The Washington herald., 1909-08-29
DOOM OF WARSHIPS
Once Mighty Vessels Lying at Anchor Because They Are
Out of Date and Good for Nothing but Targets.

not until 1891 that the keel OF the Katah-
din was laid She had q displacement
Of 2.i50 tons and an authorized speed OF
l6-u knots. Her engines were rated at
5.0l4 horsepower. and her cost was $4,000
Her armament was only a few rapid
FIRE guns. for she was intended solely
and primarily as a ram.
When she was launched great things
were expected Of her. but the clumsy
design impeded her. and she was never
able to make a speed o. more than 10
or p knots. For this reason she was
unable to keep UP with the faster ships
In the Spanish-American war, and did
not get into action. Since that time
she has lain al the different naval sta
tons awaiting orders. and az last the
word has come that she will be used
for SOME practical purpose. She viii
serve as a target for the war ships OF
the navy.
Old Monitor Glass.
OF the Terror. the AIiantonomah. and
the Amphitrite. there is not much TO
say. They were Of the famous Monitor
class development OF the first famous
Monitor. designed by Capt Erickson.
which sunk the Merrlmac during the
civil war L IS true that they were
a wonderful Improvement over this yes
sci, out they had the same principles.
as evidenced by the double turrets
through which the great guns were
swung in all directions They were built
low down 10 the water 70 escape the
enemys fire, and had great belts OF
armor protecting the exposed points.
They were twin-screw vessels. and OF
. ~.
Puritan.
These three vessels cost the govern
ment IN the neighborhood OF SsOO0OO0.
Their keels were laid in 1874. and the
ships were launched in the same year.
They range IN displacement from $3.50
tons for the first 10 $3.50 tons for the
MiantOnOmah and the Amplitude. They
were not supposed 70 be speedy vessels
on account Of their shape and weight.
and they registered l0.5 knots an hour.
Their guns were very heavy for those
days. as for a main battery they had
four ten-inch breech-loading rifles They
had a secondary battery OF two six
Founders, two continuous FIRE small guns.
1--WE one-pounders, one Colt, and one
three-inch field plecs.
The Minneapolis was one Of the more
recent vessels OF the swift cruiser pat
in 1888, and she was finished IN 1894. at
a cost Of $4,000. This vessel was an
improvement over the old Monitor type,
as II was beginning TO be recognized
that speed was a great necessity IN war
vessels. She had a displacement OF 1915
tons and a length OF 412 feet Her en-
gines furnished the enormous horse
power OF 20.S62. and she was capable OF
making speed Of q knots an hour.
Surely, the public thought. this was the
last step IN nGva' construction. As arma-
ment, this 7essel has one eight-inch gun,
two six-inch. eight four-inch, twelve six
Founders. two one-pounders. and two
rapid-fire guns. She had a complement OF
At men,
The Columbia. sometimes called The
Gem OF the Ocean IN naval circles, was
another fine cruiser. and her cost was
s.. 725.000. She had her keel laid in Phil
adelphia In 1852. and took her initial
plunge from the ways in 1894. She had
a four-inch armor plate and an esti-
mated speed Of 22s knots. She had a
displacement OF 1875 tons and was AZ
feet long. Her horsepower was 1888.
Her armament consisted OF ore eight
inch rifle, two six-inch, eight four-inch,
twelve six-pounders. two one-pounders.
and two repid-fre guns. The complement
OF men numbered ~. The Columbia had
her bow stove in or the coast Of Maine
in 1895 while on a cruise with the Fly
ing Squadron three years ago.
While these ships were not used IN
active warfare. they made many cruises.
and were stationed at places where there
were indications OF trouble They were
ready for whatever occurred. and could
have been brought into action on short
notice.
Brooklyn in Action.
The ship around which most OF the
glory OF history blazes at the navy yard
when tales OF daring and prowess are
being related is the Brooklyn. Not that
she was any better than these other
vessels. but because she was fortunate
enough to 'be there" when the time
came for action. The Brooklyn was
launched in 1885. She was q yes
sci Of 9,H5 tons displacement. 100
feet in length. She had a beam OF So
feet and drew 261z feet Of water. Her
indicated horsepower vas IS, IS and her
cost was S2,9S6 900. She was armed with
eight eight-inch riled cannon. twelve
five-inch, twelve six-pounders, and four
one-pounders. She had a speed of 22.2
knots, and a complement OF rs men.
She was completed in 1896, and rode the
waves no different than many OF her
sister ships OF like power. but less fame.
No one thought as they saw her leave
on her trial trip that her deeds would
shortly ring around the world Her cost
was Insignificant when compared 10 az
gregate cost OF the hundreds OF ships
that this government had built which
never saw action, and yet for the com
parativeiy trifiing sum OF $3.50. 900 in
conjunction with a few ships OF Ike
caliber the Brooklyn was utterly 70 de-
molish and destroy a great part OF
SPANS navy.
Much TO Her Credit.
History Is too we'll known IN this casa
to bear much repetition. but when one
reflects that this vessel is credited with
helping to sink the Teresa aiding to
shoot 70 pieces the Vizeaya, the oquen-
da, and the Colon. and driving them on
the shore hopeless wrecks upon that
morning OF July 3. 1898. at Santiago Bay.
when Admiral Cervera made his brave
but insane dash for the liberation Of his
ships from the glrdle OF steel drawn
around HIM. then some idea Of the i'm
portance OF these antkquated veteran
ships Of the navy may be realized.
The Brooklyn Is probably the most
Travelled ship in the navy. She has al
ways been selected for service which
required speed and endurance. She has
visited the Orient and the Occldent. She
was IN England at the time OF the
Queens jubilee. She was sent 10 the
Danish West Indies. then to Venezuela.
then back TO Hampton Roads. Then
she was made flagship OF the flying
squadron and went to Australia Scores
OF thousands OF miles did she travel.
wherever there was an indication OF
trouble.
The M IL H.. .-.aa.- - -