The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-09 00:00:00

IRON-CLAD SHIPS.

In connection with this subject, which has already
been so widely discussed, the following coromunicAtion
has been sent to The 'Times for publication :
I have read the letter of Mr lt J. Reed, the late Chief
Constructor of the Navy, In The Timed of the 21st, and as it
is the foreronner of a cry for mole, and more heavily.
armoured ships, It may be well to say a word us the other
side of the question.
• " • • • •

Mr Reed claims as a merit on the part of his administra-
tion that "in seven years the strength tf armour was multi-
plied sevenfold," and he blames Mr Goschen for not follow
bag out "this crest principle of progress," which, if it means
anything, signifies that we are toga on increasing the weight
of armour on the sides of our ships. Re alarms the public by
telling them that "in North Germany the policy of building
up a powerful navy of irau-clads is being pursued more
vigorously than ever," and in Russia they have actually
surpassed us, both in the power of actual ships and in the
use of new methods of construction." It is true he qualifies
his praise of their new methods by expressing a doubt
"whether we ought to go so far as they have done in
broadening our ships," hut he is quite certain that the Peter
the Greet, "a more powerful ship than any we possess," is
" perlectly capable of steaming into English ports."
The fact is that the Continental Powers are simply copying
In an exaggerated form what was done by Mr Reed as Chief
Constructor. We increased the weight of our armour and
shortened our ships from year to year. They build ships
still more heavily armoured and still shorter in proportion
to their tonnage. And they are doing this without previously
ascertaining whether we may not have already reached, or
even surpassed, the limits of useful defensive strength of
handiness and of safety, Before we are blamed for not going
further in these directions, Mr. Reed must show that these
heavily.armoured ships can approach a hostile shore in all
weathers, can thread an intricate channel without imminent
risk of grounding ; that these short ships, which of course
require a relatively greater amount of fuel under steam, are
at least as easily managed as their predecessors under canvas:
that the turret-ships which are being multiplied abroad in
Mutation of our (nations are not more dangerous, if struck,
to those who have to work their guns than their armament
is at all likely to ben swift, though less powerful antagonist.
All these questions have received no solution from the opera-
tions of our neighbours, while the experience of heavily.
armoured ships acquired in our own service is such as to
leave them in the greatest doubt. With the exception of
increaaed resistance to penetration of their sides, and of
those alone, and ability to carry very heavy guns, everything
else is in doubt. It is notorious that many, If not most of
them, neither afford so steady a platform as to enable their
guns to be fought with all the accuracy which could lie
desired, nor are even so free fron oscillation as to prevent
their decks being penetrated at a comparatively depressed
anele of fire, while Mr. Reed's short, heavily.armoured
ships, whether with or without twin ii..rews and balanced
rudders, have yet to prove tin mselves efficient under canvas.
Such belng the case, and I think it can hardly he disputed,
I think Mr. Goschen is acting more wisely in pursuing his
actual policy of ascertaiug by sufficient trials which are the
most efficient ships that we possess for each of the different
classes of service which they may be called upon to perform,
proceeding very cautiomly lathe meantime in the construc-
tion of large seagoing vesaets, but acting vigorously in all
that relates to the defence of our harbours, than if he were
to enter into rivalry with foretell Powers in the construction
of marine monsters, and, as Sir. Reed would desire, deepen-
ing and widening our docks to receive them, with the
likelihood of their being unfit for any services except those
which forts, batteries, and torpedoes can perform more
economically and tar more eithiently. When our neighbours
have gut their" circular ships" and their fleets of Monitors,
they may find that, instead of their being hhle to employ
them efficiently abroad, it will be no easy task to prevent
their grounding in the tortuous channels of their own har-
bours, and in the shallow and treacherous waters which
surround their coasts.—l am, Ac., B. SAXUELSON.
Yacht Brilliant, Carthagena, Oct. ea.'