The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-05-27 00:00:00

firma anb Nab°.

On Tuesday the Board of Admiralty and the Iron-
plate Committee attended at Shoebarynem to witness
experiments against an iron target proposed by Messrs.
Sainuda as a model for the construction of armour-
plated ships. The peculiarities of this target are,—first,
that the wooden lining, which in the Warrior is inter-
!wed between the armour and the iron skin and frame-
work ef the chip, is dispensed with ; and, secondly, that
the armour-plates are so attached to the body of the
ship as to contribute to its strength instead of merely
hanging upon it. The armour plates in this case are
five inches thick, and they are incorporated with an
ircn backing of plates and ribs which are equivalent to
an additional layer of two inches thick, making
altogether seven inches of iron. The target was sub-
jected to the usual number of rounds of shot and shell
from 100-pounder and 68-pounder guns, and the effects
were much the name as were produced on similar
targets proposed by Mr. Fairhairn, and lately tried at
Shoebnryness. One round was then fired at it from
the 300-pounder Armstrong gun, with 501 b. of powder.
The shot struck an uninjured port of the target, and
passed completely through, carrying with it large pieces
of the iron, which were driven deep into the bank
behind the target The same gun was then fired once
more against the old Warrior target, which in this
instance in some degree reasserted its former supremacy.
The shot paned through the armour, but only bulged
and cracked the inner skin and framework. No frag-
ment of the shot gut through the entire target. The
extraordinary efficacy of wood than applied LI a stratum
between the armour and the body of the ship is now
rendered more apparent than ever. The armour plate
breaks the shot as it pauses throngh and the wood
arrests the fragments. It remains to be aseertained
what will be the effect when a wrought iron al.ot, which
will not break in striking, is subetitated fer the present
cast-iron shot.
_ _

Tin LATH COURT MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN ROBERTSON.
—The officers of the 4th Dragoon Guards were called
together on Friday by the General Commanding in Ire-
land, Sir George Brown, who made known the decision
of his Royal highness the Duke of Cambridge, Com-
mander-in-Chief, in reference to the late court martiaL
To Colonel Bentinck is allowed the option of selling out
or of retiring upon half-pay. The colonel !ma me-
morialised her Majesty, requesting that a Court of
Inquiry should be held to investigate the causes "why
so severe • punishment has been awarded Co him for
bringing a charge which a. court-martial ratified by its
sentence." Major Jones has received an intimation
that lie will receive no further promotion. Lieutenant
and Adjutant Herren is directed by his Royal Highness
the Commander-in-Chief to resign the adjutancy of the
regiment. Lieutenant Rintoul is severely reprimanded;
and it is intimated that it is inexcusable in an officer to
note down in diaries the unguarded acts or conversa-
tion of his brother officers. As regards Captain
Robertson, no additional order has yet been received.
An officer from another regiment will be placed in com-
niand of the 4th Dragoon anomie. As the name of the
prosecutor, Colonel Brownrigge, does not appear in
this decision, it in supnosed that his case has been
reserved for separate adjudication.