New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-09
FOREIGN NAVAL NOTES.

A note appeared in one Of the French papers
few days ago concerning the feet mancnuvres of
the French navy, in which was emphasized the fact
that all the vessels OF the squadron comma ded bv
Admiral Gervais passed through the Straits of
Gibraltar without having their movements noticed
or signalled by any of the English warships and
that such an occurrence without precedent
None of the vessels of the French squadron were
showing any lights and the passage of the straits
took place at night. The question is asked What
nad been at war; To this one Of the English papers
Admiralty does not keep a vessel two patrolling
luDhauon on the part of our good neighbors across
the Channel at such feat. But can afford to
they would haTe i ee for consrau IN
lation If their feet ever got back again"
The water tube boiler has caused so much dis
cusson in the English navy that the Admiralty has
finally concluded to seek expert solution of the
question A Naval Boiler Committee" has been
appointed the members OF which are able men,
with large experience of boilers but not of the
water tube type The Hyacinth, fitted with the
cylindrical boilers are to be placed at the disposal
OF the -, Commission The members will also have
| De used for testing purposes
| The British Admiralty has also had fitted up two
vessels to experiment with as special distilling
| ships for service with the fleet The Admiralty
| points to the necessity for adequate supply Of
| fresh water for the boilers of war vessels and
aoos mat this was forcibly brought home to the
American squadron at Santiago in the Spanish war
Admiral Melville, in his report upon this subject
| said: The war which has just ended is the first
| IN which modern steam vessels have had a thor
ough trial. and 1T seems pertinent TO note the more
| important lessons which have been taught nv ex
perlence that fresh water for the boilers Is
almost as important coal, and that distIinC
ship Is an important adjunct of feet OPERATING
away from base where fresh water can be read!IS
lance That yndrca boens Of 9bo the hs @po
deea only IT IS absolutely necessary the integrity
anything else In order to proVde neSef have
TsTy SUPPLY for its Its the United
ITO disting ships One Of these was utilized at
the troops stationed there 'e' ioi
A committee authorized by the British Ad
miraltv Is to investigate the system of seamen's
rations and hours Of meals. One Of the nues
tons to be considered Is whether it is not adj
visable to change the hours Of meals, which now
are: Breakfast O'Clock; dinner, 10 O'Clock; supper
other navies and that Of th sas preVals In some
ar r. One may realize how well prepared fireman or
sailor may be to go duty O'Clock in the
morning when his last meal was twelve hours be-
Much interest is taken in the capabilities of arrnor
plate makers to expedite contracts hand and to
give assurances OF prompt delivery new con-
tracts The earliest belted cruisers in the British
navy were the Warrior and the Black Prince zach
OF which had AZ inches of IRON with teak back
ing 200 feet along the broadsdes These were all
laid down or launched In the sixties Then came
others, launched in 1875 and 1876 Then came otbers
in 1883 and 1886. Between 1887 and 1897 the systen9
Of armor belts for cruisers was abandoned ana
protection given to the vtaIs of the shin in
curved protective decks, and for the guns heavv
departure In side armor is shown in the tirst
class cruisers of the Hogue type -'
The Hogue was launched at Barrow few, davs
ago She IS of a class of six first class armored
cruisers of 1900 tons displacement built OF steel
and sheathed and coppered. Her dimensions are.
40 feet long, 69a feet beam and 234 feet draugbt
She Is fitted with vertical triple expansion engines
and Beevile boilers capable Of deveoping q nm
horsepower and a speed of 81 knots an bour ~
b tnelr modern predecessors each Of these ships
mas an aTmor belt six inches in thickness and
elekeh ana a half feet deep, covering the middle
portion Of the vessel along the waterline for dis
TO that OF the Powerful. consisting of two 92inob
guns, twelve 6inch rapid firing guns and the usual
complement OF l2-po Inders. 3-pounders and Mains
IN ADDITION to two under water torpedo tubes
The new shipbuiding yards at wndau the Rus
sian seaport in Courland, will be used when COM
pleted for the construction OF warships A begin
ming will be made with laying the keeIs NJ se,,era,
cruisers OF medium size. the plans of which have
been drawn In these vessels will be used tbe pau,
of celiuiose 1t is certain {a ieaksge IN place
salo 10 De superior TO cellulose which shoulders
II struck oy shot and becomes rotten in sumner
ship. i-'e 70 inaiarial symptoms on board
The new Russian ronclad XMAS suvoroes .h
construction OF which is arranged for at the Rslt
yard on the Neva will have a displacement -
goo tons on; and horsepower Of 1890 Her anna
twenty 75-miIlmetre and several rapid firing and
machine guns "A anu
You say that every one even the most aban
doned villain; has some good in him somevbers
gated scoundre without sinrs wnSs an unmit
ne Heio! ! didn't know you had a rival Tor Miss