New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-14
ADVERSE TO TURBINES.
admiral MeI0iHe WM Report
against Their Use an Napu.

A-ser several months spent abroad Investigating
tHe eiciency Of turbine engines the motive power
IoT war vessels Rear Admiral George W. Melville
L 3 n Cretired). returned yesterday the Cedric.
AS result of his investigation he does not favor
the adoption by this government of the turbines.
Ihs form Of engine, he says he believes to be sun
IN the experimental stage and not until radical i'm
proYements have been made does he think it VIII
be available. To his own words. 1T is twenty
years ahead Of its time"
I shall oppose the building of turbines for
vessels except for experimental purposes" he said
The turbine is still in its Infancy. and there is not
single engineer that would be willing TO stake his
reputation on the work OF the best made. The
turbine is all right in theory. and il may be in
practice. too So much is still in the experimental
stage tina THE Cunard Line unable TO get any
shpnuildlng firm in Great Britain TO build and
guarantee the two twenty-four and half knot
boats which it intends build under the provisions
Of A British Admiralty contract.
Il left this country, January 26' the admiral
continued going to London. where had long con-
versations with Lord Selborne, First Lord Of the
Admiralty, and with Rear Admiral Sir John Ours
ton. Admiral May, Admiral Dram. and Sir. William
H White the naval architect, and also with the
members OF the Cunard Commission. which was
appointed 70 study the turbine Unfortunately the
Cunard Commission had been pledged TO secrecy,
but the English admirals cheertully gave me all
the information possible. From London went 10
the shpbuildns plants along the Clyde, and TO
Belfast.
Al the plants l visited l saw uVe turbines N
course OF construction. The boats for which they
intended were to be triple boats Of
about IS knots. I also saw the two turbines build
ing at Belfast. for the big steamer being built
for the AanState Line. and the other the irish
Channel service.
The engineers and shipbuiders Of Europe are all
deeply interested in the problem, but Of them
satisfied the claim OF economy Of fuel
and weight put forward by the advocates OF the
turbine. None OF them have any doubt on the
greater economy Of space, but while all anxious
build turbines willing 10 guarantee
anything more than the ordinary speed They are
anxious TO install turbines experiments, but at
the same time want TO reserve enough space TO re-
place them with reciprocating engines, If necessity
demands It
"One important thing I noticed in discussions
with all the marine engineers and some of tho
tETar8 board and that that none or them
lowered the capacity OF the boilers. The boilers
planned just they would be for the regular
type q engines This and the desire 70 be able 10
replace the engine show that q strong DOUBT eN-
lists 10 their economy. l surprised that the
CUnarG Line should make this experiment or theirs
on so large ana expensive a scale.
There is absolutely question about the econ
OF the turbine for the electrical drive because
OF its high speed. but the prop~llers or vessel
tion OF the vessel the Qropellers cannot he put in
OF proper diameter and maintain this high speed
Of revolution. Very small pr0pellers could be run
at exceedingly high number OF revolutions. out
instead OF pushing the vessel through the water.
they slip and ChuTu the water around them INTO
foam with no commensurate driving power
Admiral Melville VIII hle his report with the
Navy Department on Monday.