New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-19
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

The British Admiralty according to THE Lon
don Globe, Is devoting serious attention to the
question Of wireless telegraphy. The dis
coveries in that direction OF the utmost i'm
portance from naval point of view. and It is ex-
tremely probable that experiments will shortly take
place for the purpose of demonstrating TO what
extent wireless teegraphy can supersede the pres
ent methods Of signalling by means Of flags, soma
phore or hashing-lamp. In the opinion Of some
there is TO reason whatever why communication
between the several ships Of a fleet should not be
carried entirely by the new method. The APP
paratus for transmitting and receiving messages
is of the simplest. and could be fitted up board
any commissioned man-of-war in a few hours. For
the purpose OF signalling four miles ii is only neces-
sary to carry the insulated wire to a height Of
twenty feet. while to convey a signal TO a ship
the horizon the main truck Of any ordinary vessel
would be high enough for the purpose. 1t H. be-
lieved that If the masthead of one ship is visible
from the masthead Of another wireless telegraDhy
can be carried on between the two without diff
Guilty. The advantages of such system are obvious
~, enormous. All that has TO be done by faysnp
II she wants to communicate with the whole feet
is for her signamen TO ring up" beginning with
ships pennants. as the case may be- No matter
whether II be night or day, clear weather or thick
absolute ease. In a fog too, communication VIII
such system in war time Would be " 100 DC dance sa nnt
by reason OF the risk OF an enemy's ship picking
will show that there is no more danger telegraph
Ing secret code than there in signalling one by
perfect a method Of sending wireless messages
10 one exclusive point by means of certain aGjI ST.
ments. If successful wireless telesraphy viii in
time entirely reyolutlonze the whole system sig
mailing in the Navy.
Some OF the people Of the British Navy are apprc-
hensive that the Admiralty made a mistake rhen
they consented to the Pegasus being fitted with
Reeds patent water-tube boilers. These boilers,
unlike the Yarrow and the Thornycroft types have
never been tried in a larger vessel THAI torpedo
boat-destroyer The Admiralty a short time ago
ordered the Salamander, which was fitted last year
with Mumford's patent boilers ard the Snodrale,
which Is fitted with those of the Babcock and WI
cox variety, each TO have long and valuable trials
at sea to determine their value. Both q these
not do so well and her breakdown off Ushdnt
definite and complete. Not only her boiler
badly made steam joints well. Consequently
she drifted for about sixteen hours until The engi
boilers fit for steamng, and the ship made her
painful way into Plymouth Harbor There shc is
stu, and It is suggested that she be sent to
the southeast coast of America a station me st
manlfestiy nnn, for a vessel carrying experimental
boilers as there are no dockyards other facilities
IN the shape OF factories for repair.
John G. Llversldge's book on 'Engiae-room
Practice A Handbook for the Royal Navy and
Mercantile Marine is favorably commented upon.
The author is chief engineer OF the Royal Navy.
at present employed at the Royal Naval College
engine design. 1t contains much valuable nforma-
ton and instruction for engineer officers For in
stance no advice TO a youngster could be more use
full than this: AN engineer In the Royal Navy Is
not generally required TO do actual manual labor
but he should remember that the necessity may
arise, and should provide himself with practice
when convenient opportunities arise. In the
authors opinion the skill possessed by
clever mechanic is as much deserving of prac-
tice as any other hard-wOn accomplishment srd
from this point OF view the assistant engineer
should take every opportunity Of exercising himself
IN the use OF tools. Or again: Tine petty Officer
IN charge of boilers should lose no time in sum
moning the nearest competent person to assist him
IN case OF a difficulty; arising which he does
thoroughly understand. Many accidents may thus
be averted by prompt action"
The speed and gunnery trials OF the japanese
armored cruiser Tokiwa were finished on April e..
The Tokwa is completely beted cruiser Of 800
tons, and 1900 horsepower. At the speed trials a
speed OF 2l.S knots obtained the mean OF the
runs over the measured mile. but the browning
success was reached with forced draught. mean
vi Is Knots being attained the measured mile.
anu this with perfect The machinery was
yy guaranteed 10 give % and Fl knots respectively
AZ u believed that the other two ships Idzumo and
i"ate now building at Elswck. will be equally sue
cessful when Japan will possess four of the best
CLASS cruisers at present designed for any nation.
ttne gunnery trials passed of without the slightest
nitcn, the ships structure being subjected
e,inch guns firing along the fore and aft line over
lne deck without the least defect showing itself.
similarly the 6inch guns in the forward and after
close to the superstructure without defect being