New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-22
GERMAN VIEW OFTHENAVY
EMBAsSY's ATTACHE PRAISES AMERI-
CAN METHODS.
CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL AND SHIP
YARDS DIsCUssED-No I'LL FEELING
OVER MANILA INCIDENTS. HE SAYS.

can Navy. covering not only the war period
but an inspection OF American ships. navy
yards and naval methods In the period since
the war. This officer made such a favorable
report 10 the German Admiralty concerning the
consideration shown to him by American naval
circles, that II brought strong letter Of thanks
from the Minister OF Marine Of Germany to
Secretary Long and TO some extent onset the
tension arising over alleged differences between
the American and German naval officers in the
Philippines.
Speaking Of the technical construction OF
American ships, Captain Won Rebeur- Paschwitz
said:
1T is quite noticeable that your American
naval constructors and shipbuilders show the
characteristic energy Of Americans in wishing
to find something new. While the American
ships are built on the same general lines as the
German and English ships they show tend
ency TO try new ideas. TO experiment on details
For instance. the disposition OF ammunition
and the ammunition hoists are admirable con-
trivances The ammunition Is served through
one central chamber. and is delivered imIneoi-
ately back Of the gun, ready TO be placed III
the breach and fred. This Is so obviously the
right thing. and so practical in the rush anu
confusionof action. that all navies Followed INC
lead OF your American constructors when they
first adonted this method Of getting the ammu
milton 10 the gun There are many OF these
small points which appeal to the naval ooserv-
er. II not 10 those unfamiliar with naval aren't
lecture, and altogether they are developing ana
perfecting the ideal fighting vessel. In the plac-
ing Of guns and armor the American and Ger
man ships are much alike. except that we nave
never resorted 10 your device OF doube-decKea
turret which is probably not beyond the e1-
perimental stage. The large coal capacity OF
American ships is a capital feature. which Will
prove specially serviceabe II you are to have
outlying territory such Hawaii and the Phil
ippines."
TOO MUCH TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
How does the personnel OF our Navy-tne
officers and men-compare with that Of other
navies?" was asked.
THE American naval officers have much tech
meal knowledge, perhaps more than German
officers but II is a question whether technical
knowledge cannot be carried too far to the ex-
clusion Of those larger subjects OF strategy
torpedo manpuvring, etc. You have just united
the engineer branch with the regular line OF the
Navy, so that hereafter all your naval officers
will also have to be steam engineers Tnat is
carrying technical knowledge very far. and VIII
put such great requirements on your ofncers
tho. tho result will be awaited with much in
terest by students OF naval affairs When off,
cers are conpelled 10 master such a mass OF
detail they have scant time for considering the
larger questions OF attack and defence. and the
real science OF warfare. They become too me-
chanicaL The great naval commanders are not
merely engineers but men OF intellectual attain
nents. thought and craftsmanship. as well as
technical knowledge OF ropes and irons.
When your torpedo-boat service is fully de-
veloped It will be found that your officers have
another large field Of usefulness AS yet. the
American torpedo boat service is not organized
as with US. We have these craft formed in d.!
visions. with special drills and maneuvres.
suited to their size. much troop Of soldiers
would be drilled But there is little in line
here as far as l have observed, and the uses
of the torpedo boat are yet TO be realized. AS !
have seen them. they are much occupied as dis
patch boats etc, rather than as a well-organ-
lied adjunct OF attack or defence Probably
when ali your new destroyers and torpedo-boats
are completed this organization will follow, and
then will come this new line OF study and prac-
tice for your officers. giving them. with all their
other duties. an unusual amount OF technical
knowledge to master.
VIEWS on AMERICAN SAILORS
las TO the American sailor, IL Is hdrQ 10 judge
him by any foreign standard your ideas and
ours are so totally different. Physically the
American sailor is splendid specimen. The
American method Of recruiting is calculated to
get a good class OF men, drawn from a wide
stretch OF country. and with frequent infusions
Of new blood. while with US sailoring is almost a
life business. Probably a whole the Ameri- !
can system gets a better class Of men than that
t. nj y m 81
men greater self-reliance, and that in turn may
be the reason they are such good fighters. They |
certainly know how 70 keep your ships ship |
shape and the discipline and general conditions !
observed on board an American man-of-war are |
probably equal 10 those OF any naval service in !
the world"
How does the rate Of American shipbullding !
compare with that of Germany"
TT is proceeding at about the same rate, and !;
{ seems as though the American Navy and the /
German Navy would develop on about parallel /
ines for some years 10 come. There is nothing /
unusual or significant from political stand |
,oint in this era Of naval construction on both |
sides Of the water. II is simply the adaptation |
II new ideas to new conditions, the bringing or
naval ornaments UP TO the standards estab-
ished by modern naval science. With US gen
,ral plan OF naval development has been pro-
Vided covering the perlou up 10 ]opf- al t"aI
line are authorized nineteen battle-ships, eight
coast defence ships, twelve large cruisers and
thirty small cruisers. OF these. FIVE ba,tle-ships
and one large cruiser already under way.
This may seem an unusually large authorization
II warshps. but 1t is to be remembered that 1t
covers six years. running some time into the
'uture and. on the whole is about the same as
the developments contemplated and now In
process Of execution in the United States
COMPARISON OF sHIPYARDS.
"Our facilities for naval shipbuilding are prob
Lbly greater than yours, as we have system
4 large shipbuilding plants, beginning with
)antzig and Schiehau on the east. Then there
ire the Vulcan Works at Stettin. which Is