Evening star., 1902-09-15
LATE NAVAL PROGRESS
WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY FOR
EIGN NAVIES.
New Steering Device for Torpedoes-
Different Systems for Coaling at
Sea-Wireless Teiegraphy.

| Capt Charles d. Sigsbee, chief of the
naval intelligence bureau.
The mainspring of naval growth -construc-
ton is dealt with first and of this it is
said: 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
to a well-defined program for steady in
crease or a desire to make such additions
as the present financial condition of the
various countries warrants. While there
has been no marked change in the design
of ships, the tendency has been toward
greater displacement in battle ships and ar
mored cruisers. better protection. and the
maSsing of guns of the second caliber in a
central citadel instead OF separating tnem
in caSema teS.
Treating of the present state Of develop
ment in modern naval ordnance, it is de-
clared that there is urgent need for quick
firing high-powered guns, well protected by
armor of the highest resisting quahty. and
Cervera's Hl-starred rush out of Santiago
harbor is cited as tragic Illustration OF the
dangers of poorly-protected gun positions
Renewed interest in good shooting was
displayed in the British navy the past year
Practice is now carried on at ranges never
before considered for real fighting, 5000 and
| 1000 yards
A New Torpedo Device.
Experiments have been made in the Ger
man navy with device intended to enlarge
the area of torpedo action. The device 1s
fitted on the gyroscopic steering gear, and
| makes the torpedo run straight course
for 1000 meters, and then dart out on a
spiral or zigzag course, the general dlrec-
tion of which is at right angles to its origi-
nal flight. The idea is ingenious. A squad
ron of the enemys war vessels is advanc-
ing abreast. The torpedo is aimed at the
end vessel on the left If it misses its
target then it goes flying in and out among
the vessels of the entire squadron. with
good prospects of leaving its terrible mark
somewhere. The reports in regard to the
utility of the device, it Is stated, are con-
flCting.
An extended use of quadruple-expansion
and four-cylinder, triple expansion engines
abroad is noted. The question of triple
screws continues 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. German officers, it is said, do not
entirely acknowledge the most serious
charge against the triple screw Teduced
maneuvering powers, ana attention Is
called to the fact that the battle ship kai-
ser Wilhelm II. triple-screw vessel, re
Gently passed three times through the kiel
canal at low speed. and was controlled
with great ease by going ahead at speed
backing equally on both side screws at
three knots, giving net speed of two knots.
The water thrown against the rudder was
that Of a five-knot speed, and the ship was
under as perfect control as II Steamlng fast.
Coaling at Sea.
The experience of the Spanish war gave
| a great impetus to the solution of the prob
| lem of coaling at sea, and recently the Rus
sian and British nayies have been expert
menting with various systems. Much atten-
ton also has been paid during the past
year to the subject of LIQUID fuel firing for
marine boilers. owing to the recent great
! discoveries of oil in Texas California, ia
pan 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 fleet and partially for her
Black sea feet. France. Italy, Germany,
Holland, Sweden and Great Britain all have
| been making thorough experiments in this
direction.
The engineer officers of all navies it is
stated. watching with keen interest for
a decision by the British navy on perma-
uent type of water-tube boiler The Brit
ish admiralty has ordered a general install
| l&tion of water-tube boilers in her large
| fighting craft
| The last fiscal year was marked by
general and striking extension of the use of
| electricity in foreign navies. and even the
! more conservative foreign naval authorities
/ are adopting it for new vessels and are fit
/ ting better and more extensive installations
! IN the Old ships.
| Wireless Teleghaphy.
The material progress of the year in
| wireless telegraphy, it is stated may be
| said to be in the matter of length of trans
I mission, in which wonderful advance has
| been made" But, it is pointed out much
! less progression was made toward securing
| immunity of messages from interception, a
condition stated to be more important for
| naval purposes than length of transmission
Summing up the status of wireless teleg-
| raphy today, ii is said that it is still i'm
| perfect. offers many obstacles TO success; is
! complex, costly and delicate. and continues
/ to be uncertain in transmission Yet in
/ spite of the disadvantages, it is stated wire
/ less Biography offers much in it's pres
| ent maritime field that it is being vigorously
/ taken up everywhere. At the date of issue
/ there We're more than DO men-of-war and
! merchant vessels with wireless instalia tions
/ as well as numerous coast stations Special
/ progress was made during the year in Great
| Britain. Germany. France. Russia Austria
/ Denmark. Japan and Spain