New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-05
RBJTySB VIEWS OF A YANKEE SHIP.

Tho racant visit of the battleShip Illinois to
England elected some interesting BRUSH coh-
ments upon her and. on the principle "eX pede
E4orcuIem Of the American Navy. Just at
nresent the Illinois is again visiting England for
renairs at the Chatham shipyard. But DeLore
she ran upon the Scandinavian reef she was III
English waters to take part in the naval review
al Spithead in honor Of the Kings coronation
and while she in the Thames the naval
expert of The London Standard visited her
and recorded his impressions of what seemed to
him "the most interesting vessel OF all the
great fleet assembled upon that occasion.
Nothing" he said, could be more impressive
for she is truly magnificent example of naval
"architecture Whether one considers the
manner n which she was built and commits
"sioned or her great offensive and defensive
mower or again. the admirable character or
'.ber internal arrangements and economy, she
lis n revelation of completeness and EMERGENCY.
The efficiency does not surpass that Wlth
which we are familiar in our own service but
there are details of completeness which we
have not yet attained
With this high COMMUNICATION in general by
wav of introduction the writer proceeded TO
comment most favorably upon the American
system of having ship made fully ready for
service by the contractor. so that she goes from
his hands directly into commission. mus much
DELAY and extra expense are avoided. But such
a system has not yet been adopted in England.
krain he noted that her sides free from
projections of any kind which might be shot
away and falling into the sea, foul the pro-
peller In this respect she was superior to Eng
lisb sbips The great turrets. carrying 13nch
Guns were admirably controlled. and the action
Of the electric ammunition Eosts nothing
less than marvellous" The battle order indi-
Gator" was novelty unknown on British ships,
which attracted favorable attention. The ven
tlation of the ship perfect and there were
provisions for a degree of comfort for officers
| and men not common in all British ships. Al
together he said, "the visit TO the Illinois was
an inspiring experience"
This writer's only comparison of the Illinois.
in detail was with the new London of the
British Navy. He found that the Illinois, with
only II $50 tons displacement. carried heavier
armament and was more fully armored than
the London with her 5000 tons. but the coal
capacity of the Illinois less, and her speed
was less by half knot. Now, the speed Of the
Illinois is sixteen knots. and her normal coal
supply is 500 tons with a full bunker capacity
OF 200 tons But the batteships which We are
now about to build such as the Connecticut and
the Louisiana are to have n speed of eighteen
knots and a coal capacity of 900 tons In
those respects they will therefore be superior
to the London. In arms and armor they may
be a trl1e lighter than the Illinois, but they
will be fully as formidable as the London.
There is no doubt therefore, that they would
be pronounced by the accomplished expert
whom we have quoted to be fully abreast Of the
most efficient naval construction in the world.