The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-28
BROOKLYVS WAR LESSONS.
SCHLFF AVID LIEUT. H0DGS0E TELu
WHAT THEE LEARNED.

hmcnHy ntthr Rnptd-Eire
OF the Cruisers High Specialize Aduai-
raj Praises the JackisH-Ths Rrooklyn'a
Tall SmOkestaeks Proved Their VnIus.
You can almost read the lesson learned ky
the Brooklyn during this war in the EtarA.s
said Admiral Schley with twinkling eyes. He
waved one hand suggestively toward tho Amer
lean ensign Haunting from the taffrall Of the
alniored cruiser az he spoke. As for the
share VI the crew aud this ship in the victory Of
the Santiago tight. only one thing can be said
they did their duty as Americans and AmeFi-
can ships always have and always will. In all
my experience I have never before Witnessed
such fatally accurate and deadly shooting ~
was done by our fleet as it closed In on Csrs
vera's squadron during the battle OF July 3
But all this is an old story. That we happened
TO be in the thick of the fight was q pieos az
good luck for which we are all thankful. The
speed of the Brooklyn had something to do with
IL. And you can give the praise for that to
those who designed her and the faithful crew
below in the engine and fire rooms. They
worked as men never worked before. II you
wish me 10 give an idea Of the efficiency Of the
armored cruiser class Of warships as proved
by the Brooklyn's experience. [ am afraid I
must refer you to Mr.. HoIgson, the naviRator.ss
Lieut.. Hodgson is the cruisers navigating
officer. Admiral Schley said OF him In his re-
port Of the Santiago battle:
The navigator. Lieut.. A. c. Hodgson, We
most steady and conspicuous In every detail
of duty. contributing 10 the accurate firing oe
this ship BROOKLYN in her part Of the great
victory"
Lieut.. Hodgson said:
The lesson learned by the Brooklyn q tne
same as that learned by every ship in the feet
We probably can give better testimony from
the fact that we were struck by the ensmy'n
DrOinpfilpa N RrpnfaT numhpr IF firnaa thar aa~
other vessel. but really the only additional
knowledge acquired is that Spanish shells Of
the calibre fired by Cervera's ships are use
less against the three TO eight inch armor car
ried by the Brooklyn. The marks and scars
show that we were reached about twenty-five
times. put. "a YOU see. we are still afioat.
The recent war proved eonclusively that
vessels OF the Brooklyn type find ample pro-
lection in the protective deck. which Ia three
inches on the fiat and six inches on the slope,
in the three-inch belt and in the eight inches
guarding the barbstte turrets. 1t In evident
that the constructors were happy In their sslsc-
tion of the armor. The injury reported to
have been sustained during the Santiago fight
when one OF the compartments was flooded
below the water line was due to a water valve
being opened through some unknown cause.
In regard to the question of armament. 70
has been claimed in some quarters that q bat
terry consisting entirely Of d-lnch rapid-hro
guns would be mora efficient than the Brook
lyn's present battery, which includes eight
S-inch and twelve 5-tnrh rapid-frers and a
secondary battery Of twelve 6-pounders, four
l-pounderS, four Colts, and two field gums. The .
question is susceptible of argument. Of course.
but think the S-inch guns OF the Brooklyn
did .. their lHd share n the santiago fight. We,
pined with the S-ineh RroIectiles fired BY the
Lava Iowa: Oregon tEa and al. Indiana A. worked terrible
Vizcaya and, the Colon. One of these shells
struck the latter ship. landed in the ward
ment and killing a number of the enemy.
The Maria Teresa was struck by an S-inch
Just forward Of the port beam. The proiec-
tile burst and disabled the four crews of the
guns. on that deck; The s;ineh breechlpader
our Of place on an armored cruiser.
The official reports made by the commanders
results Of the battle OF s~antiagp, were achieved
by the s-inch and lower ,~calibres. and the
given 20 the men at the latter guns for their
extraordinary skill and ability. The perfect
Spanish ships BY the. 5-inch rapid-drers was
th6 beyond 4Rd Relief PELLET vn GaP g.. E u nn test
side was frightnl and the men could not stay
the pieces. although twelve Of these terribly
destructive guns are carried, only six could
lumber would bear on the broadside. but the
six guns did their work nobly. The Vlzgaya
oadef the Infanta Maria five timea.
One Of the shells exploded a torpedo on the lat
ter vessel with terrible effect. This shows Q
he target was moving rapidly Is taten into
consideration. is really ,remarka, 9. / do not
3 8sbssS. th Ess 9"ftsry Rs Of thf BrS SOsaF s Ssn e sSd i%.
selves. and the results obtained By the ahiD
n the recent war are eloquent.
The efficient work or the marines manning
he secondary battery must not be forgotten.
handled the light, gums coolly and skill
md the question as to the advisability Of util-
Zing the marine guard in such work should
The Lieutenant was asked how. In his optn-
on. armored cruisers compared with battle:
he BROOKLYN. From the manner Of his reply
t is evident that he is an enthusiastic advo-
of the Brooklyn class.
Both batrleships and fast armored cruisers
ire necessary in every fighting feet" he salds
but L think. from the greater range Of. tho
aore a than the battieships. The moral
fleet on an enemy naturally exerted by Grad
for quick. sharp work. great speed and
ruisinR range and effective action the ar
nored cruisers cannot be- beaten. What bat
er lighting machines can be found in any navy
han the New York or the BROOKLYN They
ave a speed Of twenty knots or more. splendid
arteries. ample armOr, Q coal supply OF 1.461
Ons and radius of action ofS.OSSknots at tens
not speed. With the new foreign policy of the
snch vessels as the New York and Brook
IN VIII be- OF the kTtHItSI value. BuLuTo naval !
uilding programmes will certainly include
type Of ship"
In reply to u question as to the conduct a
ne BroOklyn,s crew during the Santiago 40
on, Lieut.. HodgsOn spoke in warm. praise.
he GOODNESS and daring. the sangfroid shoWn
v all on board. from the oldest man down to
ne youngest apprentices. was something ab6O-
ltely marvellous.
III il had NOT been for the series Of thuds pr0-
the landing Of the Spanish shells
Eaipst our sides and the terrible rendtng and
rashing sounds al the anemys ships blew up,
M. would have Thought the whole affair was
imply u drill ut general quarters. One Of the ,
.ssOns learned by the Brooklyn but II In
.ally supertiuousl IL the neutrality-suspicious.
the American man-of-war's man as . fighter.
has not required years OF actual, practto0
place the Yankee blnejacket at the top Of
he heap. We have men aboard here who, IL
ressed az citizens, would give a Or"ker odds
a meekness OF appearance. but that neot
tipped out past Moro Castle and made for the
they fought like demons. II You should
* one Of the boys what he thought OF the
Eht. he'd probably grin and shrug his ahoul-
ars. 1T was merely a scrap.