Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-21
THREE GREATEST wARsHIPs.
The British, the Jap and the Proposed
American.

The British, the Jap and the Proposed
American. ....
What would happen IL in. the un.
likely event Of a war between Japar
and England the giant British bulldog
Dreadnought and the heavier Japan.
ese battleship Satsuma should meet In
a duel on the sea? That speculation
Is calculated to stir the Imagination
Of naval folk the world over, and ex-
perts will answer according to their
conception Of the respective battery
power Of the ships, their constructive
strength Of resistance and the ability
Of the men behind the guns.
1t has been demonstrated that the
Japanese can shoot and that they are
as courageous as the Causasian. It is
known also that the English are good
at hitting floating targets; in fact.
that they are second only to the blue
jackets of Uncle Sam in sea practice
with big guns.
The comparative ability of the
ships is a problem the solution Of
which is rendered difficult by the mys-
terry with which the Japanese have
surrounded the Satsuma. She is Of
19,200 tons displacement, thus exceed
ing the Dreadnought by 1900 tons.
She has what the English themselves
nov seem to regard as the disadvan-
toon 80 ,aofD,ooa TING arSoinao
The Dreadnought Is propelled by
turbines that give her greater steadi-
ness when going at high speed. The
more rigid the gun platform the
more accurate the gun fire will be.
Both the Satsuma and the Dread
nought were built in record time. The
Japanese ship has the distinction Of
employing only japanese in her de-
sign and construction. She repre-
sents the highest genius Of the Japan
ese adopts who went through the war
with Russia as officers Of the conquer
ing squadrons. 1t may be that they
found out a few things that escaped
the observers of other nations who
had less intimate knowledge Of the
sea fights, and that the Satsuma has
been built and equipped in accord
ance with these discoveries.
The Dreadnought has the advan-
tage in speed by nearly two knots. She
is practically In the cruiser class In
this respect, and IL she were getting
the worst of 1t she might run away.
The Satsuma would have to fight to
the end or surrender.
The somewhat indefinite reports
about the Satsuma, published just af-
ter the launching. say that her main
battery consists Of four IL inch guns
in turrets forward and aft on the CEN
tire line, and twelve 10 inch guns in
pairs in turrets on the broadside. She
can concentrate the power Of two IL
inch guns and four 10 inch guns
ahead or astern. and deliver broad
side of four IL inch and six 10 inch
guns. She also has battery Of
twelve Al inch rapid firers to turn
against torpedo boats and destroyers.
The Dreadnought has main bat
terry of IL inch guns capable Of pierre
ing 22 inches Of armor at 5000 yards.
She can concentrate In either broad
side eight Of these mighty rifles and
ran fire six either dead ahead or
astern.
The, British declare that the les
sons of the Japanese sea battles have
demonstrated the superiority Of tn IL
inch gun. The Japanese themselves,
who were closer to the conflict than
anybody else. apparently believe also
in the efficacy Of the 10 inch gun.
Otherwise they would have placed
more rifles of the greater calibre
aboard the powerful Satsuma.
1t may be inferred, although there
are no accurate data at hand just yet
II bear II out. that the Satsuma and
the Dreadnought are much alike In
having little top hamper and In hav-
ing their guns so placed that the blast
Of one will not interfere with the
work of the crew shooting another.
The Dreadnought has three separate
coming towers from which the ship
may be fought. Our own uncomplet-
ed big battleships, the South Carolina
and the Michigan have two each.
The Satsuma and Dreadnought are
alike in having great beam (that Of
the Pritish being SO feeD and depth,
which give them stability. Stays and
shrouds have been abolished on both
ships and the tubular masts are self
supporting.
Whatever the American naval ex-
pert may think about the chances In
battle Of the Satsuma and the Dread
roueht. he recently has had reason to
congratulate himself on the prospec-
tive possession Of a greater wardogl
than that of either the Mikado or
John Bull. Uncle Sam has decided
to go them one better by construct
ing a floating, or racing. battery OF
20,5O0 tons displacement.
The plans submitted are receiving
the consideration Of a special naval
board appointed by Secretary Bona
narte. They call for an armament Of
twelve IL inch guns mounted in six
turrets. all on the centre line, and so
arranged that all may be fired on
either broadside. The middle turrets
of the group are to be As feet above
the water line.
The design provides also for six
teen inch rapid firers for defence
against torpedo attack. All the vir-
tues Of the Satsuma and the Dread
nought, 1t Is said, will be utilized in
the proposed battleship, which will
not be built in a hurry.
Secretary Bonaparte's board has
six other plans than that Of the giant
battleship to ponder upon. 1t is said
that all of them are for ships more
powerful than the Dreadnought.-l
New York Sun.
MEANING OF cALIBRE.
Either the Diameter Of a Gun or Its
Length Divided by Diameter.