The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-21
Chief Engineer Melville's Report On
the War.
NEED OF FASTER SHIPS
BATTLFSHIPS MUST HAVE THE
HIGHEST SPEED.
This Was Shown at the Battle Of
Santiago-Torpedo Boats Were
Misused and Left In Terrible
shape-Positions of Ships When
the Colon Surrendered.

Washington, Oct. 2O.-The war which
has just ended was the first in which
modern steam vessels have had a thor
| ough trial. So says Chief Engineer
| Melville. in his annual report. Then he
proceeds to note the important lessons
so far as they respect the machinery
of the vessels. which have been taught
by the Texas. including the following:
That fresh water for the boilers is
almost as important as coal. and that
distilling ship is an important ad-
junct at a base where fresh water can
be readily obtained.
That every fleet needs a repair ship,
to enable the efficiency TO be main
tanned without leaving the station. and
consequently that several ships should
be equipped so as TO be ready 80 pro-
coed with the feet
That there should be frequent trials
under forced draught, to keep the
blower in good condition and to make
the men thoroughly familiar with
working under maximum conditions 1t
appears that some of the ships had
never been under forced draught since
their contract trials until the day Of
the fight at Santiago.
That our fighting ships must have
the highest practicable speed. There is
an almost general agreement on this
point among naval men. but if any
thought that this did not apply to the
battieshiDs the fight at Santiago must
have shown that the highest practic-
able speed is important in these vessels.
1t is very gratifying. therefore. that our
three new battleships are to have
speeds of at least is knots, which is
now recognized as the standard.
The chief says the most obvious eff
feet of the emergency demand was to
demonstrate in a vigorous manner the
facilities and deficiencies of the various
navy yards and particularly to justify
the policy which had been previously
advocated by his bureau of placing the
more southern yards and stations in a
state of modern efficiency. With par
donable pride, the report dweils upon
the tremendous amount of work accom-
plished by the bureau in preparing the
fleet for war. involving the placing of
new boilers in the old monitors. the fit
ting out Of ships in ordinary form and
the equipment OF the auxiliary navy,
nearly 10 vessels being added to the
regular force. Stress is laid upon the
Importance of having the less acces-
sible station in the navy, that OF Key
West, simply stocked with stores and
tools for emergency work. and with
this end in view. the chief engineer
submits estimates for a complete equip
ment of the station
The record made by the repair ship i
Vulcan. it is said. will convince the
most sheDtical that this floating shop
was of most unestimable value at San
tiago and that there is not a more i'm
portant feature today than the main
tenance of such a ship, well stocked
with every fleet.
On the subject of torpedo boats the
report says: 1t is a sad affair that
nearly every one has had some acct
dents and that the machinery of some
at the close Of the war was in a condi-
ton that can be described as horrible.
where boilers We're burnt, cylinder
covers broken, pistons and valves stuck
and everything in bad shape This con-
iition of affairs seemed attributable to
TWO causes, the absence of trained
supervision and the haul
ng of the boats for duty for which
hey were not intended. The report ex-
plains its last comment by saying that /
[ did not require much experience to /
prove that torpedo boats cannot be /
safely used as dispatch boats and as
lenders on blockading ships far from
bases of supplies or from efficient re- /
lairers. They are intended for high J
speed spurts, where success or failure I
n the use of their special weapon .
should be quickly demonstrated For /
his they are especially built and for /
his they should be kept solely