New-York tribune., 1905-08-01
MODERN NAVAL WARFARE
Latest Types of French and British
BattlesHips Compared.

The French naval authorities have not been
pehindhand in deducing conclusions from the
paetIes or the Russo panese war. In their
Cpihion the salient feature of future naval en-
sasements Is the long distance at which the
ulery hre must begin. This is due to two dis
'iilct causes: first, the greater power and range
or guns. and. secondly, smokeess powder which
makes II possible to attain as well as maintain
accuracy of fire as far away as six or seven kilo-
metres from hostile ship. The primary essen
tlaI is well directed fire at the longest possible
range. 1t is the apotheosis of the battleship
Ihe fTench experts declare that it was the use
of smokeless powder that enabled Togo to de-
stroy in such a short space Of time the most
formidable ships opposed to him
only a few years ago it would have been out
or the question to open effective fire at a
distance or more than three miles, no matter
"hat range OF fire the guns capable Of
owing TO smokeless powder the effect of pro-
jectiles can now be ascertained Without smoke
less powder it is practically impossible to find
the range. or. even If found. to maintain It,
Nowadays the men behind the guns upon which
everything depends, clearly. They notice
where the projectile falls in the water and can
adjust the sights so that after a few trial shots
the target will be hit. This was impossible
when the ships were concealed in clouds of
smoke only broken by gusts of wind. Once ac-
curacy of aim is assured, the latest inventions
that secure absence of recoil and rapidity of
fire enable the enemys ships to be deluged with
train OF fire that must inevitably work de-
struction. provided the artillery is powerful
enough to pierce the plates of the enemy's ships
If the ships opposed to each other are about
equal IN armament we'll in armor victory
will go to the one that first opens its we'll direct
ed fire.
NJ. Edouard Lockroy, formerly Minister of
Marine, in a letter the Lesson of Tsou-
the sake of argument, engagement between
the latest British battleship, King Edward VII,
and the most recent type Of French battleship, La
Verite. 1t should be stated by way of explana-
tion. however, that the battleship La Verite is
so recent that she is not yet completed. NJ. Lock-
roy is a firm supporter of the Anglo French
entente, and the fact of selecting battleships
of the two countries to illustrate his theory is
perhaps the best proof of the genuine solidty
Of the entente. The King Edward VII is pro-
tected above her waterline by armor which
reaches five metres high. This armOr is divided
into two sections. The lower section consists of
plates of 203 millimetres' thickness and the up
per section OF plates of 17s millimetres. In an
engagement these two sections of armor would
receive all the projectiles that hit the ship The
vital question is to ascertain whether the pro-
jectiles fired by La Verite that hit the King Ed
ward VII would penetrate the latters armor at
a distance of four miles.
NJ. Lockroy states that the big Creuzot guns
of 1917 calibre, with which La Verite is to be
armed, in order to pierce the amor plating of
20S mllimetres' thickness, composing the lower
section of the plated zone of the King Edward
VII, must have velocity at the point of impact
equal to 720 metres a second This velocity.
NJ. Lockroy declares. is beyond the power of La
Verite's 164-7 calibre guns. Moreover, accord
ing to NJ LoclIroy. the guns of 1914 cabre with
which 1T IS proposed to La Verite would
require velocity of 600 metres a second at a
distance of four miles TO perforate the heaviest
plates of the King Edward VII. NJ. Lockroy
goes even further. and declares that neither the
1647 calibre guns OF La Verite nor her guns
OF 1914 calibre could. at a range of four miles.
pierce even the upper weaker section of 17s
millimetres thickness of the King Edward Wis
plates. Mr.. Lockroy formally announces that
La Nerite at range Of four miles would be
incapable of injuring the King Edward VII with
her guns NJ. Lockroy points out that on the
other hand the King Edward VII is armed with
four guns of 305 millimetres' cabre and with
six guns of 235 mimetres, which would enable
the British battleship to demolish the French
battleshp at a distance of four miles.
NJ. Lockroy urges the immediate necessity OF
Of at least 240 millimetres calibre. which is the
calbre required by the Japanese government for
the guns made in England for the armament of
the Japanese battleships being built in that
country, and which have the great advantage
over larger calibre guns of being able TO be
adapted to the quick firing system. NJ Lockray
is convinced that the tendency of naval science
is to regard the ship merely gun carriage
and to increase the range of guns rather than
Increase the thickness OF armor plating He
thinks that the French navy, like many others
In Europe, is not homogeneous enough in respect
to its ships or its artillery NJ Lockroy's ideal
Is lone type of proJectile. type of gun and
one type of ship" In regard TO naval defence
the French authorities seem to have come to the
conclusion long ago tersely expressed by Ad-
miral Farragut, that "the best defence is well
directed fire upon the enemy" GLIB