendations. 1t
is important that the most effective battle
ships possible should be secured. and con-
sidering the fact that our present battle
ships are somewhat lacking in that essen
tial quality, speed should be one of the
important points aimed at.
While this subject is under consldera-
ton there is another important matter to
which due attention should be given, and
that is whether it is not possible to de
wise some plan for better ventilation Of
the boiler and engine rooms of these YES
sells for the purpose of reducing the terri
BILE temperatures which often prevail in
them. 1t is remarkable that few, if any, OF
the men below decks have been overcome
by the intense heat that prevailed during
their work around Santiago, and yet their
sufferngs must almost have reached the
limit of endurance. 1t is said the tools,
ladders, doors, fittings and almost every
thing in the fire and engine rooms of these
warships, particularly the monitors dur
ing their stay around the Cuban coast
were too hot TO touch. One naval officer
wrote home of hardy Irishmen in the fire
room of one of the monitors who were so
worn out physically that they cried like
children. and begged 10 be let out for some
fresh air. In the engine room the tempera-
ture is somewhat lower than in the boiler
room, but in these places 1t ranges from
100 to 100 degrees when in the tropics and
the men have the heat both from the in
side and out to contend with. one CORE
spondent wrote recently of a temperature
of 2O5 having been reached below the decks
on one of the ships, but it Is not likely that
a man could live for any length of time
in a temperature so near to boiling point.
Experience having taught these facts it is
important that something should be done
to remedy the situation If 1t is possible to
do so. The comfort 9of the men should by
all means be taken into consideration, for
upon The men below the deck, in the fire
room and in the engine room about as
of battle as upon the men who handle the
guns