New-York tribune., 1905-11-01
SOME FINE CRUISERS.

Mr. Roosevelt has for years been peculiarly
alert to the possibilities and needs OF the Ameri-
can navy. To his foresight and energy while ne
was the assistant OF Secretary Long was due
much of its success In the war with Spain.
Since his accession to the Presidency his entbus-
asm and appreciation have been repeatedly eA-
hibited. His personal inspection Of submarine
boat in Oyster Bay two or three months ago
illustrated his desire to obtain as much informa-
ton at first hand was practicable; and the re-
cent reiteration in the South Of his well known
views regarding the best means Of preserving
dignified and honorable peace indicates that his
sense of official responsibility Is unabated. 1t is
beyond doubt, therefore, that he utilized TO the
utmost the opportunity afforded by the voyage
ended yesterday both for observation OF advances
already made and the discovery OF others Wmch
are desirable. The spending Of the three and a
half days with Admiral Brownsons squadron
cannot have failed to prove an instructive as we'll
as pleasant experience.
OF the class of vessels to which the West Viz
ginia belongs only four are now in commission.
though four more are approaching completion
Only two of the fagships sisters, the Pennsyl-
vana and the Colorado, accompanied her from
the mouth of the Mississippi to Cape Henry, the
Maryland being retained at her present station
near Fort Monroe. The last mentioned cruiser,
however, demonstrated her sailing qualities so
conspicuousIy at the time of her formal trial last
January that she may be regarded as the equal
of those which have just visited and returned
from the Gulf of Mexico. All four showed their
ability to exceed twenty-five knots an hour be-
fore they were accepted by the government and
they are the swiftest armored fighting ships be-
longing to this country. Still, there is a great
difference between the ordinary official test Of a
new war vessel and such an ordeal that to
which the West Virginia, the Pennsylvania and
the Colorado have just been subjected The for
mer is held when the hull Is perfectly clean, and
picked coal is often provided for her furnaces.
The distance covered, too, is short. All that was
required of the cruisers of the West Virginia
class was that they should make a run of eighty
eight nautical miles in four hours or less. To
reach the entrance of the Chesapeake from the
l. Southwest Pass Admiral BrownsOn was obliged
to sail 1,50O miles, and the vessels under his
command, having been in the water for nearly a
year, could hardly be as free from retarding
growths as when they first became the property
| of the government Hence the performance
which the President has witnessed is truly re-
markable. Had the voyage been completed In
exactly three days the average speed Of the
squadron would have been a trife more than
twenty knots. In fact, something like this was
really maintained until the ships encountered a
heavy northeast gale on the Carolina coast. The
record just made, therefore, If not absolutely
unique, certainly cannot have many precedents
In naval history.
In spite of the delay which it caused to the
President. the storm off Hatteras had its advan-
tages. notable test was thereby afforded both
of the seagoing qualities of the cruisers under
Admiral Brownson'S command and also of the
seamanship of the officers in charge Of them.
Mr. Roosevelt and the country to be con-
graduated on the handsome manner in which the
vessels were handled. A gratifying augury Of
the outcome Of future emergencies is thus af-
fOrded