DESTROYER NEXT IN
VALUE TO DATTLESHIP
In explaining its naval policy, the
General Board of the United States
navy has placed the destroyer as the
type of the warship next in importance
to the battleship. The story of how
this value has been attained by the
craft that once was esteemed only as
a minor auxiliary is the story of
startling changes in naval theory that
have occurred within the life-terms of
Americans of middle age.
At first the torpedo boat destroyer
* was little more than a torpedo craft
large enough and sufficiently well arm
ed to be superior to the torpedo boat
proper. Thus, the Rainl.rldge, the first
American destroyer, was not quite
twice as large as torpedo boats then in
use. It carried two 3-inch rapid fire
guns and five six-pounders against the
three or four one-pounders that most
torpedo boats mounted. Against
the twenty-six to thirty men carried
by the smaller craft it carried seventv
stx men and three officers.
At first the speed of the destroyers
was not consistently greater than that
of the torpedo boats. For some time
naval constructors believed that ihc I
latter craft always- could be made!
faster, and even after destnyers were
being built largely, torpedo craft still
were being constructed with engines
that could outspeed the new type. Rut
gradually the destroyer attained velo
cities that made competition hopeless.
It was this, probably, that relegated
the torpedo boat to peaceful retirement.
It was not a battle test, but experience
driven home in maneuvres that demon
strated the superiority of the destroyer
When the United States ship Glou
cester (a converted pleasure yacht)
sank the Spanish torpedo boats Pluton
and Terror during the Spanish-Ameri
can war in fair fights, it was as if the
little craft that had been sung through
out the world by poets as the execu- j
tloner of the battleship vanished fin
ally from the imaginations of naval
men.
For some years it has been so com
pletely eliminated that the destroyers
have quite lost their original prefix of
“torpedo boat” destroyers. It is the
v only thing that they lost. Instead of
' diminishing the importance with the
disappearance of tile prey for which
they were devised, they gained steadily
in engine power, size and armament
and llnally became an Inherent part of
the war fleet.
Armed with three and four twin 18
inch and 21-lnch torpedo tubes they
have retained their theoretical func
tion of attacking the underwater bodies
of armored ships, but this function has
remained largely theoretical. Enlarge
ment of secondary batteries on big
ships, .improved gunnery .increased
speed and vastly Improved searchlight
systems have reduced greatly the de
stroyer’s chances for successful attack
with torpedoes, though it is assumed
that in the clamor and smoke of n sea
battle between the giants the destroyer
flotillas still may play an important
part.
Their1 more important and certain
work that made them valuable was
work that the destroyers evolved for
themselves. They are scouts now, able
to hold the seas in any weather and to
steam great distances at maximum
speed. While they cannot vie with
scout cruisers in this respect, they
supplement them with a chnin of in
telligei.ee thnt no other form of craft
could supply. A secondary, but very
great, value is their value as dispatch
boats, which still are needed despite
the wireless.
For actual fighting purposes, also,
they are vitally necessary, and would
have been so had the submarine never
been invented. This is hcause they are
absolutely the only craft that can fight
against their own kind. Against de
stroyer flotillas the dreadnoughts are
almost helpless, because the little ships,
nearly twice ns fast as the mammoths,
can evade them with thorough ease.
Therefore, the battleships cannot fall
on the destroyers, but can only defend
themselves by firing at them with the
secondary batteries. Important as this
fact makes a destroyer flotilla for bat
tleships, the arrival of the submarine
has made It imperative that the big
ships be accompanied by them where
ever they may have to go.
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ALASKA NOTES
Gold has been found on five bench
claims on the right limit of Llvengood
creek, Tolovana. The gold in the old
channel on the benches is of a heavier
kind than that found on the creek and,
bears every indication of existing in
lurge quantities.
Charles McNeil, a mining operator in'
the Iliamna district, believes that the
oil fields of the westward will become
big producers when developed. He says
miners in his district are tired of living
on moose meat and would welcome
anyone bringing a shipment of stock.
Mrs. George Geiger, wife of the for
mer superintendent of the Copper River
& Northwestern railroad, died recently
at Goldfield, Nev., under circumstances
which are being investigated. It is In
timated that deceased committed sui
cide but efforts were made to hush the
matter up.
Michael Radulovich, a Juneau miner,
a hero of the battle of Cabas mountain
in which his regiment, the Morovska
Serbs took such a valiant part, is re
turning to Juneau. He was wounded
during the battle and received an hon
orable discharge from the army after
being made a corporal.
Encouraging reports of the Tolovana
► continue to reach Fairbanks. It is re
ported that pay has been found on a
number of new creeks in the district
and operators on Livengood, Olive and
Gertrude creeks are said to be taking
out good pay. The outlook for the Tol
ovana making a camp is stated by
miners o be better than Fairbanks at
the same stage of development.
Advices from Knyukuk report that
the phenomenally rich claim, No. 4
Hammond, continues to furnish sensa
tions. During fhe last week in April
miners in the drift picked up nearly
$20,000 in nuggets. The owners of the
claim, Smith & Nelson, have ground
enough to keep them busy for two
years and are taking In 300 tons of sup
plies this season. They have purchased
two small river steamers for use on the
upper Koyukuk.
