New-York tribune., 1900-04-29
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

The action OF the lower house Of Congress In
eliminating from the Naval Appropriation bill the
clause authorize the purchase of 7.40o tons of
Krupp armor at s545 ton, for three of the battle
ships in OF construction, has been fol-
lowed by much comment among naval experts as
to the embarrassment that action may cause to the
Navy Department IN its work of construction. The
three battleships have already suffered much delay
in of building by of not getting
plate. Other naval Powers have contracted
for the Krupp armor. some OF them to a consider
able extent The armor for the English batteship
London is that of the Krupp process, and II is said
to be the first of that armor to be delivered for the
bigger battleships, although the armored cruiser
Vengeance, of the Canopus class. is provided with
it. One of the English naval experts writes of it:
Since Krupp arrnor is half AS good again as ordi-
nary Harvey, and some per cent superior to Har-
vey nickel, the point is important. The propo-
Harvey nickel. 9-inch Harvey. 12A-inch compound.
Of ships armor is now getting to be more i'm
portant than its thickness: to know that ship has
inch Krupp armor will keep out all she'll and prob
at ably most d o In benS Pafee Ths gnn
the final result OF Krupp armor will be the intro
Krupp armor would be quite mpervious to any gun
at present afoat under service conditions
The Russian Ministry of Marine has recently or
dered six torpedo boats, Of which four will be OF
the sokal type, but with rather larger displace-
nent Ali of these six boats are to be delivered for
service in the spring of 1901. A contract is also
about TO be given for cruiser of 5000 tons dis
placement. The Russian coast defence ironclad
Admiral Boutakof9 which for some years has fig
ured in statistical lists, is be begun in a few
weeks. She will resemble somewhat the Aprafn,
which vessel a reef some time ago and
which. 1t seems likely, will remain there.
There is uneasy feeling gaining ground In
England that the latest pattern of French naval
gun is superior to those Of the English navy. Not
withstandng this apprehension the chairman of
Vickers Sons & Maxim stated at the annual meet
ing OF the shareholders a few days ago that the
Vickers 12-inch wirewove gun, being placed
on the new battleshps, has a striking energy ex-
ceedlng that or the French Finch weapon at 1000
yards by "a per cent 1900 yards by 56 per cent
and at 5000 yards by p per cent.
The Italian papers have indulged in more or less
criticism of the 13.50o-ton battleshp Regina
Margherta, ia of construction at Spe-
za. 1t is stated that the deficiencies is the
battery Of quick firing guns, but this is 70 be in
creased. To the four guns OF l2-inch calibre and
TO the four quick hrers OF 9-inch calibre twelve of
6-inch and eight smaller guns will be added. |;
seems evident that the intention is add greatly
thing of compromise If il be true that her pro-
lection has been sacrificed her speed Of twenty
one knots.
The Russian gunboat Khrabry which for
her class probably carries the heaviest battery
aioat, has attracted much interest among officers
OF the United States Navy. She is the outcome Of
the views recently expressed by Vice. Admiral
Makanof. chief constructor of the Russian navy
TO the effect that the trend of modern naval con-
structon is toward small cruisers with heavy
armament. Her dimensions Length. 229 feet;
beam. Il 2-3 feet: draught, II feet: tonnage. 49,
tons. She is. therefore. about eighty larger
displacement than the Dolphin of the United
States Navy although she Is eleven feet shorter.
nine feet wider beam and draws three feet less
water. Her speed is put al fifteen knots Her bat
terry consists OF two s-inch guns. 6-inch gun
and ten rapid firing guns OF the secondary battery
type. This compares closely TO the battery carried
by the American cruiser Boston. one-thrd greater
in size in displacement to the Khrabry. Such a
heavy battery is a new departure In armament
one which has many interesting features the
minds OF American naval experts, oksd
upon with faver by them