Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/324

 not to go abroad for ships and guns, considerable delay was inevitable, so it was not till 1883 that four modern cruisers were commenced, the 'Chicago,' 'Boston,' 'Atlanta,' and 'Dolphin.' The first named is the largest, 4500 tons, with a speed of 15 knots and a mixed armament of four 8-in., eight 6-in., and two 5-in., besides smaller guns. The 8-in. guns are mounted two on a side in sponsons. I think a lighter and more homogenous armament would have been better, but the 'Chicago' is undeniably a very powerful vessel. The 'Atlanta' and 'Boston' are similar in design, but smaller, while the 'Dolphin' is a despatch vessel of 1500 tons. All have been completed, and proved successful, a matter highly creditable to all concerned.

The country was now willing, and even eager, to show what could be done in the New World with ship construction. Five more cruisers, the 'Newark,' 'San Francisco,' 'Charlestown,' 'Baltimore,' and 'Philadelphia,' were commenced in 1887, of approximately the same size as the ' Chicago,' but with a considerably higher speed. All have a protective deck, with sloping sides, on which the armour is 4 in. thick, while on the horizontal portion it is 2 in. The armament of three of these ships consists of twelve 6-in. guns, but two, the 'Charlestown' and 'Philadelphia,' have a pair of 8-in. and only six 6-in. guns. Their full speed varies from 18 to 20 knots. The 'Baltimore' steamed from Copenhagen to Lisbon in just over five days, averaging 17 knots, an excellent performance.

A fleet of cruisers only cannot, however, safeguard