The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

26 | MARINE REVIEW. [May 2, THE RUSSIAN VOLUNTEER FLEET. In 1902 the temporary arrangement arrived at between the Imperial government and the so-called volunteer fleet will come to an end. In that year the government subsidy of 600,000 roubles paid for the trans- port of passengers and mails from Odessa to the far east will cease, and the fleet will sever its connection with the government unless a fresh agreement is concluded. Whatever outside opinion may be with regard to the practical value of the Russian volunteer fleet in case of hostilities. in Russian circles the fleet has always been a favorite and popular idea. Thus, it is not surprising that the official organ, the Novoe Vremya, pone plead in the following terms for the continued existence of the eet: Since its foundation twenty years ago the volunteer fleet has played such an important part in all political misunderstandings in the far east down to the present day, and thereby made its existence so indispensable, that those persons who are anxious for the continued existence of this patriotic institution can scarcely entertain any doubt of the expediency of making fresh sacrifices which shall enable the fleet both to exist and to flourish. The question of its continued existence must not be confined alone to bureaucratic considerations just as it is about to sever its con- nection with the state; it must become a general question, and as such taken up by the press and discussed by the learned societies. In the com- paratively short space of twenty years there has been a great advance in naval construction; it would, therefore, be harmful, not to say dangerous, if, in renewing the agreement with this great steamship enterprise, the same stipulations are made by the government as those which were made a basis by the originators of and contributors to the scheme in Moscow at the moment when Russia was preparing for war with the strongest naval power. At the time the Russian navy contained half a dozen cruisers, such as the frigates General Admiral and the Prince of Edin- burgh, which the late Admiral Shestakoff compares with egg baskets. Of course, Admiral Shestakoff went too far in his comparison, for the Russian cruisers were no worse than the British cruisers of that day. And yet if a combat had been dangerous for them, flight on their part would have been impious. The steamers Moscow, Petersburg, and others es in those days have rendered the state no little service at critical periods. At the Berlin conference Russia gave way, and the struggle was averted; thus the cruisers called into being by chance could devote them- selves to peaceful activity. In 1892 the volunteer fleet had acquired an independent position among steamship undertakings, and it concluded an agreement with the Russian government. In this agreement the con- dition was accepted that in return for the yearly subsidy of 600,000 roubles to be paid to it for ten years, the committee of the volunteer fleet should construct four cruisers with a tonnage varying from 8,000 to 10,000 tons. This stipulation will be carried out fully until 1902, so that the volunteer fleet is enriched by steamers with large engines capable of developing a high rate of speed. Yet, such steamers as the Smolensk, Moscow, Cher- son and Petersburg cannot rank as cruisers, seeing that every navy now possesses fast vessels of that type, one shot from which could sink any of them. In war only those warships can be used of which every detail of their construction has been thought out by naval engineers. If at the beginning of the last century there was no difference between merchant vessels and warships, and if from 1860 to 1880 every merchant vessel could be converted into a warship, yet in these days no such conversion can be entertained, and vessels now have to serve their special ends. The situation to be considered in renewing the agreement with the volunteer fleet has undergone no change, and in such an important matter we must not let ourselves be dazzled by hopes or illusions. For cruisers to do their duty, in case their employment in the naval wars of the fu- ture is held to be possible and profitable, there must also be ships carrying large supplies of food and fuel. Nevertheless, the part to be played in naval wars of the future by the Russian volunteer fleet is equally great and it is this part which demands thorough and careful preparation. _ Owing to the condition of the Russian exchequer, the various minis- tries are now practicing economy in every possible direction, and if the Siberian railway had proved its ability to convey large bodies of troops to the far east in a satisfactory and trustworthy manner the Russian govern- ment might have hesitated before renewing the annual subsidy to the volunteer fleet. As it is, the fleet in question has done good service in conveying troops and supplies to the far east during the past year, and hes ae thereby the good favor of the ministry of war.--Engineer, ondon. The torpedo boat Bailey, built by the Gas Engine & Power Co. and Charles L. Seabury & Co., Consolidated, Morris, Heishts, N.Y. has proved herself a very valuable addition to the United States navy. She was run over the course west of Fisher's island for two hours last week and the record showed that she had made an average speed of 30.2 knots an hour. Nothing about the machinery broke or became disarranged during the trial. The highest speed attained was 31.12 knots at 418 revo- lutions of the propellers. Vernon H. Brown & 'Co. of New York, agents of the Cunard line confirm the report that the line will equip its steamships with wireless telegraphy. It is said that the approach of a steamer reporting itself by wireless telegraphy to a station at Montauk point weuld be known in New York more than twelve hours before she arrived. Anywhere and return for $1.00--The Nickel Plate road announces to the public that on Sunday, May 5, it will inaugurate its usual summer Sunday excursions for parties of five or more traveling together on one ticket between any two stations on its line within a distance of 100 miles; the cost for which for each individual will be but $1.00. Organize your parties of five or more and enjoy a Sunday outing on the Nickel Plate road. Write, wire, 'phone or call on nearest agent, or address E. A. Akers, C. P. & T. A., Cleveland, O. 57, May 15. They're simple, too, and have no delicate parts. of all sorts where pneumatic tools are used. We guarantee every "Little Giant' Tool for one year. Ask for Catalog "E"' Ke >" talk--that's the tribute other makers unwittingly pay to 'Little Giant' superiority. "Just as good" means taking chances--larger repair bills, smaller profits. If the other fellow's 'just as good" was really just as good he'd say it was better. You know that. Now, there's our Long Stroke Hammer; where is there anything to compare with it? It's the latest and best Long Stroke Hammer on the footstool. It has no vibration, and it does the biggest day's work in a day with- out making the operator feel at night as though he'd been hanging on to the tail end of a full grown cyclone for ten hours. It drives rivets perfectly up to 1 in. It has only three moving parts. No other Hammer has so few. If you want a smaller Hammer for chipping, calking, beading, etc., one of our seven sizes will fill the bill. You know all our Hammers have a regulator that lets in the air just as it's wanted and every one of them cushions on exhaust air, saving fully 30 per cent. over hammers that cushion on live air. Don't be fooled by any "'just as good as 'Little Giant Then, there are Pneumatic Drills. We make the only Piston Air Drills having a double-balanced Piston Valve cutting off at 5 of full stroke, and these Drills can be operated in a bath of oil, because the exhaust doesn't come in contact with the working parts. They're made entirely of steel, are economical in the use of air, and they stand the racket. 'Little Giant'? tools have met with the pleased appreciation of good mechanics all over the world, and have, through sheer merit, become the standard for comparison in representative shops We send any "Little Giant" Tool anywhere for a free 30 days' trial. STANDARD PNEUMATIC TOOL COMPANY, : Manufacturers of Pneumatic Drills, Hammers, Reversible Flue Rolling, Reaming, Tapping and Boring Machines, and all kinds of Air Tools and Appliances. Main Offices, 1541-1550 Marquette Bldg., Chicago, Ill. It's free. New York Office, 14! Broadway. oy Some Pneumatic Tool Talk.