The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

ban1a lay within the breakwater prepar-
Ing for battle, a process thar was tc
prove slower than Capt. semmes had
anticipated.
him no assistance. and private parties
were slow in their movements.
The Alabama's preparations did no,
extend to expensive repairs to the hull
or machinery, which would have taken
weeks to effect. The vessels bottom
was. foul with long cruising. Her boil
ers, valves, and engines we're in bad con-
dition. As result she was no longer
as fast as when she left England. Her
speed was under ten miles an hour. and
less than that of the kearsarge.
The Alabama's ammunition was known
to be defective in part from long
cruising, moisture. and changes In eli
mate. Target practice had shown that
some shells did not explode. No new
ammunition was to be had. The pow
der on hand had been carefully dried.
Every arrangement was made for rap
idly handling the powder and shells.
The guns were put in their best condi-
ton.
Coal was taken on board. The ships
money chest and the crews pay roll
were sent ashore for preservation. Capt
Semmes also took the precaution Of send
ing ashore his personal valuables. His
officers did not follow his example. as TO
a man they had felt that ''Old Bees
wax"-a term bestowed on Capt. Semmes
because he waxed his moustache-had
more than an even chance of coming on
the victor.
Strength of the Aataxonists.
The Confederate officers knew the size
and strength of the Kearssrge. Though
she was heavier than their ship, the dis
parity in this, or in other respects in
the absence of test of power, did not
seem great. They believed they were
her equal in guns.
Both ships were built of wood The
Alabama wSs 30 feet long and 30 feet
broad; the Kearsarge 2a2 feet long and
50 feet broad. The rig of the Alabama
intended for much use of sail in cruis-
ing, was lofty; that of the Kearsarge
shorter. The Alabsmas engines nomi-
nally developed 800 horsepower; the
kearsarge's 400 The Alabama registered
l,e4o tons; the Kearsarge 1.oa.
In armament the Kearsarse threw
about 20 per cent more metal than her
antagonist, her guns being two ll-inch
smooth bores mounted on pivots, on Do
pounder rifle, and four 32-pounders.
The Alabamas officers knew the char
acter Of the Kearsarge's guns, but did
not make due allowance for the effective
ness OF the two large one, which were of
the Dahlgren pattern, an American gun.
They believed that the AIsbama's Eng
lish guns not only superior in range but
also in rapidity Of fire.
The Alabama had eight guns to the
Kearsarge's seven, her armament con-
sisting Of one 7-inch Blakely ule-pounder)
rifle then considered a highly effective
gum, one 6s-pounder smooth bore (s-inch),
n nj Sf~ 81
she carried her two heaviest guns on
pivots.
While such a battery had the theoreti-
cal advantage of superior range. and its
larger guns OF more rapid fire than that
of the kearsarge. its superiority was
offset by the weakness of the Alabama's
crew in gunnery. in which they had been
little trained.
The Alabama's business having been
commerce destroying, she had been in
but one engagement that with the L. s.
S. Hatteras. much smaller steamer.
which she surprised and sank OF GAL
weston. January II. Need Of saving her
powder had reduced target practice to q
minimum.
The Alabama carried l2 men all told,
the Kearsarge 162.
kearsarEe's Chain Armsr.
ali NOHslucTtu, NapI SemneS,
owing to his position. apparently was
justified in feeling that with an ordi-
nary degree Of good fortune he might
score victory over his heavier oppo-
nent.
One element against him he did not
know-the sides of the Kearsarge were
protected. for a space approximately
forty-nine feet by six feet abreast the
engines, with chains attached to ring
bolts. This was covered with a sheath
ing of one-inch boards.
After the battle between the Kear-
sarge and the Alabama June 49, Capt.
Semmes laid great stress on the use of
this chain armor. as he termed il, de-
it as dishonorable subterfuge.
He compared the Kearsarge to a man
fighting a duel in a concealed suit of
mail.
1t appears that the chains had been
attached to the ship more than q year
before. No attempt had been made to
onceal the fact. and Capt. Winsiow was
under no obligation, moral or otherwise,
to inform his opponent of the presence
Dr. character of the chain armor.
Commodore Barron had heard that the
kearsarge's boilers and machinery were
protected by an iron sheathing OF one |
md one-half inches thickness" and so |
stated in letter in which he transmitted |
Capt Semmes official report. An in
luiring mind would not allow such an |
important point to remain in the shadow |
" uncertainty as to the character
If the so-called armor. There is no di- |
'ect evidence that Commodore Barron |
impaired his knowledge, so far as IL |
vent, to Capt. Semmes in their inter- /
;iew. 1t is natural to suppose that he /
lid so. In that event the two officers |
lad only themselves to blame IL they /
lid not attach as much Importance to /
he iron protection of the Kearsarge as |
hey did after the battle.
Whether CAPT. Semmes would have |
challenged the Kearsarge had he known /
hat she was hung with chains cannot |
low be said. His character would indi-
ate that he might still have done so.
He was brave to rashness. and at best /
I was a gamblers chance he was TAX
ng. E'r.
tThe battle between the Alabama and
<earsarge will be described June 49,
Tomorrow: Grant Crosses the
Copyright. 'le4.)