Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-05-12
sPAIN's STOCK OF COAL
H. w. Wilson Says Her Ships
Will Run Short of 1t.
NO COAL SHIPS TO HELP SPAIN.

NO COAL SHIPS TO HELP SPAIN.
EnglaMd's Noted Naval Expert Tells How
| Coal Considerations Affect the Spanish
Squadron's Operative Powers-Capacity
of the Ships Coal Bunkers-Says Span
ish Fleet Is Sure to Lose-May Meet In
the West Indies.
In all the Spanish naval plans to raise
the Cuban blockade the question of coal
capacity and coal consumption by the
Spanish fleet is of paramount impor-
lance. In view of this fact the New York
World has obtained from H. W. Will
son, author of 'Ironclads In Action
the most noted living British naval ex-
pert, a precise statement of Just how
coal considerations affect the operative
powers of the Spanish squadron. He
writes:
In view of the various very discrep-
ant statements made respecting the
Spanish cruisers coal capacity it is I'M
certain what quality of coal is on board
and whether it is the best Welsh steam
or the rubbishy Spanish or German coal.
OF the latter three tons will only do the
work of two tons of the former Spain
had not large stocks of coal, so it is
probable that there is much poor stuff
in the bunkers The calculations below
arc for the best Welsh coal, and 5pain's
endurance must be somewhat reduced if
Welsh coal is not on board
Besides the coal carried in bunkers,
some can be slowed in bags for long
voyage. The quantity thus carried is
naturally uncertain, but about the ex-
IRENE limit for the size of the ship is
allowed. All the Spanish armored cruis-
ers have economical triple expansion en-
glnes, but the stokers are believed to be
inferior. The speed used will be eco
nomical-about ten knots-until the
American feet or cruisers are sighted.
The figures for the Spanish ships are as
given below:
"The Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya
and Infanta Maria Teresa have all 1900
tons bunker capacity, and with spare
coal in bags-say 800 tons-they can
carry total of 1000 tons. The Cape
|
apart. With ten days economical speed
at consumption of from SO to 80 tons
day the total burned on the voyage
would be from 600 to 500 tons. There
remains say 600 tons, enough for eight
or nine days economical steaming. To
New York is or IL days and would
require, say, $50 tons. There remains
$50 tons, of which 500 is needed to get
to Halifax and reserve of $50 tons for
operations on the American coast. The
Cristobal Colon has 1000 tons in her
bunkers, and liquid fuel is reported in
her double bottom. This is doubtful,
but allow that it equals 200 tons of
coal, with a deckload of $50 tons, this
gives total of l, $50 tons.
"The Niclausse has very economical
boilers, with consumption of so to 70
tons day, giving a total to Puerto
Rico of about 700 tons and to New York
of about 500 tons. This leaves $50 or
700 tons, allowing for rather more ex-
tended operations than the other cruis-
ers. The destroyers Pluton, Terror and
Furor can carry at their extreme limit
100 tons, which may last fortnight at
economical speed if bad weather is not
encountered.
IF the Spanish feet meets Rear Adj
miral Sampson east of Puerto Rico,
they must either run or fight. If she
fights, Spain will be smashed hands
down. II the fleet runs, the Yankee
cruisers, fresh from port, full up with
coal and in fine trim, will quickly over
take the rear ship and attack it. If the
other Spanish ships stop to give help,
Sampson's battleships will come up and
send the Spaniards to the bottom.
1.-The destroyers are very dangerous
in smooth water, but in heavy sea
are not SO formidable. Therefore Samp-
son should attack as far east as may be-,
as the coal burned in their boilers leaves
the bunkers empty Of coal protection.
Destroyers have been coaled in sea-
way from large ship but rarely. Spain
may try to run the fleet to an unobserved
anchorage and coal there from GOLFERS,
but it is believed that there are no
GOLFERS with the Spanish feet.
British sympathy prevents British
golfers from going to help the Span
iards. The transport San Francisco, re-
ported to be with the torpedo boats
Ariete Azor and Rayo, full of coal, has
transferred much of it to the Spanish
cruisers at Cape Verde, and their where
abouts are uncertain The torpedo boats
could cross with some difficulty under
sail, and an anchorage that might be
used by Spain is the gulf of Ocoa, on
the Haiti coast. There is very good
unfrequented harbor at Martinique and
many on the South American coast.
"Spain might temporarily seize an
open bay on the United States coast,
but this would be very risky and would
mean her probable destruction. I see
nothing in the neutrality declarations
, to prevent the Spanish from coaling
from Golfers in neutral port provided
they do not make it the basis of pro-
. longed stay. Much depends on the atti-
tude toward America of the power own
ing the port.
~ think it likely that Spain has a
rendezvous in the West Indies, at some