The cannery plant of the Rkowl Arm
Packing company, on Prince of Wales
Ilsland, Southeast Alaska, has been
sold by receiver’s sale to Thomas G.
Spellman, of Seattle. The plant will be
operated by the Straits Packing Co., a
company recently organized under the
laws of the tsate of Washington, with a
copltal stock of $40,000. The stock
holders in tho latter company are con
nected with the Kukui Island Packing
company, whose eafinery plant at Point
Beauclere burned last fall.
- »
The Postofflce Department has es
tablished a mail loute between Ruby
and Dong City, .calling for a weekly
service between May 15 and the close
of navigation on the Yukon river.
Heretofore the mail between the camps
was through the courtesy of freighters
and travelers, which method was found
to be very unsatisfactory.
A new placer strike is reported to
have been made on Hodzana river,
which enters tho Yukon nearly opposite
the mouth of Birch. The find was made
on Trout creek but the ground has not
been sufficiently prospected to demon
strate the extent of the pay. The dis
eoverrs report taking three ounces
of gold from the bottom of their first
hole.
The United States government is es
tablishing a sawmill at the Eskimo vil
lage of Noovik, on the Kobuk river.
Noovik is a new town and was recently
established by the government at the
suggestion of the Department of Edu
cation. It is populated by the natives
who formerly resided at Deering, where
they were constantly in danger ol
starvation during the winter months.
Captain Green, of the Launch Edlti
O., which had a most miraculous es
cape near Yakutat from being wrecket
during a storm while the engine waj
out of commission, declares that while
he is not a praying man ho prayed it
earnest as his boat was nearing th(
beach. When tho launch struck thi
reef all on board expected to be swep
to their deaths, but a big breaker liftec
the boat and curried her over the reef
and Into the mouth of a stream, the
existence of which was unknown.
It is estimated by R. C. Wood, pre
sident of the First National Bank, that
tht' gold output for the Fairbanks dis
trict this year will total about as much
as that of last year. Up to the present
time the yield for the district seems to
compare favorably with that for a sim
iliar period of last year. While the
placer yield will be about the same this
season as for last, it is asserted by Mr.
Wood that the quartz output will be
more than last year. It was explained
that the recent strike In the placer
claims, .however, has lessened the yield
to some extent.
GLASS FOR CHINA
China Imports akout $100,000 worth
of window glass. This is approximate
ly three times as much as is imported
five years ago. This is exclusive of
the trade of Hongkong, which amounts
to as much more. The whole trade Is
not a large one In proportion to the
population, but it is one which is
bound to grow rapidly with the ad
vance of China In modern civilization.
There is a very great advance being
made in the adoption of European
methods of construction of dwellings
as well as of business houses. As yet
only the very cheap grades are wanted,
and if Belgium were a possible com
petitor the opportunities for Ameri
can manufacturers would not be great.
With Belgium out of the running, the
case is entirely different.
WE CAN DO IT.
For first class work and prompt do- '
livory phone Main 151 and the People's
Steam Laundry will call and get your
laundry.
W. J. WILLIAMSON. Prop..
FOR 8ALE—Piano. Inquire at Nug
got office.
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IRVING M. REED,
U. S. MINERAL SURVEYOR,
Residence Seiffert Flats.
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i Geo. Hall & Albert Hartman, J
) Proprietors. *■’
\ PHONE MAIN 112 !
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> Finest Brands of Wines, Liquors t
J and Cigars.
S.S. Senator
Sails Aug. 30
from Home: from Seattle:
Aug. 30 rfvRgTn Aug- 15
Sept. 24 \A\Ay Sept. 10
Oct. 26 Xs^|^/ Oct. 6
THROUGH TICKETS SOLD TO ALL POINTS IN CALIFORNIA
AND EAST.
THIS COMPANY RE8ERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THIS
SCHCOULE.
; I •
F. J. O’CONNOR. ALASKA LIGHTERAGE AND COM
Com’l Agent, MERCIAL CO.,
Cor. Front et. Steadman eve. At Dock.
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STEAM LAUNDRY I
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ELITE HOTEL AND BATHS
Steam Heated. Electric Lighted. The beet service assured gueets.
The beet hotel to stop at while in town.
STEAM AND SHOWER BATHS IN CONNECTION.
I Moonlight water used throughout. Open all night
COR. FRONT AND B STREETS. J. M. MONAHAN, Prop.
BARBER SHOP with 2 chairs and other fixtures for rent at the
ELITE BATHS.
Gbe lobby |
THE LARGEST STOCK OF
IMPORTED WINES LIQUORS & CIGARS
9
Scotch Whiskey, a specially 01' Curio, 20 years old, Wm. IV, Haig B
Haig ***** Perfection Johnn e Walker, Mortach, Black and White, jj
Dewar’s Special, Seattle’s Best Beer. White and Gold. Smoke M. and
W. Cigars. The best in the market.
Phone Main 49 J. D. JOUR DEN, Prop.
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