New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-11
LARGE BATTLESHIPS.
Their Efficiency and Economy Indi-
Gated.

To the Editor OF The tribune.
Sir: In the recent discussion about battleships
there important features and arguments which
should strongly AFFECT American policy and which
have been treated with much less emphasis than
they deserve The type OF ship represented
by the DreadnouGht viii be u much less expensive
ship to maintain than vessels like the Connecticut
aud viii reach a maximum efficiency much sooner;
and this is moro true In country. with
ditions as to enissed force. than II is abroad.
where the training OF men and the holding Of them
for long terms OF service much more practicable
and more successfully accomplished. The OF
the Connecticut in time OF would be above
nine hundred and nifty. while that OF the Dread
nought would be about six hundred and nifty.
The orRanlza ton and administration OF the heavier
ship would be comparatively simple. and the train
ing because Of this simplicity would advance very
much more rapidly The training of a gun pointer
for a 12-inch gun does not fit him for the du-
ties either S-inch. finch a small
one. and the statement applies to
any interchange of men occupying important sta
lions from gun Of one size, or on particular
class of mount, to another gun on different
mount The consequence is that where the adj
min!strative duties OF a ship make It necessary to
fiji n given vacancy essential In the ships work,
but for duty not connected with the battery. the
imperative demands of the battery force would re-
strict the selection in such way that 1t would
not be possible TO transfer finch crew man to an
S-inCh Pinch crew.
The Connecticut has ffty-six ammunition rooms.
She has thlrty-four hoists exclusive OF those in
the turrets. and thrty-four electric motors. out
sdo of her turrets. for moving ammunition. Each
motor and hoist requires trained men. altogether
one hundred least She has turrets OF
sort with particular forms of electrical devices.
and four turrets Of another sort. with another
type and form OF ELECTRICAL devices-nany times
duplicated in each case The transfer OF men from
one Of those stations to another involves special
teriai t the time Of reaching high eficency
Every Of these stations which are here re-
81 VraA 10 md nj hAFa whit
toned require Of exceptional intelligence and
training and those positions carry with them spe-
The Dreadnought has five turrets. one less than
be transferred from one Of them TO another with
little loss in efficiency The ammunition supply
now becomes subordinate matter instead OF be-
Ing as In the Connecticut and all other batleshps,
which has hitherto proved beyond adequate solu-
ton From the earliest times the difficulty OF pro-
war to accumulate it about the guns before frinG,
or in the Intervals oftentiiAes with disastrous re-
suits. With the five similar installations and the
simPlicty, of their arrangement turret guns can
',i ton ' HIIan Ten s9coh1 rs tI o.;
the urret ocer WRe n s shqs having sGeh
six Officers Should be assigned to tRs
passages and rooms ii they are to be handled eff
IT, then; instead of having here, four sizes
Of guns, besides the machine guns. the big gun
snip be accepted the value OF the ship as hghting
unit on the line OF battle would stand upon the
ing almost exclusively tor torpedo protection. BY
einlnatlng the large number OF ammunition hoistS
secondary batteries. and the various conveyances
which are Tor the same purpose. 1t would be pos
Slb!e greatly TO reduce the perpleXttieS OF admin
istration Fewer officers and comparatively few
men OF highly trained skill and intelligence would
then be needed. a situation would result In which
three quarters OF ships company could be more
readily trained to efficient state Of service fin
SIN months than can now be reached in eighteen.
This means that the percentage of highly paid
men In a ships company would be considerably
lower; that the long period of probation and train
Ing being eliminated, much expense would be
saved there during the time in which. under pres
ent circumstances: the ship Is not efficient.
1t means also that vast of EXPENSIVE
installation connected with gun mounts guns,
spare parts. ammunition hoists. conveyors and
conduits. which break up the Interior Of the ship
and occupy valuable space. would be avoided; that
the interior construction work in the ship would
be greatly simplihed, and much space available for
other purposes for which ships greatly
craTnped.
It also means that in time OF wax. vacancies