New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-25

the speed OF the latest cruisers ABROAD ""' "'0
other members thought a multiplicity OF screws
confusing 10 navigators and INSTRUCTIONS 20 Tree
navigation.
INFERIOR TO FOREIGN WARSHIPS
When they had completed their labors this
afternoon. none Of the chiefs appeared to he at
all enthusiastic over the result, although they
all eeer,ed clad TO reach a conclusion on the
matter which added to their already heavy bur-
dens IN d,scharging their responsibilities as pu-
reau chiefs had given them much extra work
Cor ,yeeks mast II was admitted that the result
eovo M great satisfaction TO any one. Livery
,n,nortant noint had ended in a compromise DE-
,,.oa, ,,har was evidently the best In the oplh-
g., Of ono or more members Of the Board ana
what would cause the least sacrllCe u ~
favoritn points desired by other members ~
he animated discussion over the battery TIE
.ortanca NJ speed and sea staying power
s~,iisinc economy and defensive futures nave
been minimized, and the SHIPS theHse'Nes a.
admittedly inferior in almost every par' Sroa
TO the latest vessels Of Germany fIa"Oe' VI 0"'
Britain Russia and Japan. - 49,. .,o,
The battery is notably different from the ''Ilee
mans Suggested after deepest STUDY lev
arguments in technical publications. NllA4n
month every member Of the Board eXoeP. one
onnosed superimposed turrets. ana as idIe a.
last week the Board addressed ieeter ~ ~ he
\-a1.,, DEPARTMENT asking that the design ol ti'c
~. ehins might be delayed until oppoIluNl'5
could be had to try that type OF tufleO un ~
actual service conditions on the hearsaIse' ne
Toarart,,ent replied to-day that the hedisalSo
60 ro,nain in her builders hands for apou'
six months. that her guns could nol De nlSI -
The mean time and the design should De hni ,
without further delay. captain rvlsel. va" Tf,ee
70 command the KeaTsarge. and VINO vas - ~
- Ordnance when the Indiana class was pun
oficially recommended some time ago 'l ia ,nb
S-incb turrcts On top Of the kearsarse 10 ~
l.frx ,foarf RI
since come TO the conclusion that 'heN S"0"'N
have trial.
t,1cHT1NG OFFICERS NOT CONSULTED
ora % the strangest proceedings attending
the design Of the six new ships, which are 10
cost over S3OOOOOOO. is the secrecy observed
The manifest advantages to be gained from the
exnerienoe Of officers who had commanded fight
ING vessels have been ignored. Admiral Dewey
ana Pear Admiral schley have been constantly
in the city: Rear Admiral sampson mas Nlsl'eu
the Department several times. and the 9ah,laSo
CAPTAINS though near at hand, nave not uve.,
consulted although the Navy is clearly emu,
- tho beueNt OF their experience. captain
Evans. who commanded the Iowa, is on dulS III
Washington. and so is Captain Hl6Sli,So va
the Massachusetts, Captain C'arK OF tHe ~
gon is at the Philadelphia yard, Captain OooN,
az the BROOKLYN is az Annapolis, ana AUIll4a al
Philip who had the Texas, Is AT the NeW-iol n
ward All these commanders OF batteshlps anu
g cruisers
as experts TO put the lessons OF the war m ~
battleships but their advice has not peeh asheu.
The Board gave hearings TO none except us
own members not one Of whom had served III
an armored or first class vessel Of the ne"
Navy Without any reflection on the eNceleNCe
Of these officers whose management OF III
ror+ant bureaus through the Spanish war WAS
above reproach and who are ranked among the
ahlest IN the service II is a fact that IN the
last ten wears one has been 20 sea in command
Of the Dolphin one commanded the benhlhs-
TON and the Montgomery, one commanded the
Dolphin and the Bancroft and the olher TWO
49, not heen 70 sea The latter have however,
been conspicuous in the oeslgn OF nun, nuns a,iS
engines Of all the vessels Of the new Navy ana
their hulls and engines are initiated wherever
ships are built. .-.,-.. ,,..-a
one OF the members OF the Construction Board
Is on record as recommending TO the Depart
ment that special Board should be convened
for the purpose Of designing these SIX shlps' III
view Of the great Importance Of the work the
hureau chiefs being limited in the time they
could give to the subject. All the other mem
bers Of the Board TO whom the proposition was
referred united in opposing the project apPaI-
emily as calculated to curtail their power OF
reduce their influence, although the earlier nrst
class ships which had given satisfaction. had
been laid down after consultation with the ou-
reau chiefs by special boards.
The last designs Of the present Board on Con
struction have been unfortunate Ihrough Inc
Trbune's efforts two knots speed aho lV," 80
Of coal added 10 the Maine class OF Daltle-
shfns after the contracts had been awarded
Similar changes were secured TO the advantage
Of the Navy in the Arkansas class or monitors
6esione1 last fall and the latest cruisers known
as the Denver class. bids for which are TO be
opened the last Of this month, are more seVerely
criticised than any other ships or the steel
Navy