The San Francisco call., 1901-11-11
NAVAL POWERS
TABOO SWIFT
DESTROYERS

The verdict in the Cobra case, which at
tributed the loss of that vessel to 'strUc-
tural weakness" and also found that
she was weaker than other destroyers,
has placed the British Admiralty ana the
builders on the defensive. 1T is stated
that Parliament is likely to investigate
the entire subject of destroyers' but 10
the meantime the navy authorities 90 nOS
concede that the Parson turbine system
Of propulsion Is at fault, but will simply
be more careful in the purchase or build
ing OF future vessels Of that class
Another British destroyer, the Brazen,
has become disabled and forced TO aoan-.
don her cruise in the north seas on ac-
count of leaky boiler tubes AccidentS
by collision, running ashore, founderlnS
and repairs to engines and boilers nave
become too FREQUENT since the advent OF
these frail crafts with excessive horse
mower, and all naval powers except Greas
Britain have ceased building thirty-knoe
boats.
Birchings and canings are still meted
out as punishment to such Offenders N
the British navy as are under Il years OF
age. The latest annual return shows that
nine birchings were inflicted under SEN
tence of court-martiaI and 315 birchingS
by order of commanding officers, or the
first Luf'' No statement is made OF the
canings but Jimmy Legs as the mas
ter-at-arms is termed, holds no Sinecure
position in the British navy, and MS cane
is rarely out of action.
The Powerful and Terrible are to have
four additional casemates with six-inch
guns added to their armament. The
present batteries Of these IA, 2OO-ton cruis-
ers consist of two 9.2-inch, twelve six
inch quick-frers, eighteen tweive-pound-
ers and twelve three-pounders, and some
naval officers are of the opinion that they
could easily carry six or eight additional
six-inch guns, and thus make the batter
les proportionate to tho size of the ships,
The turrets of the new British battleship
Implacable are in such bad working order
as to necessitate the detention Of the ship
at the dockyard for several months. The
forward turret is entirely useless in its
present condition, having settled aboU-
six inches, and the after-turret has also
sagged, preventing the guns from being
used except in one position. The rollers
and the hydraulic machinery are also
said to be defective. The turrets will bs
removed, their foundations rebuilt and
other machinery for operating will have
to be installed.
There are now three admiraIs In the
German navy, Prince Heinrich Of Prus-
sia being the latest promotion to that
grade. He entered the navy in 1877, was
promoted to staff officer in 1888 and to
captain at sea- in 1890, serving in the
latter capacity in four ships. In 1896 hs
became a rear admiral. and December 5,
1899, vice admiral. Although his promo
tion has been rapid as compared wit1
that of other officers in the navy not OF
royal blood, he has had considerable ac-
tive service and is considered an efficient
officer, fully versed in all the details OF
his profession, and a good authority on
naval architecture, ordnance and kindred
subjects. The other two admirals are Won
Koester. with patent of 1897 and Thomp-
son of 1899.
The growth OF the personnel in the
German navy from April, 1900, up to one
year later is as follows: