New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-03
SHIPS FOR SOOTHING.

BY the launching of the Sentinel at the Wick
ers yard few days ago attention is drawn to a
feature of naval policy which Great Britain
has carried further than any other power. This
ship is the first of eight now under construc-
ton designed expressly for scouting. Hitherto
other kinds of vessels have performed that class
of work Usually a cruiser is selected for the
purpose, although a destroyer is sometimes
equally serviceable Both types of craft, how
ever are planned primarily for other duties.
Even though they can be spared for scouting,
they are not always the best agents to employ.
The cruiser is essentially a fighting ship and,
though faster than the average battleship, she
cannot easily penetrate the enemy's lines far
enough TO execute her mission and then get
away without being overtaken by the swiftest
of the hostile cruisers. DestrOyers have the
requisite speed, but their limited coal capacity
imposes great restrictions on their activity BY
degrees the necessity for building a distinct
class of vessel. therefore, has been recognized
by experts. England. more alert and more
progressive than her rivals in this respect will
soon have at her disposal number of ships
designed exclusively for outpost duty.
Though there will be trifing differences be-
tween these, the proportions and equipment OF
the Sentinel will be closely followed in her
sisters. Their displacement will range from
$500 TO 300 tons. but will in no case exceed
the idlleE utH viii dli bS ilSLltA, lux
stance. than the American unarmOred cruisers
Atlanta, Boston and Cincinnati, each of which
displaces over 5000 tons and develops some
thing like Is knots. The Olympia, Deweys
flagship at Manila displaces $500 tons, or just
twice much the British scouts will. On
her trial trip she achieved a speed OF 212 knots.
The Sentinel is expected to show at least -
knots having engines Of 1900 horsepower,
which IS exactly the same as those Of the Olym-
hum
in proportion to size that speed will be secured
from the British scouts
a question over which there some dis
agreement when the Sentinel was first projected
related to her offensive armament. Admiral
Fitzgerald, one of the earliest advocates OF
this type of vessel wanted to put into them
six finch rapid fire guns and dozen machine
guns. Mr.. Watts, now director OF naval con
struction, would have substituted for the former
heavier guns and more Of them. He wanted
TO see the scouts carry eight 6-inch rifles.
Smaller guns than either of them favored have
now been adopted. Ten 12-pounders, whose
calbre is a little over two inches, will be the
heaviest weapons Of the new boats. These will
enable the latter to cope with destroyers. which
mount nothing heavier than 12-pOunderi and
from cruisers the scouts Rre expected TO run
away. BY dispensing with heavy guns some
thing is saved in the displacement Of the boats,
speed is enhanced accordingly, ana material
economy is effected in cost. If the plan Of
Mr. Watts had been carried out England would
have paid 100000 for each boat whereas the
contract price now is only f2S0OO0 Here IS
reduction OF about 10 per cent, which has been
Effected without any apparent sacrifice of prac-
teal efficiency.
With the Introduction of the new type OF
vessel there will be less disposition than there
was before TO build cruisers with the intention
of having them perform more than one kind OF
service. Just as battleshps should be designed
with special reference to the class of ships
with which they will be called upon TO contend,
so cruisers should be planned primarily with
regard to their ability to meet cruisers. Russia
is credited with the intention OF using the
Novik occasionally as a scout. though she is
nOminaly a cruiser. While her high speed,
which is said to be % knots, would fit her
admirably for the former purpose, her arma-
ment is too light TO enable her to fight any
other cruiser Nevertheless, it is heavier than
is needed to drive off a destroyer. She repre-
sents a waste Of money, since she is too ex-
pensive for a mere scout and useless in an
engagement with a ship of her own class