The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-15
the WORLDS NAvIES
CAPT. SIGSBEE TELLS OF WORK
OF OTHER NATIONS.
MANY WARSHIPS BUILDING.
LEADING FOREIGN POWERS ARE
ON THE ALERT.

cy Is to Larger B0ttleships-Targe
Practice Now Considered at 5000
to 1000 Yards-OiI for Fuel Is BE-
ing Experimental With-Electric
Appliances Being Generally Used,
n Success.
Washington, Sept. i4.-A splendid re-
sumo of what has been accomplished
by foreign navies during the last ifs
cal year is to be found in Notes on
Naval Progress" made public to-day
by Capt. Charles d. Sigsbee, chief of
the Naval Intelligence Bureau. The
volume is the largest one of it's kind
ever issued by the bureau, and is pro-
fusely illustrated with fine half tones
from coal bags to great battleships.
There is an admirable summing up of
the progress made abroad in each
branch of naval development.
OF naval construction it is said
1.-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 weli-defined programme
for a steady increase, 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 battleships
and armored cruisers, better protection
and the massing of guns of the second
caliber in a central citadel instead of
separating them in classmates"
Treating of the present state of de-
Velopment in modern naval ordnance,
it is declared that there is urgent need
for quick-firing, high-powered guns,
well protected by armor of the high
est resisting quality; and Cervera's ill
starred rush out of Santiago harbor
is cited as tragic illustration of the
dangers of poorly protected gun posi-
tons.
Good Shooting by British.
Renewed interest in good shooting
was displayed in the British navy the
past year. Admirable records have
been made by the Terrible and the
Barfleur in China, while in the Mediter-
ranean other ships have accomplished
excellent results. Practice now is car
ried on at ranges never before con
stdered for real fighting, 5000 and 1000
yards, and it is stated that il even 10
per cent. of the shots at the former
range would be hits" and per cent.
at the latter. it would be worth while,
in a chase, to open fire at the latter
range and possibly at the opening of
an engagement.
Experiments have been made in the
German navy with a device intended to
enlarge the area of torpedo action. The
device is fitted on the gyroscopic steer
ing gear and makes the torpedo run a
straight course for a thousand meters,
and then dart out on q spiral or zig
zag course, the general direction of
which is at right angles to its original
flight. The idea is Ingenious A
squadron of the enemys war vessels
is advancing abreast. The torpedo is
aimed at the end vessel ON the left.
If 1t misses its target, then 1t 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 conflicting.
Use of Oil for Fuel.
The experiences Of the Spanish war
gave great impetus to the solution
OF the problem of coaling at sea, and
recently the Russian and British ma
Vies have been experimenting with va
rious systems. Much attention has also
been paid during the past year to the
subject of liquid fuel firing for marine
boilers owing to the recent graf dis
coveries of oil in Texas, California.
Japan and Canada. and the exploita-
ton of the Borneo and Russian fields.
Russia remains 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 have ali
been making thorough experiments in
this direction.
The last fiscal year was marked by
a 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 fitting betsar and
more extensive installations in the old
ships. a great future for elec.ri city on
board of warships is becoming more
and more assured, it Is stated.
The material progress of the year
in wireless telegraphy," 1t is said.
may be said to be matter of length
" tioliSiiiiSolOus III winch WOnNariul
advance has been made" But. much
less progression was made towards Sc
curing immunity Of messages from in
Perception, condition stated to be
more important for naval Durpos es
than length of transmission.
Summing up the status of wireless
telegraphy to-day it is said that 1t is
still imperfect, offers many obstacles
to success; is complex, costly and del
icate, and continues to be uncertain in
transmission. Yet, in spite of the dis
advantages, 1t is stated wireless teleg-
raphy offers so much I'm it's present
maritime field that II is being vigor-
ously taken up everywhere. At the
date of issue, there were more than
220 men-of-war and merchant vessels
with wireless installations, as well as
numerous coast stations. Special pro-
gress was made during the year in
Great Britain, Germany France, Rus
STA, Austria, Denmark, Japan and
Spain.
Foreign Naval Maneuvers.
The volume reviews in detail the
great naval maneuyers conducted last
year by Great Britain and France, and
the description affords an opportunity
for comparison with those which have
Just been brought TO "A close of our
New England coast. The British man
euyers were on a larger scale than any
before ATTEMPTED. no lees than iG2
ships, large and small. participating.
The chief charm Of the mansnvers lay
ia their realism. that element being
stronger last year than ever before
The success q the British war game