The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-31
British- Built Battleships.

! WlldL WILL Jdpptu VIM 'AAN
! arrives.
British-Built Battleships.
The fleet, with which was the large
armored cruiser Asama on when was
placed was in itself striking demon
! stration of Japans naval strength All
the ships were new, homogeneous, ano
snaedv TO pass them in review. There
was the Shikishima, The flagship. battle
ship Of IA. 800 tons; the Asahi newly come
from England of 500 tons, also OF the
/ line of battle Of frst-class cruisers there
we're three the Idzumo, Of $500 tons, ana
the Asama and Tokiwa of 800 tons each'
Smaller but more speedy, was the haS-
agi of AGO tons. and with her two 'or-
pedo boat destroyers. The speed oil ti9
batt1eships was Is 70 Is IL knots with
Wo1eh coal or IS to Is ~ knots with Jap
anese. The large cruisers have speeds OF
q to q knots with Welsh. ana - 70 -
knots with japanese coal Inc Ns'9f74
has = speed of % knots. and the destroy
ers Of % knots The whole fleet. even
when hurni-~e japanese ce-'i @-~~ lho"
speed OF IS to IL IL knots. 1,.sog; wore
All of the ships. save the hasa5i' .itioe
| r,noIieh built The japanese AUtnoll'le9
| IRE quite determined that none Oh th Nc,
! large vessels shall be buut else"hei' inc
III ,rba Ian4nese war vessels are very SIM
i1ar in aDDearance TO British shlpSi ~
deed the raptain of the Russian Suhnoai
AT Chemulpo told me mat "nen t'i!9 -
arrived one morning, he thought II va
a pritieh aoet come for some mysterious
dinIornatic purpose. The discipline o.
lie ships is nearly perfect. and ever!
thing is kept mat ana clea" a. '
British warship.
Patent Fuel.
On the Asama there We're 620 lfen-in
the Japanese navy there are no hi'S' -
the bluejackcts being utilized Tor 4ai'"'a3
parties and so on. once at sea nv
feet Of the.Japanesc coal Wheh u9eo ~
! Bellevine boilers was appale"' -"
tbo vessels save the Asama ana lhe
ntNI.,,'.a witch have cylindrical Scotch
boilers torrents of smoke poured liV'"
tha furrels Later on the Kasagl was
burning a patent fuel. which gave no
er,olze at all. 1t Is composed OF pllc"
and coal dust and costs only han as
much as welsh coal. AS both SOY ''.'
dust and pitch are found in q}lahtiucs -
JaDan. the fuel IS likely to play d 81
part in the future .o,.;.,+. and
,,,rr1v I.oiuntcers the latter hlAnG ail w
| neftv ana warrant ranks. The conscl p
serve for four years the Npi,'l ~
seven. In the japanese navy tug IT, ~ o,.(,.
r,ineer nossesses executive power oNcl
tbree divisions of the crew. IheTe are
ee1.an divisions. and the captain mas Su-
,,rer,e mower over all. The fleet engineers
rank with the commanders ana receive
the same pay.
Dress and Diet.
At work the bueiackets wear "h''S'
rod band being worn on the lett OF ~ ~
arm to signify starhoard or port va
they wear straw hats or caps aini"g
identical with those IN use in The BFtlsn
we
though this is not encouraged ON hoaFH
shin They eat rice mixed with barley
conned meat and vegetables and biscuits
u 6 not permissible for the men TO take
rica alone as this has been found to brinS
| an dronsv The officers ward room mas
AZ very British appearance ana the io''i
is European. not japanese. can oniy
| sneak certainly as regards the captain
table. which was eYcellently supphe4 WIN
wel-cooked food. Every MondaN general
| quarters are performed as wei. as gun
| practice
The men are all armed with Murata ri
Aes Invented and manufactured in Japan,
| and short bavonets. For over an Aour
the work of aiming. loading and cleaning
| the guns in the turrets, classmates ana
| batteries was carried on seriously MANY
of the commands contain English words
| and it is very curious to hear them Spe-
| cial attention was paid to the cleaning
and repairing of the guns. as also to the
protection OF the gun crews during ac-
ton
The ammunition hoists are worked BY
| hand. save in the turrets, where hydraulic
power is used. The fire drill and torpedo
exercises We're carried out very thorough
| H. At regular intervals in the day the
men are allowed few minutes for
smoke the great requisite OF the Japan
csc sailor.
On Tuesday mornings comes the wash
ing Of the cailors clothes. and the vessels
are hung with driving clothes. Each
garment bears the name and number of
the owner 50 that there is no fear of
confusion.
Landing Parties.
Another mauouvcr which is well exc
cuted is the landing party practice At
a given signal the men pour out on 10 the
afterdeck looking very businesslike in
their blue clothes and caps, their white
leggings and their rifles and bayonets.
Some OF the men and all the officers
carry revolyers. The landing party is
under a senior lieutenant ana two ju-
niors and is accompanied by field gun
and two stretchers. The launch carries a
Quick-iiler in The bows. All the men
carry cartridge belts, with three, pouches
| so arranged as to fold UP neatly
After the rifles have been inspected.
provision carriers and water bottles are
served out The former are in the shape
of & blue sash worn diagOnalv over