Semi-weekly herald., 1908-12-31

Maxim. has developed gas power on
gine OF sufficient strength to answer
r all purposes with smokeless fuel. Thii
, type OF engine is now in operation on
several destroyers and torpedo boats
OF goo tons displacement, and they are
using liquid fuel only. It is claimed
that Sir John Durstin, who introduced
water-tube boilers, turbine engines and
oil fuel into the British navy, has de-
signed combination boiler for the
use of both kinds of fuel which Is said
70 be great success. but the naval
experts OF other nations do not credit
these reports. The highest authori-
ties on steam engineering in private
HE insist that the problem Ia still
nnsolved. although they believe II pos
sible TO make boiler that will fur
nish sufficient steam without smoke.
and thus enable them to build battle
ships and cruisers without tunnels and
navigate them without smoke.
There has been remarkable progress
In naval warfare during the present
generation. Twenty years ago the two
most powerful floating fortresses that
we're ever known up to that time were
the British battle ships Nile and Trail
falgar. which displaced only 1900
tons of water and were only about half
as big as the st. Vincent which was
launched the other day.
They cost an average OF 100000
pounds sterling. but were improved
upon SO rapidly that ships OF that
type are obsolete today. and are con
sidered useless In a modern navy,
1t is believed also that the annual
additions to the British navy as given
VIII continue indefinitely under the
years named. so that In 1914 the Brit
ish fleet will comprise forty-four yes
sells of the Dreadnought type and bet
Ter, with ten armored cruisers of the
lndomitable type or better. eighteen
cruisers and 140 destroyers. that will
be capable OF maintaining John Bulls
supremacy as marine power. This
VIII be an enormous burden on tho
British people. but the bill will be re
ferred to future generations for pay.
ment. Negotiations are already In
progress for loan to carry out the
present program, The revenues Of the
government are only sufficient for the
ordinary flxed charges and the pro.
posed fleet must be paid for with
borrowed money-by the Issue OF
bonds, chargeable to the next genera
tlon.
1t would seem that there ought to
be sufficient brains among the states
men of this enlightened age to do
wise some means OF making these enor-
nous expenditures unnecessary. This
Is the account OF a single nation. but
~ makes necessary u corresponding
expenditure on the part of half q dog
EN- other nations which are bound to
keep up to the standard OF England
az closely as they can There have
been frequent attempts to secure the
adoption OF a dlarmament agreement,
but they have always failed, and prob
ably will continue to fail. until assem-
blies like that which met at Tho Hague
last year have educated public SEN
timent up to the pretensions of civil
lied Christian nations.
Even Brazil, the Argentine Republic
and Chile have caught the war fever
and are placing almost Incredible or
ders with the shipyards of Europe.
Brazil. for example. has ordered three
battle ships Of a larger tonnage and
heavier armament even than the st.
Vincent One Of them. called the
Minas Geraes. was launched at the
shipyard Of Armstrong Whitworth L
Co.. at Newcastle.on-Tyne In Septem-
ber. 1t is 500 feet long. SO feet beam.
27 feet draft. $1,000 tons displacement.
with engines OF $4,000 horse power. .
speed OF twenty-one knots and an ar.
mament Of twelve 12-inch and twenty
two 5-inch guns. Duplicates Of the
Minas Geraes are under construction
at the Armstrong. Whitworth 4 Co.
yards and at vickers Sons 4 Maxim's.
Brazil has also ordered ten torpedo
boats at Yarrow.
There has been some silly talk In
sensational newspapers about the
transfer Of these ships to Japan. but
there is not the slightest excuse for
any Of such suspicious. It has been
known In London and In Washington
as we'll as In Rio de Janerio that the
Brazilian government desired to bring
its navy up to date as soon a. certain
important Internal improvements were
disposed Of. and the construction Of
these battleships will be the realixar
tion OF that ambition.