The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-12-14
UNSUITABLE SHIPS.
NEW AND INGENIOUS coNTRIv-
ANCEs ON IRoNcLADs.

Electrical Automatic Doors Kept Com.
partments Water Tight--Na-
val Problems Being
Solved.
what happens to battleship when
It's hull is punctured? II usually sinks
Wheh II. NJ. S. Camperuown plunged
into the Victoria ten years ago tbq
latter went down and 500 lives were
lost. How to prevent such disas-
ters has been problem ever before
admiralty departments states the New
Orleans Tlmes-Democrat. That naval
architects hadn't solved it was made
Gear Ia The recent war between R.s,.a
and Japan. When either a Russian
or a Japanese vessel was struck below
the water line, to the bottom it went
Constructors of fhe United States
navy believe Uncle Sam has now
solved this problem The bureau of
construction and repair has been work.
ing away at 1t for a long time but
tests just completed by the bureau in
dicate that the two new ships Mon
tana and North Carolina. now being
huilt at Newport News. will come near.
er to being unsinkatle to any vessel
ever before launched
Tho solution of the problem ia in
The perfection of system of automatic
buIkhead doors operating by cleo
tricity and permitting Of closure i'm
time OF emergency by single officer
on The bridge uf tho shin. The do
vice has been named the long-arm"
sysetm, because the long arm Of the
electric wires reach out to save the
ship
a ship is divided into watertlght
compartments with bulkhead doors
permitting intercourse between them.
II thc ships huh is punctured, water
rushss I'm II the doors are shut. only
the compartment nearest the puncture
win BE- flooded. Tho vessel will still
ioat When the Victoria was struck
hcr doors were open The men were
too excited to close them IF the
''ore Of a ship aro automatically
closed In time of need. the vessel is
unsuitable That's Mat the new plan
comes about As near TO securing as
human ingenuity allows.
Hydraulic and pneumatic doors
were tried by our ravy department.
but they proved dangerous and i'm
practicable Then Rear Admiral and
Naval Constructor Bnwles. now presi-
dent Of the Fore River shipyards. con
ceiv'1 the idea Of operating the doors
by electricity. An electric system was
{ hen developed and has been installed
on l6 Of the newest ships But still
there were defects Tho doors were
too delicate ana intricate. many naval
officers thought. The scheme must he
made simple. and, II possible. lighter.
The bureau of construction aud re.
pair imposed most severe tests fo~
any new system of automatic doors.
The tests of the now plan have Just
been completed. ana " is believed that
the two new vessels will accordingly.
be the safest warships aroat
This Is but one OF tho numerous i'm
provements which VIII go on the new
ships. Safety. safety of he ship and
of the men in her. Is primary re
Besides. the "long.arm
bulkhead doors always under perfect
control by means or electricity. greater
safety Is the inspiration of dozens Of
Improvements that are going into our
new warshlps one Of these improve.
nents Is a sprinNling device for the
magazines another ja an electrical dc
vice Tor controlling the firms Of the
boilers.
Quite the most ingenious of minor
improvements Is The portable steering
apparatus lately patented, especially
for use aboard waTships Cripple the
steering apparatus and the ship is at
the mercy Of the clements OF human
rnemies This portable steering ap-
paratus. II Is claimed, will make It
possible to direct the ship from any
one Of half dozen stations by means
of electrical connections there located
and all communicating with the steer
ing room, the most carefully protect
I'd part OF a warshlp The near future
Is likely to see The warship with
smokestacks and better pro
lection than the coming tower now
affords for the commander Of war yes
sells in action.
Al the moment the never-ending
between shell and armor
Is slightly in favor of the shell,
'act due to the new explosive. dunnlte,
he secret of which Las been obtained
)y our government from the inventor
Turbines probably will mark the next
step In warshlp propulsion.
These are only the most striking OF
new appliances and devices and i'm
aboard The twentieth cen
ury warship. There are others, such |
Is more perfect range finders. better
arrangements for handling ammuni-
ion and improved acc modations for /
he comfort of the blue jacket in peace. /.
md his care when injured in war.
Safer and more numerous hospital sta.
ions are provided for in the new /!
hips now being planned Veritably. /
here is no end to the demands made |
lpop the naval designer,