New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-11
Bv Chcrardi Davis


little value, rs can we'll be imagined. lher1
ia much scientific debate as to which - th"
better. n IL or a 10 inch gun; but as Tar as
wo arc concerned, they will be on the same
side. opposed to equally fine guns OF similar
calibres on the other.
We have a superb feet of dreadnoughts
and some very fine earlier ships bet"een
them and destroyers we have a suoStantial
feet OF cruisers. but they are none OIL thsn
battIe.cruisers, and hence VIII hardly CUT
much figure in the war, except az conveys OF
in rounding up not too speedy raiders. "hsh'
bowevor II comes TO feet Of destroyers, we
IAN add 10 the Allied fleets very suoStah-
tial number OF first class vessels.
From Torpedo Boats to Destroyers
After the torpedo driven by compressed ar
had been substantially developed, u natural
w occurred to naval designers TO put these
weapons on fast moving craft for attack on
larger ships. The earliest torpedo boats
were. however, not much more than very fas'
steam launches; the famous Suletto WAS one
OF the earliest and best known win tne
DEVELOPMENT, however, of the fast engine ior
naval use as we'll as for pleasure land WIN
us the development was mainly as appllei
TO yachtg) gradually faster and larger tci-
redo boats we're turned out, single screws
being replaced by twin screws and quadrupic
EXPANSION engines being used 10 drive these
vessels. In our navy are still the Dupoho
and Bagley, dating from 1897 and i'o,'
among the first Of our torpedo boats, pui''
on modern lines, but with very moderate oiS,
placement We name our destroyers ana
torpedo boats after distinguished naval ofl-
GERS, and the names of Farragut, Noraeh,
Porter. Decatur, Paul Jones, Perry and OF
many others have already been given to such
craft.
Now, tho theory Of torpedo boat was tna'
a swarm Of these craft would be able IN
action to attack an encmy's ship and SIN" heF'
This then led TO the development Of larger
c-aft (tbe torpedo boats were from about
$50 to 200 tons displacement, which were 70
engage the torpedo boats and destroy them.
Hence arose the type of vessel known as tor
podo boat destroyers, title soon very sensi-
bly shortened to destroyers. Destroyers were
far more seaworthy than the torpedo boats
because Of their size, and consequently were
also able to make better speed at sea. Hence
gradually they have completely taken the
place of the torpedo boats, Of which so much
was thought at one time that two were actu-
ally built small enough to be carried on the
deck of one OF our earliest battleships.
Since the war began the fast, seaworthy
,icstroyers have not at all been engaged N
destroying torpedo boats, for these latter
practically have disappeared from the hign
seas. The destroyers are used for raids On
soaports; they have attacked patrol boats
and mine sweepers; they have engaged N
actions against each other; they have taken
part in several sea fights IN when larger
vessels were engaged-with what success Is
not wholly clear; and they have, above ALL
turned out to be the greatest ana most sue
cessful enemy Of the submarine. W tn@
maneuvres by destroyers none Is more IN
toresting 10 layman than the making OF a
smoke screen. a line of destroyers, by pro-
ducinc clouds of black smoke, can completely
shut off the view of anything behind this
cloud. and this has been done most effective
+, on several occasions As is well known, We
very promptly sent number of our destroy
ors across the ocean to join hands with the
English and French; there cannot be TOO
many of them afoat
Destroyers as Fighting Ships
Again, without being too technical, | viii
endeavor to give an idea of what destroyers
are as lighting ships; they have been repeat
elIy pictured in The Tribune Sunday supple
mcnt. and imagine every one who reads the
papers or magazines knows pretty we'll what
Of very fine lines, the newer ones with very
high bows A. rule they have four tunnels
20? il requires immense boiler power 70 drive
these vessels at the wonderful speed of from
% 10 over 80 knots an hour. Some destroy
ors nave but three tunnels, the middle one
being very much elongated fore and aft, pro
ducins a curious and not very good effect
On all modern destroyers oil alone is used
for fuel, and the engines are turbines, devel-
oping IL 900 to 1900 horsepower and over.
Some newer destroycrs have also reciprocal
ing engines for use in cruising, as the tur-
bine is not economical and is not very prac-
ticable az low speed.
American seagoing destroyers are of from
700 to LOO tons displacement the latter a
large as a good-sized sailing ship of clipper
ship days and larger than the destroyeTs OF
any other country. Their size has been gfadu-
ally increased a. greater speed and greater
armament became necessary. They measure
from 2S9 to 80 feet in length tope-half the
length of the Pennsylvania, with beam Of