The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-30 00:00:00

A REMEDY FOR STRIKES.

Plans for dealing with the labour question are more
numerous than practical, but one is reported from the
United States which appears to be very serviceable.
The employes, numbering nearly ten thousand, on a
certain estate which is surrounded by a quantity of
land, are represented by the manager to be more con-
tented than he has ever known them to be hitherto,
notwithstanding the reduction of their wages. He
ascribes this apparently anomalous contentment to the
fact that the estate furnishes each head of a family in
its employ with enough ground for a good-sized
garden—from one-quarter to one-half an acre. Low
wages have compelled the workmen to cultivate
these plots of ground, and they have found that
they can almost raise subsistence for their families
by tilling the soil, and by that means, even
with the lowest wages, they are able to save
something. It is also said that the moral effect
of the cultivation of little gardens is excellent,
the men having less idle time to be tempted into
dissipation, and soon learning t.) take a pride
in the home which their own industry builds up
for them. A further advantage is that this miniature
farming opens the way to work that will support the
labourer when he is thrown out. of employment at his
regular trade. Some will say green fields and gardens
are not always so near to the factory and workshop as
they should be, but a good many. people are so situated
that the hint will prove of service to them. Then we
shall hear of employes cheerful and contented, even
though they may obtain low wages.

Colonel Sir J. Hogg, M.P., chairman of the Metro-
politan Board of Works, entertained the members of that
body at a dinner on Saturday evening. There were present,
In addition to the members of the Board, several dis-
tinguished guests. The Duke of Cambridge spoke of the
strength and patriotism of the several military forces of Eng-
land, expressing his conviction that should there be any call
upon the services of either the army or the navy they would
be found equal to the occasion. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer in responding to the toast of "Her Majesty's
Ministers," remarked that discretion was of no use without
valour, and that valour was no good without discretion.
He hoped that in this country there was a proper conscious-
ness oi onr real strength, and at the same time a desire not
to needlessly put forththat strength on which rests the real
rower of the country ; but at the same time we should not
shrink from any sacrifice which might be required to main-
tain Om honour and ate intbroßta 61 tile country,
4)1.0 0424

OUR NAVAL RESOURCES.
(From Tuesday's Standard.)

Since the departure of the Channel squadron from
its legitimate cruising ground in order that it might
strengthen the tieet in the Mecliteiranean, we have
had on the home station but few ships in commission
and fit for sea service. But the activity that has since
been shown at the ports has borne good fruit, and we
are now prepared to commission a fleet that will not
be second even to the powerful array of ships at present
employed on the Mediterranean station. It has been
arranged that by the end of this month the majority of
the ships in the hands of the dockyards shall be ready
for the pendant, and others are under orders to be
brought forward with rapidity, and though some of
those which we shall name require more extensive
alterations and repairs to be made before they will be
actually complete according to the intentions of the
Constructive Department, yet on an emergency extra
hands and extra hours would soon turn them out fit
for service.

It is at Chatham that the largest number of ships is
prepared to hoist the pendant, and from the Medway
alone an imposing fleet could be despatched. Here
there are the—

Monarch, armoured turret ship of 8 322 tons, protected
with plates varying from ten to four inches in thickness,
carrying four 25-ton guns in turrets, two 12-ton chase guns
on the upper deck and one 7-inch gun on the main deck, and
having a complement of 525 officers and men.

Superb, armour-plated ship of 8,760 tons, having twelve-
inch plates and inner skin of over two inches at some parts,
carrying twelve 10-thch 18-ton guns, some of which are likely
to be replaced by twenty b-ton guns on the main deck, and
three others on the upper deck, and having a complement
of 1530.

Northampton, armoured ship of 7,a23 tons, protected
with plating varying from six to nine inches on the sides,
and the same on the bulkheads, carrying four 10-inch 18-
ton guns, and eight 9-inch 12-ton guns, and a complement
of 550

Neptune, armoured turret vessel and ram of 9,000 tons,
with plating varying from ton to twelve inches in thickness
carrying four 35-ton gußs, and two of lighter calibre, and a
complement of about 400.
Belleiele, armour-plated ram 4,720 tons, protected
with plating eight and twelve inches thick, carrying four.
12-inch 25-ton guns on the „Vattery deck, and having a
complement of 350.
Penelope, armoured corvette, with 4,394 tons, with plates
of five and six inches, carrying eight 8-inch 9-ton guns on
the main deck, and three light guns on the upper deck,
with a complement of 400.

Nelson, armoured ship of 7,323 tons, with ft and 9-inch
armour, carrying four 10 inch 13-ton guns, and eight 9-inch
12-ton gins on the main deck having a complement of
550.

Euryalue, iron corvette cased with wood, of $,932 tons,
carrying fourteen 7-inch guns and two 84-pounders, having
a complement of Bso.
- -

Garnet, unarmoured composite corvette of 2,162 tons, oar-
rying twelve 64-pounder guns and a compliment of 232.
Cormorant, unarmoured composite sloop of 1,124 tons,
carrying two 7-inch and four 64-pounder guns, and a com-
plement of 140.

_
At Portsmouth there'k a goodly number of power-
ful ships also available, including the— _

Thunderer—already in commission—armoured turret ship
of 9,387 tons, having plates varying from ten to fourteen
inches on the turrets and sides, and threo inches on the
decks; carrying two 12-inch 31-ton guns in one turret, and
two 12-inch 35-ton guns in the other, and having a comple-
ment of 340.

