Bisbee daily review., 1912-04-07
COAL STRIKE
 CAUSES GAIN
Seriousness of Situation Wakens Nation to inland Waterways
 Proposition
NAVAL SMALL BOATS

stflke was the resumption of activity on the inland waterways of England. The kingdom is covered with net work of natural and artificial canals. It is now believed by transportation experts that these canals can be profit ably operated by the use of oil in the bower plants Of the canal boats.
 With freight trains standing emDtv on the sidings for lack of fuel. ship pers had their attention called to the long-neglected waterways, and the railways will now find powerful rival in the canals. Already a large Midland firm of carriers has started a motor barge service between London and Birmingham. Tie boats are fitted with engines using fuel oil. One firm Whlch has had two barges in service on the canals for some time. has placed an order for ten new vessels, and rush orders have been given for their equipment. These new carriers will cover the distance between Lon don and Birmingham in 4S hours, or haf the time usually taken by the or oinary canal craft. Using crude oil, the cost of power in the boats will be about one cent a mile.
 Experiments have shown that the cost of the ordinary horse-drawn and steam-driyen barges averages rough. ly, twenty-five cents a mile, which gives some idea of the economy of the new system
 Compulsory Adoption Law.
 Replying to Parliamentary critics of his administration of the Poor law schools, John Burns, president of the local government board, declared that every old maid in England who owns more than two cats or more than one dog should be compelled to take a child from the poor-house. He maintained that his policy of remov- ing the children from the poor house to the care of private families had proven markedly successful.
 Referring to the children who have been boarded out, Burns said: In creasingly both rich and poor are adopting poor law children If l had my way l would make it compulsory for all women who keep more than two cats and one dog to have a poor law child on which to divert some of the cash and C-'~d deal of the wasted sentiment which many people put upon animals to an extent which is absurd
 Little Boats Important
 The board of admiralty is at present paying great deal oG attention to the improvement of the smaller units of the British fleet, the submarines and torpedo-boat Gestroyers, vessels which many experts believe would be Of greater use in case of war than even the big modern battleships anu battleship cruisers.
 This country has at present fleet of over 50 submarines. some of tho latest even mounting small guns to repel attacks, and improvements is still being effected The men of Az lost off Portsmouth in February. were engaged in carrying out tests of new appliances, the secrets of which are known only to the Admiralty, one Of the reasons thar so little was heard Of the cause of the accident and sucn pains were taken tO prevent prying eyes from examining the hull after it was raised A foreign salvage con- Ilany was first given the contract 10 raise the submarine, but as soon as IL had attached the necessary chains to her, the admiralty took over the worx. The dock in which the vessel was placed after being raised was su-- rounded by a canvas screen and no- body was allowed aboard. As all the crew lost their lives the public will Ho- he let into the secrets to test which the Az went out on her fatal mission.
 While great advance is being made in the submarine branch, even greater improvements are being made m ths destrovers, and although nothing has become known to the public, it is he Iieyed that the experts of the Admir- altv have discovered something that will give England another lead III naval affairs. There are just compiet- ing 20 vessels provided for in the estimates of last year, but even be fore the naval estimates for l9l2-3 had been placed before Parliament the government called for tenders for 2h vessels which those estimates proYid2 for
 These new destroyers are 10 be the last word in the smaller type of fight ing shins They are to be of zoo tons and upwards. somewhat smaller tuan fbe swift" an experimental ship or I 500 ions. with which the Admiralty has been carrying or'L tests Tor a COL uIe of years. The Swift has engiiloa ,rg IS O0o horsepower and attained speed of over & knots, while the ar lar which is just half her size has ,,one 3s knots in service. The ne" ebius will. therefore, in size be De, tween the swift and Tartar anu anu having great powers Of attack a1H Sefenee. will be just what might be wanted in the rough North Sea. They .ra to he armed with three four-inch ss,ng and will be fitted with two dou- ll. s5e l2s.inch. torpedo tubes, as agaihS' ,ks,f sinlsJe tailsea in all recent ypts' He IF sneedi which myst be guaranteed bss ., not % been disclosed. ytmt 1t may Ie' taken for granted lhat.l' ,gi'g sPggrGS, 3So mates thaf of the Tartar. Wlth lho 9'ao,f lrese9 or cruisers increasing very rap ;;i ;aIv if is held. in. some quarters tla' n,Enot destroyers are necessary l,nots En, inc better of the fastest TOT eign cruisers.