The Washington herald., 1909-01-25
Naval Protection.
ditor TIE Washington Heald.

E-1lIoT lie N es1lrEtoD heTaAG-
The writer disclaims any knowledge
whatever Of the science Of naval construc-
ton or OF naval warfare he was very
recently. however, an interested listener,
with others. 70 the marvellous statements
OF an ex-river steamboat captain as 20
the size and character Of a battle ship
which he would construct that would
revolutlonize the entire naval system Of
the world.
For extravagant Invention. plausible
reasoning. and fertility Of technical detail
the theories Of this mechanical enthUsi-
ast would certainly astOnish all the Ad-
miral Caps and Secretary Newberrys in
Christendom.
And what IS more astonishing is the fact
that this alleged inventor of sn invUlneT-
able war ship has never been to sea, al
though when a boy he was present al
Memphis and helped 70 place the railroad
armor on the Confederate vessel Arkan-
sas. which fought her way through the
Union feet from YaZOO 70 Nicksburg
without the loss Of q man. But this in
inexperience matters very little, since as
a rule nearly all Of the mechanical de-
vices OF practical utility in saving labor
and aiding IN the worlds progress are in
vented BY persons Of little learning. ex-
cept in the line Of their daily employment,
and not BY scholars devoted to science in
the higher range Of study.
So far as can be recalled, instead of
keeping pace in shipbuilding with other
nations. the plan outlined by him IS 70
build one war ship Of such size and pro
portion that she would better serve the
L = No.
tire feet or squadron Of almost any other
nation-say a war ship 200 feet long. I75
feet beam. so feet draught. with a gross
TONNAGE Of 5000 tons, a speed Of . knots.
TO carry q fourteen-inch guns "a on each
sIde), and also other guns Of ike caliber
in a turret 100 feet in diameter amidship.
together with a mass OF details which he
mentioned about placing guns fore and
aft and other cOntTivsnces too intricate 10
be accurately described.
His apparent familiarity with his sub
feet, his sincerity and eaTnestness soon
dispelled the apprehension at first enter
tained that he was romancing-
Perhaps the most entertaining feature
Of his proposition was the use that could
be made Of his adjustable armOr plate
to increase the strength and efficiency Of
the vessel when engaged in actual combat
This matter was set forth with plaUsi-
bic reasons and at length as 70 the eco
nomic factor in the cost Of construction.
as well as OF doubling her defensive
strength and resistance
The size, shape, and thickness Of the
armor plates, the method Of hanging them
and Of removal at will, and the reasons
for uniformity IN size Of all ammunition
were commented upon with ease and pre-
ia -g-- "A p
the problem was worked out in his mind
10 completion IN every possible detail.
As nearly as may be stated briefly, the
machinery, the hull, and even the wheel
is 10 be of a new and different pattern,
and coal and oil to be used only as an
auxiliary power, the motive power not be-
I ing given. except that her cruising radius
would be 15,000 miles. the ship to have a
/ false bottom on which to rest in the
event Of her keel being torn away. and
the entire ship to be Of such massive
/ size. strength. and speed that she could
easily destroy any naval squadron in ex-
/ istence and successfully resist all attempts
I to damage her either above or below the
Plymsoll line.
/ In a word, she is to be practically In
vulnera bic. and TO make it impossible for
7 any modern projectile TO reach her vitals,
or for any torpedo TO sink her, or for
( any hostile cir ship to damage her. More
over. he further declares that such a
monster vessel Of destruction would be
able to fight as well AT close as at long
range, and that the problem Of her navi-
CATION and speed was already demon
strated by the present ocean liners and
/ BY the larger vessels now being con-
structed in European dock yards. and
/ that the nation which first took hold OF
| his scheme would cause worldwide con-
motion and put all the present navies out
OF commission, and send even the Dread
noughts % the boneyards, and might, per
haps. be the happy means OF causing a
truce 70 sea lighting among the great
nations upon our little planet
There must be room somewhere in the
! TorldrS Tor such az inventive genius Per