Show FANCY WOOD IS DANGEROUS naval offic officers 0 r s take warning from hapless ves 0 ia la in the balu yalu battle the deta details ils of the great naval battle at the mouth of the yalu balu river as is laid before the public in the alsoc assoc associated bated press dispatches have been of great interest to naval officers this engagement is bound to have an effect on naval construction st in at least one feature it is noted by the naval experts that the heaviest losses in the fight figh were caused by fire and at least three of the vessels engaged were in flames during the fig fight lit caused by the explosion of small shells from the secondary batteries that steel ships should prove to be combustible was regarded as an cx tra ordinary fact calling for explanation and correction and the attention of the board of naval bureau chiefs has been directed to that end the result will be a heavy reduction in the amount of woodwork that will be allows allowed in in the ships of this country during the great naval meet at bampton roads preliminary to the review at new york the visiting foreign naval officers expressed astonishment and delight at the luxurious apartments and finish of the interiors of our ships which made the foreign vessels seem barren by contrast the british vice admiral hopkins II corn com that his officers had been di discontented by the comparison of their own plain quarters with the mahogany finish carved and decorated wardrooms rooms of our ships the british naval vessels by the way are arc exceptionally devoid of this class clas s of work and pla plain in steel walls unadorned even by pictures are the rule rather than the exception cep tion the objections to woodwork had already been under consideration by the naval designers when they received the hint conveyed by the yalu balu fi fight 9 ht of the st startling artlin danger from fire to which thoe thee tho the e splendidly fitted ships were exposed ind and as a 1 result it is safe to predict that in designs for future american warships the british officers will find nothing to envy on the score of luxury some home covering it is true is necessary to prevent the sweating of the steel walls the british rely for this upon heavy coats of paint |