Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16

interested in the prospective war between
Japan and Russia, as naval conflict would
bring into action warships OF both countries
built in the United States. What the re-
suits of such combat on sea would be is
problematical.
The imperial Japanese cruiser Kasagi is
the equal in materials and workmanship to
vessels OF the corresponding type in the
United States navy. The armament of the
Kasagi is two S-inch quick-firing rifles. ten
47-inch quick-fring rifles mounted in broad
side. with secondary battery of twelve r.
FOUNDER quick-firers and six 211-pounder
Hotchkiss guns. There are five torpedo
tubes for 14-inch tOrpedoes.
The vital parts of the kasagi are pro-
tected by a steel deck having maximum
thickness of ~ inches the slopes and
I% inches on the fiat, beginning four feet
below the lsad-watef and rising to height
Of one foot above 1t.
In no respect of plans, construction or
arrangement is the Kasagi excelled by any
vessel of her type and class, while but few
equal her.
Built in This Country.
It was In 1888 that Vice Admiral Nicholas
Kaznakoff visited the United States IN
command of Russian squadron. During
his stay here he thoroughly examined the
work in hand for the United States navy
and expressed to the president of the
Cramp Shipbuilding Company the opinion
that the imperial Russian government
would be inclined to place orders here for
two or more ships upon suitable application.
This led to a considerable correspondence
between the head of the shipbuilding firm
on one hand and Admiral Kaznakom and
other leading spirits In the Russian navy
on the other. with the result that, at the
beginning of 1893, Mr. Cramp proceeded TO
st. Petersburg. and after considerable dis
cussion of plans, ETC., two contracts were
subsequently signed. one for the construc-
ION tf n &c lad
the Variag and a ffrst-class battle ship
called the Retyizan.
The imperial Russian protected cruiser
Variag was completed and delivered to the
Russian government in 1900. She went i'm
mediately to ST Petersburg upon leaving
Philadelphia. and was received by the en-
peror and his people with great eciat. The
emperor was SO well pleased with the
cruiser that he selected her to escort the
imperial yacht from ST. Petersburg to Cher
bourg.
The variag has speed of twenty-three
knots per hour. The machinery was de-
signed and calculated to develop 20, 900 I.
H. p. and is capable of doing so If re-
Quired
The vessel is designed to fulfill the high
est requirements OF a high-speed protected
cruiser, carrying large battery of quick
firing guns and provided with unusually
large number of water torpedo tubes.
Battery and Armor.
The battery of the ship Is follows:
Twelve 6-inch 45-caliber rapid firing guns,
twelve 50-caiiber rapid-fring guns and six 3
FOUNDER Hetchkiss guns The torpedo bat
terry consists of one bow tube, one stern
tube and four nroadside training tubes
The vessel carries the following arInor. all
treated by the Krupp process: Mann water
line belt for length equal by two-thirds
the length Of the vessel and with a thick
ness of nine inches Easement arH,er, six
inches in thickness. extends above this to
the line of the main deck. and armor of five
inches extends to the line Of the upper deck
protecting the 6-inch guns. All the armor
extends for tw0-thfrds the length of the
vessel Forward and abaft these limits the
vessel is fitted with nickel-steeI armor two
inches in thickness to the bow and stern.
respectively.
The amount OF coal carried at trial dis
placement was 1.016 tons. and the coal