The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-15

NEW WRINKLES
IN GREAT NAvIES
Naval Progress Described by
Captain Sigsbes.
MANY VERY CLEVER IDEAS
WORLDS WARSHIPS BEING CON-
STANTLY IMPROVED.
MANY VERY CLEVER IDEAS

w did resume OF what has been ac-
complished by foreign navies in
the last fiscal year is to be found in
Notes on Naval Progress" made pub
lie today by Captain Charles d. Sigs-
bee. chief OF the naval intelligence
bureau. II says in part:
The construction Of ships for the
fleets Of the leading naval powers has
gone on actively during the past year
and the new estimates show either an
adherence 10 a well defined programme
for a steady increase or a desire to
make such addition as the present
financial condition OF the various
countries warrant. While there has
been no marked change in the design
OF ships. the tendency has been to-
wards greater displacement in battle
ships and armored cruisers, better
protection and the massing of guns
OF the second calibre in a central cita-
del Instead Of separating them in case
ments."
II is declared that there Is urgent
need for quick firing high-powered
guns, well protected by armOr of the
highest resisting power, and Ceryera's
ill-starred rush out of Santiago har-
Dor is cited as a tragic illustration OF
the poorly protected gun positions.
Renewed interest in good shooting
was displayed IN the British navy the
past year. Admirable records have
been made by the Terrible and the
Ban1eur in China, while in the Medi-
terranean other ships have accom-
plished excellent results. Practice is
now carried on at ranges never before
considered for real fighting-5,OOO and
1000 yards.
Torpedo That Zigzags.
Recent experiments with capped
armor-piercing projectiies. II is stated,
have demonstrated the value of the
cap as an aid to penetration of armor
plate. Experiments have been made
IN the German navy with a device in
tended To enlarge the area of action.
The device is fitted on the gyroscOpic
steering gear and makes the torpedo
run a straight course for 1000 meters
and then dart out on a spiral or zig
gag course, the general direction OF
which is al right angles to the original
flight. The idea is ingenious. 4 squad
OF the enemys war vessels is advanc-
ing abreast. The torpedo is aimed at
the end vessel on the left. If ii misses
It's target il then goes flying in and
squadron with good prospects of leaV-
ing its terrible marks. The reports in
regard to the utility OF the device, il
Is stated. are conflicting.
The question of triple screws con-
tinues to be agitated, and though the
great weight of naval opinion seems to
be against their use, the principle is
gaining advocates, particularly in
France, where most of the new large
vessels are three screw, and in the
German navy, where they have been
tried with distinct success. the battle
ship Kaiser Wilhelm II, triple screw
vessel. being mentioned.
Much attention also has been paid
during the past year to the subject of
Heuia fuel firing for marine boilers.
owing 10 the recent great discoveries
OF oil in Texas. California. Japan and
Canada, and the exploitation OF the
Borneo and Russian fields. Russia re-
mains the leading exponent of liquid
fuel and has exclusively adopted Oil
firing for her Caspian feet, and par
TALLY for her Black sea fleet. France,
Italy. Holland. Germany, Sweden and
Great Britain all have been making
thorough experiments in this direction.
The engineer officers of all navies,
terest for a decision by the British
navy on a permanent type of water
tube boiler. The British admiralty
had ordered a general installation OF
water-tube boilers In her large fight
ing craft with a view to learning 1.-THE
proper generator OF energy for the
vital units of the fleet, those upon
which the fate OF the nation depends
primarily, the large battleships and
armored cruisers and commerce de-
stroyers' that all navies are laying
down"
Use of Electricity.
A great future for electricity on
board of warships is becoming more
and more assured, II is stated, and its
adoption is opening up numberless pos
sibiliues, chief among the latter be
ing the great military advantage
which would be gained by actuating
directly from the bridge of the con-
ming tower the prOpellers of a ship.
The material progress of the year
in wireless telegraphy" IL is said,
may be said 10 be in the matter OF
length of transmission, in which won
derful advance has been made"
But, IL Is pointed out, much less
progress was made towards securing
immunity OF messages from intercept
ton. a condition stated to be more i'm
portant for naval purposes than the
length of transmission.
Summing up the status OF wireless
telegraph TO day. IL is said that it is
imperfect, offers many obstacles to
success, is complex. costly and deli
cate, and continues TO be uncertain in
transmission.
Yet. in spite of the disadvantages, il
is stated, wireless telegraphy offers so
much In its maritime field that il is
being vigorously taken up everywhere.
At the date OF issue, there were more
than 30 men OF war and merchant YES
sells with wireless installations. as
we'll as numerous coast stations. Spe-
cial progress was made during the year
in Great Britain. Germany, France.
Russia, Austria, Denmark, Japan and
Spain.