The San Francisco call., 1901-12-16
GRIEVANCES
OF WARRANT
MACHINISTS

Engineer-in-Chief George W. Melville
has somewhat modified his views ex-
pressed two years ago in relation to the
warrant machinist corps established In
1899 to take the place of the commissioned
engineer officers in the engine-rOOm,
which had been transferred TO the line
corps. Chief Melville then said; With
the official elevation which comes with
warrant there is not unreasonable ap-
prehension that these men will desire a
severance from actual manual care or
the machinery of our ships, and will eX-
pect to act merely as engineering super
visors below. This, of course, would lie
wholly inconsistent with the interests or
the service. Clear and definite
regulations are needed en- this point at
the start, in order that no ambiguity may
foster discomfort with simple duty or lead
to hopes of further official elevation On
October L last he complains that warrant
machinists are Disseminated against, and
that their advancement open to 4her
warrant officers. should be equallyN as
great. AS two gunners have recently been
promoted to ensigns, Chief Melv1lle's
recommendation is not alone proper and
fair but indicates decided change OF
opinion in two years.
There were four prominent naval archi-
tects mentioned as possible successors TO
the post of Director of Naval COnstruc-
ton in the British admiralty, from which
Sir William H. White has resigned, and
to which Philip Watts has succeeded.
There was Chief Constructor H. Z. Dead
man of the navy, at present time senior
chief constructor in the admiralty, receiv-
ing salary of $3.50; another was j. W.
Shepherd of the London and Glasgow
Shipbuilding Company on the Clyde; Pro-
fessor J. H. Biles of the Glasgow Univer-
cir
said to be candidate, while Philip Wattss
formerly a constructor in the navy and
now holding a similar position in the Els
wick Company, was not so desirOus Of
succeeding Sir William. The regular SAL
airy of the Director of Naval Construc-
ton was $500 a year, but in 1888, when
Nathaniel Barnaby retired and William
White. then at Elswick, was selected to
succeed Barnaby, an additional sum OF
$1,000 was offered as an inducement to ac-
cept the office. The present pay Of $12,-
500 will therefore mosc likely be con-
tinued. Philip Watts, The new Dire tor
of Naval Construction, is beyond d51bt
the most skillful and successful naval
architect and builder Of Warships. He
shares with William White the honor Of
designing the first modern war vessel-the
Chilean cruiser Esmeralda-the introduce
ton of which has revolutiOn1zed all
navies and made obsolete all vessels built
prior to 1888. 1t is just possible that his
services in the admiralty may not prove
so effective and valuable as they were
with the ElSWick firm owing to the red
tape, rules and regulations prevailing in
government affairs, and which hamper
rather than encourage individual efforts.
Two very fast cruisers will probably
be included in the next British naval es-
Inmates. 1t is said that they are to be
of the Novik type. built in Germany for
Russia, and of which two more are build
ing at ST. Petersburg. This remarkable
vessel, which is in reality gigantic tor
pedOboat, is 34S feet in length 40 feet
beam and displaces 300 tons on a draught
of 16 feet. She has triple screws of 1900
horsepower to give a speed of 25 knots
The armament consists of six AZ
inch rapid frers. eight 3-pOunders, two
Maxims and six abCve-water torpedo
tubes. The vessel was launched August
Is. 1900, and has passed through her triaIA
the details of which have not yet been
made public.
The British cruisers IIyacinth and Mi
nerva are to have another competitive
trial, this time to determine the relative
efficiency of the engines The former trial
was held to ascertain the merits of the
Belleville boiler over that of the Scotch
boiler The propellers will be removed
from both ships and the engines run TO
ascertain the horsepower lost in friction.
after which the propelIers will be replaced
and the vessels will, in company. PASS
through a series of trials at sea at vari-
Gus speeds.
Four submarine boats building at Bar
row for the British navy will be launched
before New Year. OF the seven submarine
boats contracted for by the United States
in August of last year only two have been
launched, and they are now from six to
eight months behind contract time.
Twenty vessels will shortly be contract.
ed for by the Admiralty in conformity
with the approved naval estimates for
Great Britain.