Dreadnought, armonred turret-ship of 10,3.85 tons with
plating from ten to fourteen inches on the sides, and four-
teen inches on the turrets, two and three inches on the
decks, and an inner akin. She carries four 12-inch 88-ton
guns in her turrets, and has a complement of 350.
Hercules, armoured broadside ship of 8,077 tons, protected
with five to nine-inch plates, carrying eight 10-inch 18-ton
guns, two 9.inch 12-ton and four 7-inch guns, and a comple-
ment of 460.

Triumph, armoured broadside ship of 6,660 tons plated
with armour from six to eight inches in thickness, carrying
ten 9-inch 12-ton guns and four 64-pounders, and a comple-
ment of 450.

Inconstant, iron 'frigate cased with wood, of 5,782 tons,
carrying ten 10-inch 12-ton and six 7-inch guns, and a com-
plement of 600.
Boadicea, iron corvette cased with wood, of 4,027 tons,
carrying fourteen 7-inch and two 64-pounder guns, and a
complement of 350.
Iris, steel despatch vessel of 3,735 tons, carrying ten guns,
and a complement of 400.
Bacchante, wood-cased corvette of 3,932 tons, carrying
fourteen 7-inch and two 64-pounder guns, and a complement
of 550.

The Inflexible, the most powerful ship of war afloat, has
not been included amongst those that might be sent to sea
In an emergency, although there is little doubt that if she
were taken in hand in earnest she could be commissioned in
the summer.

At Devonport the ships in reserve are well forward,
and already has the order been given for commission-
ing the—
Invincible, armour-plated broadside ship of 6,034 tons,
carrying ten 9-inch 12-ton and four 64-pounder guns, pro-
tected with six and eight inch plating, and having a comple-
ment of 450.
Teneclos—also ordered to be commissioned—unarmoured
corvette of 1,755 tons, carrying twelve 64-pounder rifled
guns and a complement of 200.
Iron Duke—which hls been repaired at Messrs. Laird's
yard, and is now ordered to Devonport for commission—
armour-plated broadside ship of 0,034 tons, with plates from
six to eight inches in thickness, carrying ten 9-ilich 12-ton guns
and four 64-pounders, and having a complement of 450.
Emerald, unarmoured corvette of 2,162 tons, carrying
twelve 64-pounders and a complement of 232.
• -

Finn, Firebrand, and Firefly, composite gun boats of 455
tons each, and carrying four guns and 120 men.
-- - - -

_
To increase the number of ironclads available for
duty away from our shores we might fall back upon
some of the coast-guard ships, xeplacing them by
vessels of the coast defence type. Those which might
thus be made available are the—

Hector, of 6,713 tons, at Southampton, having 41--inch
armour, and carrying two 8-inch 0-tosi and sixteen 7-inch
guns, and a complement of 530.
Resistance, of 6,070 tons, at Liverpool, having 4i-inch
armour, carrying two 8 inch 9-ton and fourteen 7-inch guns,
and a complement of 460. . _

Lord Warden, of 7,842 tons, at Queensferry. protected
with sk-inch armour, and armed with tveo 9-inch 12-ton,
fourteen 8-inch 9-ton, and two 7-inch guns, and having a
complement a 600.

Valiant, of 6,713 tons, in the Shannon, having plates 4i
in thickness, and carrying two 8-inch 9-ton and sixteen
7-inch guns, and a complement of 530.
We are thus in a position to send on active service
another fleet of eighteen armoured ships, and twelve
unarmoured vessels of various classes, the armoured
ships having an aggregate tonnage of 135,800 tons,
mounting 229 guns, and carrying 8,600 officers and
men; while the unarmoured vessels represent a gross
tonnage of 30,000 tons, carrying 128 guns and 3,200
officers and men. Taken as a whole, then, this fleet
would be capable of bringing into action 357 guns and
nearly 12000 souls.
A statement such as this must cause a feeling of the
greatest satisfaction to every Englishman, for it is
plain that we are in a position to meet even a combina-
tion of other maritime Powers without having much
need to fear the result. And while we can send so
powerful a naval force sway from our shores we retain
sufficient ships, together with torpedo defence, to make
ourselves tolerably secure against any attempt at a
descent upon the coast. We have seven heavily-armed
and armoured turret ships, namely the—
Glatton, of 4,912 tons, with two 25-ton guns, and a com-
plement of 200.
Wivern, of 2,751 tons, and four 12-ton guns and comple-
ment of 150.

Cyclops, Gordon, Hecate, and Hydra, each of 3,430 tons
carrying four 18-ton guns, and having complements of 150.
Prince Albert, of 3,905 tons, with four 12-ton guns and a
complement of 200.
There is also a fleet of thirty-two gun-boats specially
designed and armed for coast defence, the majority of
which have never been used, and are quite ready for
immediate commission; and there are four wooden
frigates in the coast guard which have not been taken
into consideration here, as the state of their engines
renders them comparatively unfit for anything
but harbour service. As regards the all .import-
ant question of manning, we are fortunately in
a thoroughly satisfactory position. From the home
ports we could draft some four thousand men of
the seaman class; while, should numbers run short,
the complement of marines borne in the armoured
vessels could be materially increased without inter-
fering with their efficiency as sea-going ships, and
there are seven thousand marines at head-quarters.
Then we have four thousand picked seamen in the
coast-guard, who would be relieved of their duties by
pensioners; and the issue of a Royal Proclamation
would probably bring three thousand men of the
Naval Reserve to our receiving ships, ready to be
drafted with our own naval seamen. Week by week,
as trading ships arrived home, more of the reserve
men would come forward, and in three mouths after
the issue of the Proclamation we might reasonably
expect to have seven thousand of them in her Majesty's