El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-04

troubles. 1t was noticed in the exam
inatiOn of bearings that had run for
thousands of knots under such pres
sure that even the tool marks were not
worn off.
United states Has Advantages.
In number of ways the United States
has an important advantage over other
nations in it's naval strength. The aver
age age of its effective warships is less
than that of any other nation. This has
resulted in keeping slightly ahead of all
other countries in the effectiveness of
; our defence. England usually has led
( the way in the adoption of improve
mentS in battleship construction
The United States has followed close
Iy enough upon the heels Of John Bull
to afford 1t an opportunity to Profit
by the mistakes as well as by the trI-
unnphs of British naval constructors. 1t
must not be supposed, however, that the
United States has lacked initiative when
obvious advantages were to be had. The
new lattice work mast of the American
Dreadnought is one Of the evidences Of
the responsiveness of the American
! naval architect
Shells Pierce Heaviest ArmOr.
For years there has been a constant
rivalry between gun power and armor
resistance. As soon as new methods
of making armor more capable of re-
sisting the penetration Of shells were
brought about, then the gun makers en-
larged the calibre Of their guns and the
size of their shells, and for years it
seemed that the race was to be an I'M
decided one. At last the gun maker
began to secure a slight advantage, and
he is now at that point where his shells
can pierce the heaviest armOr it is prac-
! ticable to place on battleship.
The armOr plate manufacturer has, in
the meantime, so enhanced the resisting
qualities of his armOr that 13 inches of
! the best modern armOr is more powerful
/ than so inches of ordinary wrought iron
Knowing well that the gun is superior
to the ar1ner the modern commander
+ will fight his battle at a very long
range. Perhaps five miles will be the
average range between opposing fleets
| in the battles of the future. 1t has
| simply resolved itself down into the
point where the battleship is like the
prize fighter-the one which has the
| longest reach possesses the advantage
Americas New Navy Most Effective.
In the new 14-inch guns, the American
navy will have an effective fighting
range greater than that of the navy of
any other country. Even its u inch
guns Lave a range that is great and ac-
curate. One of these was tested on
range of nearly 10 miles, and five shots
I struck within 100 yards Of each other
| The range of the 14-inch gun will be
I greater by several miles, and with the
| progress that is being made in firing
| accuracy, the American Dreadnoughts
! just authorized will be able to land
shells upon opposing fleets while the
enemv's shots yet fall short of their
1 mark 1t will be the aim of the COM
mander of a squadron of such vessels
! TO defeat the opposing fleet before it
| can get into good fighting range
Torpedo Boats a Menace.
nr7~
day battleship construction is 10 make
/, them safe against torpedo attacks. Since
| a little submarine boat of the American
navy made its own way at sea for many
hours under such weather conditions
as led to the breaking of the cable by
which il was being towed, the world
has come 70 the conclusion that the SUBJ
marine boat possesses hitherto unsus-
| pected elements OF strength and danger
| TO opposing fleets. While the United
States has been looking well after the
| construction Of these little engines Of
war it has hardly kept pace with some
| of the European countries in this re-
/ submarines will give it front rank in
| the number of these vessels.
New ships Larger Than Englands.
| England recently launched its largest
l fighting craft the Colossus 1t is more
I than 1000 tons lighter than the two new
vessels authorized by congress 1t mas
| a displacement of 22,50O tons All ten
| of its y inch guns may be fired broad
| side on either side, and in addition to
/ these it has q large number of 35-pound
! guns disposed throughout the ships in
/ such a way as to make them effective
/ IN repelling torpedo attacks.
Union Hours for LsbOrers.
The new battleshipS will be built I'M
! der the eight-hour law. This is taken
| by some to mean that they will cost at
| least million dollars more than they
/ would if they were built without this
provision in the law authorizing their
| construction On the other hand, it is
! claimed that in the experience of Ger
many and some other countries, more
| work has been accomplished by the
/ eight hour day labOTer than the one
| who has been worked for longer hours.
/ The whole country viii watch this latest
| test of the eight hour labor contention.
| Next Article - Canadian American
Fisheries.