The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-13

al Es starting, and IL the pa' del r5e a,
non OF its voyaging. But the public
snould not forget that the development
u modern nayies has made cruising
III Meets in war time a very different
matter from what it was in Nelson's
uay, lhen your battle squadron could
cut loose and scour the seas for months
ana months without the need of re-
turning to a dockyard or machine
snop. There was no necessity for
docking at regular intervals in order to
maintain the efficiency of the ships,
ana as for repairs, there were few
that the crews could not make at sea
OF 70 ieeWard of some sheltering island.
Marryats boldest cruisers sailed as
wen under jury masts as under their
own spars, and their crews were
framed to make good any injuries ex-
cept the worst below the water line.
Ii ship stayed adoat at all after
severe engagement, her captain count
ed on making some friendly port.
with the modern fighting machines
It's wholly different story. Aside
from that, a war fleet which is bound
for a distant battle-ground must have
auxiliary vessels and guard-boats not
dreamed Of in the days of Hull and
Lawrence. Particularly is this the
case when, like the Russian fleet, there
is no certain base of operations near
the scene of hostilities at which the
ships can refit. And the stringent ill.,
ternatlonal law as to coalinG in neu-
trail harbor is still greater obstacle
main in neutral harbor long enough
to take in sufficient coal to steam to its
nearest port. But, obviously, Vladi-
yoStok is not the Russian harbor near
est to VigO. Hence all the coal which
Admiral Rojestvensky's ships will re-
quire must be supplied by merchant
vessels, either at sea, or outside the
three-mile limit, unless direct trans
shipment should be permitted in some
such harbor as Tangier. This morn
ing's dispatches report that Golfers are
already expected at Manila to await
orders where to join the fleet. Doubt
less there are dozens Of Golfers now
making for ports all along Rojestven-
sky's route to the Far East. Some idea
of the amount of coal needed may be
obtained from Admiral Sir Cyprian
Bridges estimate that the British
China squadron needs in time of peace
10000 tons of coal for period of four
and half months leisurely cruising.
The London Times thinks that each
battleship will require between 5000
and 6000 tons to reach it's destination.
Next to GOLFERS, the most important
non-combatant auxiliary of the Baltic
fleet is it's repair ship, the Kamchatka.
Some of it's cruisers are already report
ed disabled, and more are sure to be
as the voyage progresses. The uncer-
tailty as to the fleets reaching Vladi-
yostok and Port Arthur makes the
Kamchatka's presence all the more
necessary. She is fitted with metal
turning and electro-technical machln-
cry. with Wagrain smelling furnaces, |
a three-ton American hammer worked
by compressed air, boring and cutting |
instruments, two steam cranes-ln
short, is a floating factory manned by |
the best workmen from private yards
During the war with Spain, the repair
boat Vulcan supplied thirty-one of our
vessels with extra engine parts, ma
terial and tools, repaired tWenty-slx
others, and made innumerable minor
repairs of guns and their equipments.
England also has Vulcan in addition
TO a Hecla and an Assistance.
According to the London Times, one
Of Roiestvensky's numerous auXlllar-
les is a hospital ship. If he has any
thing like the number of torpedo boats
and destroyers assigned to him, it is
safe to say that he has at least one
..mother' ship from which they may
draw supplies en- route. A number OF
armed transports are also reported to
he mart of the Baltic fleet. Ii it in
cludes a distilling ship, it would not
be surprising, as these vessels nave
won permanent places for themselves
IN several navies besides our own, in
which the Rainbow did good service.
Even if the Russians have not yet come
70 refrigerating vessel like the Gla-
cier of the United States navy, they
must have arranged for supply ships
~ meet their feet enroute. 70 pro-
tect the battleships there are the tor
nedo boats, destroyers, fast cruisers
and armed merchantmen which COM
mise what may be called the comba-
tant auxiliaries.
obviously, the modern war feet is
complex and heterogeneous.
every vessel that cruised with Nelson
was able to defend itself, and a power
FIJI feet of sailing warships, whatever
its nationality, was able to keep to-
pether at good speed in a remark
ah1a ,1,av With a fleet like SIMPSONS