The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-24
FLEET CRUISERS IN FAVOR.
CERVERA's MANEUVERS TEACH
NAVAL MEN A LESSON.

cut. GOodrich's Antipathy for Ar
mored Cruisers Thought to BE Ex-
NODDED by Experiences in the Pres
ent War-Their FIeetneSs in Man
covering Render Them Effective.
Japan's Recognition of Their
North-The YaIu Enlargement
showed the Speedy Cruisers Des ir-
nbiIity-An Offensive Navy an Alb
soIute Requisite.
Washington, May Gas a result of the
naneuvers executed by the Spanish fleet
uuder the command of Admiral &c rivera,
future naval constructors will give the ar
nolcd cruiser a prominent place in the
types adopted for offensive warfare. This
peraaps, is the best lesson taught up to
It's time by the Awar with Spain. Such
is he opinion of naval experts since Ad-
niral Cervera's speedy squadron arrived
ten days ago at Martinique. It marks the
DOWNFALL of the theory so strongly advo-
Gated by Capt. C. F. Goodri H. now in
command of the Yale, and formerly pro-
lessor of the naval war college, that the
armored cruiser had no place in modern
navies,
Capt Goodrich is now probably con-
WINGED OF the value of the armored crus-
ers" said prominent navy, officer, in view
of the fact that, as commanding officer of
the Yale, he has been Scouting for the
enemy s fleet since a few days before its
arrival at Martinique, The armored cruis
er is nothing more than swift seagoine
battleship, Japan recognizes this fact
and is the only nation that was quick to
take advantage of such recognition. Her
lesson was learned at Yalu, where her
protected cruisers of great speed and rapid
firing guns drove from the scene of bat
tie the Chinese battleships of slow speed
and thick armor.
That the lesson was well learned is
shown by the fact that Japan Immediately
placed contracts with the Armstrong; of
England for the construction of six battle
ships of great speed. In order to get the
speed of eighteen knots with the protec-
ton and arma ment specified by the Mika-
dos government, it was necessary 10 make
the ships of great displacement. Two of
them, the Yashima and FNN which are
now on their way to Japan, are of 12.OC6
tons displacement each. On their trials
the Yashilma and Full developed speeds
These vessels are really the develon-
ment Of the armored cruiser type What
would we now give for such vessels under
the command of Read Admiral Sampson?
Two of them with the New York and
Brooklyn would be able to destroy or drive
away Admiral Cervera's squadron. This
government in building the Iowa obtained
a type in some respects similar to the
armored cruiser but her speed is only six
teen knots and under present conditions is
probably but thirteen or fourteen.
since the war began we have been US
ing vessels for purposes for which their
types unSuted them. For instance the
Indiana and Massachusetts are coast de-
Tense battleships. Yet they have been sent
20 sea cruising for the enemy when thew
were really intended for defensive pur-
poses.
Ihen we have been employing harbor
neIehse monitors for blockadiug purposes
and for offensive warfare. the results he
ahS TO cripple tlse maneuverng quality of
our heet and handicapping Rear Admiral
sampson seriously in his offensive and de-
4ehslVe operations. Our ship-building pol
Icy has been all wrong. The country has
gone on the theory that a defensive navy
was all that was necessary The presan
war teaches that an offensive navy is alb
solutely requisite
The necessity of target practice in time
OF peace is apparent when we think of the
--'4ii9 VI lilC oldHldTuS at MdtanZdS and
san Juan upon the American squadron.
we knew when the war began the desir-
AFFINITY OF employing smOkeless powder, but
unfortunately Congress failed to make the
necessary appropriation when it was re-
commended several years ago and the de-
pattment had to fall back upon brown
powder.
l thlnk Congress will now agree that
DOCKS are the crying necessity at this
ume. Although none of the battleships
IL capable Of greater speed than sixteen
KNOTS an hour, under present full condi-
tiohs' they can probably not steam at
greater rate than twelve or thirteen knots.
me divers who have been sent down to
Key West from Norfolk will be able to
sclape the propellers clean and thus in
crease the speed of the ships. but they viii
hot remove the barnacles of the bottoms
u the shlps to any great extent, for it is
impossible for them to do good work under