266
THE U.S. AND OTHERS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
If history be of any value it is to teach us that the nation that has once lost its, self-
|
[October 28, 1907.
(Daily Press, October 19th.) That President ROOSEVELT should desire the United States Fleet to pay a visit round Cape Horn to the Pacific Ocean; and that a great many people should not wish it to go, is perhaps understandable from some things which have lately appeared without any reference to Japan. As a fact it seems that the fleet, though composed of a large number of the finest ships in the world, is neither in men nor material in a fit state to undertake the voyage, and the Little Americao," for England has not a mono- poly of that political class,- -are quite cont- ent that it should remain so; and are not in consequence unwilling that its shortcomings should be corrected, as corrected they were bound to be once UNCLE SAM got to know that something was really out of joint in his Fleet, which he has been led to believe is the finest for its size in the world, and on which he has not spared to expend enormous sums of money. That the voyage of the fleet could be in any measure a threat to Japan was an absurdity that could not recommend itself to the sober thoughts of any sensible man, that Japan could in any way be brought to look upon it as such was ouly a dream of mischief makers. The fact is that President ROOSEVELT found that he could not otherwise give the nation an ink ling of the general unpreparedness of the country to undertake any important war, otherwise than by such an object lesson, which the meanest comprehension could understand, of the unreadiness of the boasted fleet to undertake an unwonted cruise. Like all patriotic Americans, President ROOSEVELT bas had disagreeable reminders that the other world Powers do not attach as much weight to the opinions of the United States as her status amongst the nations should seem to call for. As an old commander himself, he knows how far short of the ideal are both Army and Fleet, and as a last act before retiring from office he desires to awaken the interest of the country as to its practical weakness, with out at the same time pressing on it a policy of bluster. That certain people have not failed to take advantage of the position with the object of involving the States with one or more of her neighbours is now from day to day becoming more evident. For what other object than that of making the States Beem ridiculous in the eyes of the world could such a canard be set afloat as that of the EMPEROR OF GERMANY having offered his fleet to protect the Coast facing the Atlantic, while the fleet was round the corner of Cape Horn? The taunt was understood by the PRESIDENT, though seemingly it has failed to reach the understandings of the feeble press of New York. Now we certainly would not look on with complacency at any indignity offered to the United States. Here at least we have a common feeling. Lately we have had to wince more thau once or twice at the indignities which a feeble and incapable Government is bringing down upon our heads from all quarters; and we certainly
(Daily Press, 21st October.) feel none the better pleased to find that It is seldom that an accident, if it may be our friends, through very similar short- called an accident occurs involving so much comings on their sides, should find them-loss of life and property as the fall during selves exposed to similar gibes. Now at the present moment England, France and the United States are posing very much as the advocates of peace, but they one and all have been forgetting that there is only one way in which peace can be secured, aud that is by keeping themselves in readiness to enforce it, if necessary. We do not meau to say that there are not men in each at the moment who see the grim folly of the
situation, and sig for their country, and possible, and this was rendered practicable its fatuous idea that talking of peace is the from the adoption of the cantilever system only thing necessary to secure it. Un-in its construction. The system is well fortunately the bulk of the population in all known through the successful completion of three have allowed themselves to fall into a the great Forth bridge across the Frith of somnolent condition, and are ton lazy or too Forth, and this has remained up to the indifferent to the lessons of the past, to read present day the widest single span in the the book set open before their eyes.
