The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-18
RIVAL SHIPS WERE
BUILT BY CRAMP
Crack Vessels of Japanese and
Russian Navies Are of Amer
lean Build.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 17.-Should
war develop IN the far East between Japan
and Russia the unusual spectacle will be
presented of American skill being pitted
against itself in modern powerful yes
sells being lined up against each other
in any naval battle that would take
place.
The newest warships of both nations
have been built in the United States
Notable in this class are the Yariag. Of
the Russian navy, and the powerful Ka-
sagi of the Japanese navy, both of which
crack vessels We're built at Cramps
shipyard in Philadelphia within five years
These two cruisers of about the same
tonnage and speed and would be pitted
against each other
The navies of the world are particular
ly interested in the prospective war be-
tween Japan and Russia, as a naval con-
fict would bring into action warships of
both countries built in the United States
What the results of such a combat on sea
would be are problematical.
The imperial japanese cruiser Kasagi is
the equal in materials and workmanship
of vessels of the corresponding type in
the United States navy. The armament
of the Kasagi is two S-inch quick fir
ing rifles, ten 47-inch quick firing rifles,
mounted in broadside, with secondary
batteries of twelve 12-pounder quick firers
and six 21s FOUNDER Hotchkiss guns There
are five torpedo tubes for 14-ineh torpe-
does.
The vital parts of the Kasagi are pro-
tected by a steel deck having a maximum
thickness of Az inches on the slopes and
1s4 inches on the fat beginning four feet
below the loadwater and rising to a height
of one foot above it.
In no respect of plans, construction or
arrangement is the Kasagi excelled by any
1I- H.
equal it.
1t was in 1903 that Vice Admiral Nicho-
las Kaznakoff visited the United States
in command of the Russian squadron.
During his stay here he thoroughly eX
amined the work in hand for the United
States navy, and expressed to the presi-
dent of the Cramp Shipbuilding company
the opinion that the imperial Russian gov
ernment would be inclined to place orders
here for two more ships upon suitable ap
plication.
cramp Makes Contract.
This led to a considerable correspond
ence between the head of the shipbuilding
firm on the one hand and Admiral Kama
koff and other leading spirits in the Rus
sian navy on the other, with the result
that at the beginning of 1898 Mr.. Cramp
proceeded to st. Petersburg, and after
considerable discussion of the plans, etc,
two contracts We're subsequently signed,
one for the construction of a first-class
protected cruiser called the Variag and
first-clasS battieship called the RetviZan.
The imperial Russian protected cruiser
Variag was completed and delivered to the
Russian government by the Cramp Ship
building company in 1900. 1t went imme
diately to st. Petersburg upon leaving
Philadelphia, and was received by the en-
peror and his people with great eelat. The
emperor was SO we'll pleased with the
cruiser that he selected it to escort the
imperial yacht from st. Petersburg to
Cherbourg.
The Variag has a speed of twenty three
knots per hour The machinery was de-
signed and calculated to develop 10000
horsepower, and is capable of doing so
if required
Cruiser Has High Speed.
The vessel is designed to fulfill the
highest requirements of high speed pro-
tected cruiser. carrying large battery Of
quick firing guns and provided with an
unusually large number of water torpedo
tubes
The battery of the ship Is as follows:
Twelve six-inch 45 calibre rapid firing
guns, twelve 80 caiibre rapid firing gums,
and six three FOUNDER Hotchkiss guns.
The torpedo battery consists of one bow
tube one stern tube, and four broadside
training tubes.
The vessel carries the following armor,
all treated by the Krupp process: Main
water line belt for length equal to two
thirds the length Of the vessel and with
a thickness of nine inches Easement
armoT, six inches in thickness, extends
above this to the line of the main deck,
and arrnor of five inches extends to the
line Of the upper deck, protecting the six
inch guns. All the armor extends for two
thirds the length of the vessel. Forward
and abaft these limits the vessel is fitted
with nickel-steel armor two inches in
thickness to the bow and stern respec-
lively.
The amount OF coal carried at trial dis
placement was LOIS tons, and the coal
bunker capacity allows for a radius of
action Of $3.50 miles at ten knots speed
Accommodation is made for an admiral
and his staff, for a captain, twenty six
officers, and twelve petty officers and 74O
crew.
The equipment of the vessel is most
elaborate, the auxiliary machinery, as in
the case of the Kasagi, being driven by
electricity throughout
Japs Are Good Sailors.
Japan being eminently maritime eoun-
try, her institutions are '.steeped in
brine" and from time immemorial a hardy
and numerous class Of Seamen have been
reared. The Japanese navy at the pres
ent day comprises a fleet of warships
capable of eontending with a formidable
enemy in action. As rule the Japanese
sailors are skilled seamen and handy on
board ship, equal. in fact, to any mari
time nation in the world; for they have
been accustomed to sail their vessels un-
der all difficulties of navigation and fire.
quentiy during the dreaded cyclones
which sweep their seas
Among the Japanese sailors there are
few equal in physical strength to Ameri-
can seamen. AS a rule they are smaller
men, of slender build and become soon
tired at their guns in action. Hence the
firing parties on warships have to be re-
heVed more frequently than in European
warships However. both officers and
men are imbued with a brave, warlike
spirit. which they have shown when com
ing into contact with foreign squadrons.