New-York tribune., 1903-01-12
SPLENDID CRUISERS.

Tn SIC reria1 of the additions made last year
TO the British navy Engineering mentionS "
fact that has not hitherto been consp1cuousiy
announced in regard to the cruisers Goou hope'
King Alfred Drake and Leyiathan. These yes
sells each having a displacement OF 14,ooo tohs'
deveIoned ali average speed slightly exceeding
23 knots on their official trials, ana the hlhs
Alfred made no less than 1855 knots. LII is no"
asserted that by the substitution OF new pro-
heller for those formerly in service 1t is posi-
BILE TO get one full knot more out OF them. Inc
experiment was first made with the Drake ana
the change will soon be made in the other three.
Already this group of ships was olstncuy su-
narior in armament to the Russian cruiser
Variag, and now they will also be faster than
she. France has two or three % knot cruisers,
hut they are probably surpassed by each of the
four British ships just referred to. Germany
has the satisfaction of having built the fastest
Atlantic liners af1oat but England continues to
enjoy the supremacy in the matter of speed
when 1t comes to cruisers.
Two other circumstances noted by Engineer
Ing throw light on the efficiency of the Good
Hope, the King Alfred, the Drake and the
Leyiathan 1t has been found that they will
develop about &c knots with only 20 per cent
of the full power of their engines, gratifying
exhibition of economy. 1t also appears that
the weight of their machinery is only half as
great as that required by the few steamships IN
the merchant marine that have shown speed
of o3 knots Naval constructors and engineers
are well aware that this gain is the result OF
introducing water tube boilers. Opinions still
differ concerning the expediency of using these
latter. But their lightness and the quickness
with which they generate steam will compen-
safe for number Of faults. It is interesting
to observe that the British Admiralty shows
increasing confidence in their utility.
In one important particular England's naval
policy has been essentially modified. At pres
ent she has sixty or more torpedo boat destroy
ers, each Of which is good for at least 30 knots.
Fifteen of these were launched in 1900, twelve
IN 1901 and only two last year. Owing to the
unfortunate fate of the Cobra and the Viper
there was a cessation in building until fresh
study could be given to the designing of this
class Of vessels. In consequence Of recent in
vestigation it has been decided to make sew
eraI changes Nineteen new destroyers have
been ordered all on substantially the same
model, but all much stronger and more sea-
worthy than the boats turned out during the
last few years. The maximum speed demanded
from them is only 251a knots, or more than ten
knots less than that developed by the Cobra
when squirting. The ability to go TO sea in
heavy weather is deemed of greater Importance
than speed. 1t will be remembered that, though
Cervera brought two destroyers from Spain TO
the West Indies, several other boats of that
kind turned back because it was feared that
they could not stand the voyage. England does
not intend that there shall be the slightest
doubt On that score regarding her destroyers.
She means that they shall be able to go any
where that her battleships and cruisers can,
and in the matter of speed merely wants that
they shall be little better than those craft