New-York tribune., 1911-04-02


l. ing in those OF the upper Chesapeake are accom-
,,d for the first time in the history of the American
-ay, bv a tender adequately equipped as such.
The cruiser Dixie, familiar to all shipping men oeioe
rr ,coiiSition bv the Government at the time OF tle
S,n;sb American War as the Morgan Line steamer III
Rio has been refitted for this duty. -
Tl.,. IN the quiet waters of the Potomac, the ork
and the Patuxent as before IN the lee OF mos SiiHS
M the South the stage OF the bloodies sea ightS OF MS
-o~v-of Morgan the bucaneer and OF Drake OF the
triumph OF Rodney, and the Illumination OF ne GI'SSe'
the de;trovers lie alongside overhauhng lhelr dehCe
machinery receiving from the central power pant
., electric current or fresh water, aS occasion may
-,o,,ire Upon the broad sweep OF the I)lXe qeCk
-bcr crews find relief from the crowded quarters ana the
- heir own vessels. Here are available waShroomS.
-,reroonS for clothing and spare parts commodoliS
sol, quarters for the ailng or unht' well stocked IL
f--, canteen barber shop; IN short, all the com
--fc and convenienCeS OF modern batleShlp lie that
.-..,f,-a have been denied the men OF the dun
~ navy, as il is affcCtionatcly termed by those who
~ IN the fast little black boats, solely because OF the
-,,fcton found in the conquest OF Superheated steam
However strong this appeal TO the physical comfort OF
, -ta tender is only incidentally hotel Essentially
- Is a repair and supply ship designed to meet the
.-t- 0f sixteen or more destroyerS comprising the
) mite fleet The vessels composing 1t are practically
....f IN type Of eight hundred tons displacement,
.. ~y,n and oil burning In every respect they are
~ and .her vessels than their sisters OF older date
C-.~. There Is an element of humor in referring to
.t.3r..'. -1rpcdoboat as "She"; and yet. the more
,,.g. n .-9cdo craft the less incongruous seems
., ...,r,.-..- of sex. because it happens that the
..t - handling them depends entirely upon the day
.r. week and If by chance one uses Thursday tao
~ T,,esf , the result is commonly initiation OF the
.i,,,.- into the "Order of Bow SmasherS. wherein
, .t.-5 '.,, than a two-inch dent counts.
t primary purpose of this feet in its relation to the
..-,o fleet is that Of scouting force. The strength
t scouting force depends upon It's mobility. It's
.r.',tv depends in the last analysis upon weight In
~, vessel one can have practically any given feature
Developed TO almost any extent, if willing to concede the
space and weight necessary to effect IT: speed Which
means engine weight; hitting power, battery weight
missing radius fuel weight. Rarely, and least OF all IN
-r, destroyer type. can one have all
The balance of factors drawn in such craft as 1nc
the skill of the naval architect can draw H. and can
-.- be disturbed without serious loss OF efficiency
crr- Dound additional TO the designed weight means
r.~sed draft and reduced speed. To travel fast the
vessels must travel light; and, travelling light they can
not travel far unless they have baSe.-eher hXed
base a navy ward or q mobile base, tender. Hence II
that this torpedo fleet which is about 10 take its place
IN the first fighting line of The nation has been made IN
fnDdent 20 no small extent by the splendid suttciency
.f the equipment of us tender.
THE most striking single feature Of this equipment is
the machine shop. which contains some tWenty-SlX
t+-, most modern motOrdrven tools covering in their
..-,. every mechanical operation. Photographs or It
.-. enumeration Of tools. convey little idea OF the
,-.rt -eHcicncv of this shop, which challenges the
.,-,-.,.r ot every visitor; OF men. by It's appeal to
-.- sense 0f r, practical and OF women. by the order.
.'e.0're-- and shining, bright work on every hand.
Her. ro whistle marks the beginning or the close OF
working hours. The whir Of machinery continues
through meal hours, and frequently far into the night;
-..rp-lo repair work is invariably hurry up work.
-t ~.-e frequently rush work, be it pump. per
-...r.. or the cylinder Of gas engine.
Ot equal importance in relation to the general pur-
..-. and equally interesting TO the visitor, are the
,,mith shop and the foundry where castings are
made in iron brass and the tougher compositions and
where Welding operations effected by the spectacular
-te-ut process in which liquid steel, at temperature