Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-10
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Foreigners Amazed at Our New
Ships Of War.
The Kearsarge Aroused Much Royal
Interest in Europe.
A Profound Impression Created by Our
BattIeships.

Washington, Aug. 9.-The play of
war both by armies and navies, is now
occ,1pying all the civilized nations of
the globe Two hundred war ships are
nlaying war in the Far East-ships be-
longing to all the great nations. Along
the costs of England, France and Ger
many the navies are getting ready for
MIRO fun. The visit of the Atlantic
squadron of the United States Navy to
Germany, to England and to Portugal
is calling the attention of foreign gov
crnments more particularly to the
progress of the United States among
the nations of the world in this great
line of international sport.
England and Germany never had so
good an idea of the most advanced
American ships as now. When Rear
Admiral Cottons squadron visited Kiel
and Portsmouth opportunity was given
Europe to see not only our older YES
sells, of which we boast little, but our
most advanced form of battleship, the
Kearsarge. 1t will be remembered
how interested the English admiral was
to see the most advanced idea in battle
ship in the new world.
Prior to the arrival of the Kearsarge
at the European station, experiments
with double turrets were being made in
France Whether one turret raised
upon another, was a valuable idea in
war was question. The French put
some sheep in lower turret, and found
that a gun discharged upstairs killed
the sheep. The naval wise men of
Europe at once decided that this eX-
pertinent ruled out double turrets. But
now they look to the United States
Navy and find the Kearsarge and Ken
lucky and some later ships built on
this double turret system. They see
that we can concentrate fire for four
13-inch and four S-inch guns, and that
we are saving coal.
But" they said, you cannot expect
men to live in the lower turret while
firing is going on up -stairs?"
But no casualty has occurred. We
can shoot both stories of guns stimuli
taneously.
All this explains the curiosity with
which the German Emperor and for
eigners in general inspected the Kear-
sarge. The German Kaiser asked
Hemphill some pretty pertinent cues
tons. The captain replied: 1--WE know
not the efficiency of any instrument OF
war until we get into war;"
The British officers at Portsmouth
said, "Of course, you withdraw you1
men from one turret when you are u.s.
ing the other The captain said, "Oul
crews stay by and discharge the -four
guns together"
Then the Prince of Wales put on his
working coat and crawled over the bat
tleship with the captain. He climbed
to the forward turret and saw the am
munition hoist fetch charge to the
breech of the gun. What time is en-
ployed in this enterprise?" he said
"Twcnty seconds" was the reply, and
the prince said no more.
When the captain went to dine with
King Edward, the lord of the admiralty
and other experts pelted him with ques-
tons. The captain was quite prepared
with answers, and with all they desired
UP to a certain point but at one point
the captain began to divert the talk tC
the weather.
Put" said he, 81 have been inside the
turret when it was fired, and 1 felt the
SllOth W DeF 1893 bCSAbC liz . etii.0 'ii''i
it was on the deck
The British officers remarked, 1--WE
know what one turret will do. Oul
ships distribute the guns over wider
area, and we take less chance of being
knocked out by one shot We will wal
to see how your turret works in al
emergency" And long may that emer
gency be postponed.
However, it is not to be disguised tina
the visit of Admiral Cotton's squadron
to the harbors of Kiel and Portsmouth
has produced a profound impression
among the foreign nations that thu
United States navy in an emergency il
something to be reCkoned with.
The recent trip of the Kearsarge ha
proved anything but q, vacation for thu
American officers and men. To thu
| officers it has been schooling in tao
and diplomacy. They have made M
| mistakes so far as is known or believed
| They adopted all customary ceremon,
and went away from Germany anC
England with warm praise and appre
citation.