world, its width from the centres of the piers amounting to 1710 feet. Apparently as a mere four de force to exceed this, and so regard is already half-way on the road to take the record across the Atlantic the St. ruin. Little nations such as were the Lawrence bridge was fixed at 1800. Owing United Netherlands in the time of PHILIP to the depth of the river, and the necessity III., can keep at bay even the strongest, if | of avoiding ice pressure there was probably they only have confidence in themselves; not much margin to spare, but a section of the most powerful, if it once permit its the banks at both sides would seem to foundations to be sapped by the burrowing indicate that an advance of the piers at each rate of faction and disorder, cannot survive side of some 50 feet towards the centre the first flood. This latter is unfortunately could have been effected without practically the present position of all three. Under increasing the danger from ice shoves, and the foolish pretext of respect for liberty, a saving of one panel in the length of the all three have permitted the rate of dis overhang at each side would possibly have content to undermine the resources of the averted the disaster. A few comparisons state, and for the moment they lie practi- with the Forth Bridge are interesting as cally at the mercy of the first Power that showing the recklessness of this latest piece makes a strong attack on their indepen of American engineering. In the Forth dence. In Europe we see evidence of bridge the chief compression members are weakness in the continual references to what formed of heavy tubes 121 feet in diameter; Germany will think of our own alliances. in the attempted Quebec bridge, the com- When a man or a nation begins to consult pression members, when the bridge failed, the neighbours as to whom he or it shall are of laminatel steel plates 5 feet deep, invite to his board, the onlooking world and 4 feet wide, and the overhang was begins to look on him or it as afflicted by the some 750 feet, the two struts being about gods; yet this is very much the position 67 feet apart. When the bridge would have occupied by the three Powers, who within the been finished the overhang at each side last quarter of a century had the greatest would have been 562 feet, and across the influence in the shaping of events. The gap of 675 feet between the two ends was issue of the last Convention at the Hague to have been placed an enormous centre goes far to show how little of that influence girder weighing, when complete, between now remains. On the contrary our namby-3,500 and 4,000 tons. We may reduce pamby ministers, with a still more feeble these measures to one fiftieth, and see what and foolish majority in the House of this meant. We would then have a bracket Commons, are doing their best to draw on projecting from the point of springing 114 ourselves the contempt of the whole of the feet, supported by two arched trusses 1 Continental Powers by the silly habit of inches by 1 inch not of solid steel but reaching to others what they are unable top of several laminated strips of about the enforce on themselves. Yet in the face of thickness of ordinary writing paper; all this, as though the world were only moreover these two frusses were just waiting the nod of one or other before 1.4 inches apart, were tied by light braces undertaking any business, France, England, together at intervals of 13 inches. but and the United States are wilfully permitting otherwise had no side bracing to prevent their armies and navies to dwindle in com-
them from warping: on the end then of this parison with the other Powers, and seein was to be suspended a dead weight of half bent to make au exhibition of their own
a bundred, and moreover from time to time, inaptitude to resist any insuit however but many times a day, a moving weight of gross. Both England and France have had 20 to 25 lbs. was to traverse the entire to bear their more than fair share of snubs backwards and forwards with this we can during the last two years. There are signs have some idea of the structure. The steel that the Unite States are quickening for in the Forth bridge was equal to a strain the same treatment. Now it is no new rule of 34 to 37 tons per square inch; that used in this world that snubs unnotice I have a at Quebee was only equal to 28, or nearly habit of turning into insults, and insults 20 per cent. weaker. The steel in the Forth once submitted to as certainly grow into bridge would never have to bear more than injuries. We have got pretty well on to 7 tons per square inch; on the other hand wards the second stage of the program; the calculated strain on the Quebec bridge whether we shall be able to stop short of the amounted to 14 tons, or half its ultimate third depends on our retracing the fals strength; while at the time of the collapse, steps of the past, and putting our house in but before the full strain was actually im- better order.
posed, the strain seems to have amounted to 8 tons per square inch.
|
DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING.
construction of the great railway bridge intended to cross the river St. Lawrence a few miles below Quebec. It is, however, to all appearance fortunate that the collapse occurred when it did, and was not postponed till a later period when more property would have been put into the work, and a larger number of workmen would have been engaged. The bridge was being erected from one side, no intermediate support being
It is plain then that notwithstanding the he dangerous approach to the ultimate strength, designed to have been ouly 50 per cent. of the actual crushing weight, as against the 80 per cent, margin insisted on in English work, the collapse was not due to actual crushing, but arose from a no less plain cause; which is moreover familiar to every engineer of standing, and should have been equally apparent to the engineers of the Phoenix Bridge Company of Pensyl vania, who were eutrued with the work. Every one knows that although a pillar may have sufficient sectional area to bear heavy weight placed on it vertically if, gay, six feet long, a pillar with exactly the same sectional area if made twelve feet long with-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.