eurasia(优雷夏)-第8节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shown that they were useless waste of men and money。 The battleship was
propelled by rotary engines developing fifty thousand horsepower； driving
the ship at a sustained speed of thirty knots an hour。 The ship had four
propellers； two on each side at the stern； and the boilers were heated by
petroleum with automatic feed。 The engineer informed me that they had
tried gasoline and other explosives （for the rotary engines worked well
with them） but they endangered the safety of the ship and the lives of the
crew。 There were only two decks in the ship； the lower deck just above the
waterline and the gun deck； the lower deck floor was two…inch steel and
was not divided into compartments； having no partitions； so that if solid
shot or shell entered the side of the ship it could not scatter a shower of
steel splinters to kill or wound the men； and for further protection against
fragments of shell heavy woolen blankets were hung on the inside from
the ceiling。 A double partition of two…inch steel ran bow to stern through
the center of the ship； reaching from the floor of the hold to the lower deck；
with a space between the partitions of four inches filled in with concrete；
and the gun deck was supported by heavy steel pillars； as the space
between the lower deck and the gun deck was twelve feet。 A fireproof
platform four feet wide with a railing four feet high of netting； encircled
the smokestack about twenty feet above the gun and connected with it by a
rope ladder。 It was the lookout station and the Captain's post in battle from
where he directed the action。
There was only one smokestack on any battleship and no bridge or
superstructure or any inflammable material above the waterline； and the
officers and men eat at the same tables and partake of the same food。 If
any officer or private objected to it or violated this rule； he was dismissed
the service； for it was considered injurious to the service on board ship to
keep any discontented person。 The crew consisted of two hundred privates；
fifty corporals； five sergeants； ten lieutenants； ten captains； one chief
29
… Page 30…
EURASIA
engineer with two assistants； one lieutenant commander and the
commander； who was captain of the ship and had the same rank and pay as
a colonel in the army。
The gunner and assistant gunners held the same rank and pay as
captains and lieutenants in the army。 The chief engineer received the same
as the commander and took orders only from him； and his assistants
received the same pay as majors in the army； and the sergeants； corporals
and privates the same pay as in the army。 The gunners and assistant
gunners were chosen from among the crew for the best shooting； for it was
justly held that victory in a naval battle rested mostly on the shooting
qualities of the man behind the gun。
The other battleship was rated first class and her dimensions were as
follows： Length； six hundred and thirty feet； breadth of beam ninety feet；
draught of water thirty feet。 Armament： sixteen twelve…inch caliber guns in
single turrets and placed in the following manner： forward on the lower
gun deck； five guns； one on the center line of the ship near the bow and
two on each side further back。 Five guns aft on the lower gun deck； one on
the center line of the ship near the stern and two on each side in the same
way as in the first part of the ship。 Three guns forward on the upper gun
deck； one on the center line of the ship and one on each side nearer
amidships； three guns aft on the upper gun deck in the relative positions。
All the guns were placed so that twelve guns could be brought to bear on
an enemy ship。 The lower gun deck was twelve feet above the water line
and the upper gun deck two； and they were constructed and equipped as
those on the second class。
The first class battleships carried one hundred and two more men than
the second class； consisting of six gunners； six assistant gunners； eighteen
corporals and seventy privates。 No additional force was required for the
Engineer department of the ship。 I inquired of the Chief Engineer what
make of engine they used and he replied that it was the Hammond & Co。
Rotary Engine and added： 〃We are indebted for this engine to a
countryman of yours named Leonard Hammond； who perfected it so that
at present it is in universal use and has revolutionized the industries of the
world by its saving of fuel and the low price at which it call be
30
… Page 31…
EURASIA
manufactured； so that it has consigned every other make of engine；
reciprocal and turbine； to the scrap pile； and of the most notable benefits
derived from it has been in the shipping not only in economy of fuel； but
also in the small space they occupy so as to give more room for cargo and
in the almost total absence of vibration； and in the battleship from their
being on the propeller shaft at the stern far below the water line。〃
The battleships remain for ten months of the year in the rivers and
harbors； where the officers and men are kept busy dredging； building
levees； wharves and breakwaters； and they take a cruise to different parts
of the earth during the months of December and January； and during that
time engage in gunnery practice。 A battery of three…inch caliber guns is
taken on board each battleship for that as the big guns will not stand
continual firing and are only used on special occasions to see if the
gunners have improved。 The men are highly pleased with the service and
the majority of them re…enlist。 On inquiry I was told that they had thirty
first…class and thirty second…class battleships and that they kept them
always together so that they could strike an enemy with force； but as they
held no people in subjection and had no colonies or outlying possessions
there was at the present time very little danger of war…but if it should come
they were ready to fight and to strike hard。 As I left the navy yard I
thought what a pity it was that the people inhabiting the other countries of
the earth were not governed as these people are； for then there would be
no need of battleships and the kindly earth would slumber lapped in
Universal Laws。
31
… Page 32…
EURASIA
CHAPTER IX。
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE。
On inquiring at the Department of Commerce I was informed that it
had charge of all vessels engaged in internal traffic as well as in foreign
trade； and operated lines of steamers running to all ports of the globe；
carrying freight at a rate between home and foreign ports that defied
competition； but they did not carry freight between foreign countries。 The
men for the Mercantile Marine were furnished by the Army and had the
same pay。 They were required to load and unload cargo in every port
where they took on or discharged freight； and shippers did not have to pay
wharfage charges or pilot fees； for everyone took his ship into port and out
without a pilot。 The department also had charge of all Government
warehouses； wharves and docks and appointed all consuls to foreign
countries and received their reports； which were published in the National
Gazette。
The business of the Department was run on the principle of the
greatest good to the whole people； so that whenever the profits any year
exceeded the expenses and the sinking fund； freight rates were reduced。
32
… Page 33…
EURASIA
CHAPTER X。
DEPARTMENT OF RAILWAYS。
I went from there to the Department of Railroads and was given a copy
of freight and passenger rates which on examination proved to be very
sim
