Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-08-19

is this that the results may
be taken as a triumphant vindication
of the theories upon which the navies
of the world have been built up.
When the full technical story of the
struggle comes to be written, and the
facts regarding the behavior Of the war
material have been collected, and the
lessons deducted therefrom, naval con-
structors will no doubt see where they
can improve on existing designs; but 1t
is safe to say that the improvements
will consist in notifications Of minor
character. Already the fact is recog-
nized that the present distribution Of
the total displacement Of navy among
battleships, armored cruisers, protect
ed cruisers, or scouts and torpedo boats
Is about the best that can be made, and
that each type of vessel is admirably
adapted to the particular work which it
has to do.
This result has the twofold effect Of
strengthening the confidence of the
naval architect in his work and of
giving fat rebuke to the thousand
and-nno naval cranks who decry the
big battleship and cruiser and tell us
that the torpedo boat and the sub
marine are destined to revolutionize
naval construction and sweep our big
ships from the high seas. AS matter
of fact, naval construction is process,
not of spasmodic revolution, but Of
steady and constant evolution. BY the
strict law of the survival Of the fittest
has the battleship grown TO its present
huge proportions and taken its place
as the secure foundation upon which
the whole structure of the navy is
built up.
In the matter of details, however,
there will be changes. The feet action
Of August 10 was carried on, from the
opening of the battle shortly after
noon until O'clock, at range which
was never less than six miles. In the
second phase of the engagement the
battle reopened at a range of four
miles, and the distance between the
ships was not reduced to two miles
(which was hitherto supposed to be
the probable battle range until about
an hour before the close of the fight
Now, at distances of from four to nine
miles, at which last-named range, ac-
cording to Captain Won Essen, the bat
tie opened, only 10-inch and Pinch
guns can be used to any effect. More
over, the greater the range the greater
the advantage to the expert gunners;
and hence it will be found that in the
future the tendency will be to discard
In our battleships, and to less extent
perhaps in our cruisers, any guns be-
low a calibre of say 9.25 inches. Al
ready, indeed, England is building two
oattleships which carry 90 guns in
place of 6-inch guns in the secondary
battery.
Armor, If of good quality, has proved
wonderfully efficient, and as far as we
,an learn the cases of penetration of
lrmor are very few. Probably we
shall see in the future a disposition to
'educe the thickness of the armor and
Utilize the weight thus saved by in
.reasing the armament. Or If that
je not done, the armor Will be extended
)ver a wider surface. It would be odd
we should come back to the type of
he French Dupuy de LONE, built some
fifteen years ago, which was complete
v clothed with armor over the whole
If the topsides and we'll down below
The water line. AS a method of pro-
lection to the guns and crews, turrets
o.. II -. -,
nave the objection that they are liable
% become damned by shell fragments,
but this could be overcome by giving
heavier protection IN the wake of the
turntable.
A serious problem that may well &C.
;upy the attention of our naval con-
structors is the protection Of the up
axes and smokestacks. A high explo-
Sive she'll, bursting within a smoke
stack, tears it asunder, giving it the
appearance Of burst steam pipe.
When this happens it is impossible to
maintain steam in the boilers; speed
Is cut down, and the ship is at the
mercy Of her opponent. 1t is not I'M
likely that the practice which some
1avies have followed of armoring the
base Of the smokestacks will be widely
followed, and that the protection will
be carried up to greater height.
This will be costly on displacement and
will have a serious effect on stability,
but 1t will probably be done.
The torpedo boat has neither gained
nor lost in reputation by the war, at
least in the estimate of naval experts.
It has done neither more nor less than
they expected it to. Up to the battle
Of the Sea Of Japan not a single bat
tleship had been sunk by q torpedo
boat in action; and we shall have to
await the arrival of authentic details
to be sure that such a thing happened
In Korea Straits.
The steering gear is another vital
point which the searching fire of the
Japanese has reached at times with |
disastrous effect. Several steering sta
lions must be installed. In this con-
uection we are reminded of a portable |
electric steering wheel, which was de-
scribed to the editor by Lord Crawford |
Turing his recent visit. 1t consists of
a circular disk with contact points,
which may be carried to any part of
The ship, even to the masthead, If de-
sired, and attached to electric cables
which lead to the electric steering
wheel. If, as in the case Of the Car
svitch in the battle of August 10, the
tower steering gear becomes
the portable gear can be car
Tied to some other post on the ship
and Immediately attached to the steer
ing gear wiring.
This duplication of parts might well
,e carried out with regard to other
elements of control and direction, such,
or instance, as the range finders. Both
lertical and horizontal range lines
lhould be established on every ship,
md more than one on each, IL possible.
This is rendered necessary by the fact
hat the tendency, so common in this