The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-19

as undoubtedly both sides, with such a
paucity of heavy battleships, would SO
employ them. Those Of the japanese are
particularly well off in gun protection as
compared with the Russian armored
cruisers, and are in fact ranked by so high
an authority as Jane QSs3 edition) as equal
In average fighting value to the Japanese
Fui and Russian Pobieda. They obtain
this rank by the 6-inch protection to the
guns Of their heavy 6-inch battery. The
gun protection in the Russia and Rurik,
taken In broadsi'e, is as nil against g.
inch guns or ever lighter. II Mr.. James
valuation be accepted, we should thus
have to class together the Russian Care
witch and Retvizan and the japanese
M1kasa, H~atsuse, Asaki, Shtkish!sna, and
the remainder Of the Russian battleships
with the Japanese Full. Yashima, and the
six armored cruisers. He drops the Gro
movoi still one class lower and tho
Bayan, Rossia and Rurik two (along with
the Chen Yuen). Such q classification
would give Russia two ships of an aver
age value Of 100 against four Japanese,
and five Of 80 against eight Japanese,
leaving additional to Russia one Of go
(Gromovoi) and three Of 40 (Bayan, Rossia
and Rurik) and additional to japan one
of 40 Cohen Yuen). His classification tells
heavily against the Russians. While the
writer Is not inclined to accept this esti-
mate wholly, it is given as an indication
of the high value placed upon the Japa-
nese armored cruisers by one of the high
est authorities,
Comparison of Armaments.
The heavy gun in the ships mentioned
are, Russian, twenty Pinch, eight 10
inch, fourteen S-inch, one hundred and
thirty-six 6-inch. Putting aside for the
moment the 6-inch gun. which cannot be
ranked as an armor-piercing weapon
against the heavier armor Of hattleships,
Russia (speaking always OF the present
situation In the east) can bring into bat
tie AZ armor-piercing guns against 6S Of
the Japanese. The latter has also a large
excess of 6-inch GA as against 1887, which,
while not able to pierce heavy armor at
ordinary battle range, would be effective
against most of the gun positions Of the
Russian armored cruiser force. 1t Is dir
flcult to see how this part of her fleet
could long sustain a well-directed 6-inch
fire.
In addition to her fighting lire, Russia
has in the east seven protected cruisers
Of $500 to $3.50 tons, mounting ~forty-eight
6-inch guns against sixteen japanese OF
z, ZOO to 1878 tons mounting two 12.5-inch,
four 1O.2-inch, six S-inch, -thirty-eight g.
inch. This class In both cases OF course
carries a large number of smaller guns
equally effective in many ways against
unarmored ships. Though superiority,
ship for ship, In this class is In the main
with Russia, this is offset by the greater
numbers Of the japanese and in several
cases by their heavier guns, which are of
more value, through greater range han
the 6-inch. The Russians have. however,
an advantage to he noted in the fact that
most Of their 6-inch guns are As calibres
in length against the 40 calibres, in gem
eral, Of the Japanese; and increased length
means increased range and power. The
ships Of both sides are well supplied with
torpedoes.
The smaller ships Of both sides are not
mentioned; neither they nor the volunteer
fleet Of Russia will weigh greatly in any
such contest.
Japs Lead in Torpedo Boats.
In torpedo craft, Russia is decidedly out