The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-24 00:00:00

pfrAMPID ld. ADDITIONAL.] ONE PE N'N Y.

INTELLIGENCE FROM ABROAD.

(rszooen xs. iwirria's LOYNCTi.)

THE GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
BY FIRE AT BREMEN.
BREMEN, Joins 23, Arrsaseoff.
Further investigation into the disastrous fire of
yesterday shows that the warehouses of Oetling
and Son, of W. A. Fritae and Co., of James B.
Boyer, and of D. H. Wulzen, with five smaller
houses near the Sttickpforte and five houses in the
Stephani churchyard have been totally destroyed.
The insured value of these is a million and a half
thalers. In the Dooenthona suburb three farms,
Meyer and Kahrweg's timber yards, and 23
mailer dwelling houses have been burnt. Little
is insured here except the houses, and the pro-
perty destroyed is estimated at about 20,000
tinders. A house caught fire in the Langen-
stream, but the flames were soon extinguished.

BERVIA.

BELORADE, Jtrws 23.

Prince Milan arrived here at 5 o'clock this morn-
ing. Salvoes of artillery were fired, and a great
crowd assembled to welcome hint. Ile was re-
ceived by the chief civic authorities and members
of the town corporations. After visiting the
cathedral, his Highness drove through the prin-
cipalstrectsto the palace.

Prince Alexander Karageorgewitch has pub-
d a declaration expressing his sympathy fur
the late Prince Michael of Servia, and denouncing
as calumnies the reports that have been circulated
nnrecting his complicity in the aafwasination.

CHINA.

FOOCHOW, MAY 23.

The tea market has opened 3 taels higher than
la.t year. The total settlements amount to 30,000
Chests.

SHANGHAI, MAT 26.
The silk crop prorniso; to be of fair extent.
Freight and other quotations unchanged.

AMERICA.
NEW YORK, JUNE 23.
. .

The Cunard steamship Russia arrived out at
2 p.m., and the Allan stomnship Peruvian and
the Allan (Glu.sgow) steritiship St. George also
to-day.

Closing Prices :—Gold, 1401. Sterling exchange
on London, 110. 5-20 United States Bonds, 1882,
1131; ditto, 1885, 1111. 10-40 Bonds, 1071.
Illinois, 157. Cotton, Middling Upland, 30.
Petroleum, standard white, 31i. Flour, extra
State, 8.75 dole. Corn, old mixed, 1.11 dol.

THE BROBBITBYNEBB FAPERLKEINTS.

BOUTp3IND, TOZEDAY.

The trials at Shoeburyness to-day were resumed,
but instead of against the Plymouth breakwater
fort target upon an experimental casemate menu-
f at the lfillwall Iron Company's works
by Mr. Hughes, with the view of testing the re-
sistance offered by a given weight of iron plate
disposed in various thicknesses and positions. The
target was designed by the War-office authentic...,
and was manufactured at Millwall, at their order,
of wrought iron. It presents more surface than
the target operated upon last week,
like it, has a granite foundation bauntA
concrete roof, but no wrought-iron arches. Its
upper edge, instead of being curved like the case-
mate tried last week, was sharp and straight,
leaving the concrete roof, which was intended to
be bomb-proof, more exposed. Before describing
the experiments it will clear the ground to refer to
the structure itself. Taking the target from east
to west there were five different thicknesses of iron
facing, the maximum being 8, the minimum 41
inches. At the back there is a pier of concrete, a
portion of the centre plate being supported by
hollow stringers. The backing of the shield
proper is filled in with concrete. Beginning at
the western edge, we have an armour-plate 41
inches thick, backed with about seven inches of
concrete and an iron skin of two inches. Next
comes the pier, fronted with a 1-inch plate, and with
a rear bulk—about eight feet—of concrete. A four-
inch armour plate succeeds, backed with a channel
iron 7 inches deep rivettcsl to a plate 2 inches thick.
A foot thickness of concrete supports it behind.
Further, there is a hollow space to admit the bolt
heeds, and a plating or mantlet finishes it.
The next section is fixed with a 6-inch armour
plate backed with one of Mr. Hughes's hollow
stringers, with the skin, concrete, and manila as
before. Another 41-inch plate adjoins, with the
same backing us previously described, but with
the pier the full thickness of 8 feet. The remaining
section is faced with an 8-inch armour plate,
with 2-inch skin and full strength of pier.
The firing at first was confined to rounds from
the 7-int h rifled gun which carries a projectile of
1131 b. and was charged for the range of 200 yards
with a 221 b. charge. A shell was first tired. It
struck the 8-inch plate with the pier at the back,
and created an indentation of 8•45 inches. The
shell rebounded from the aperture, and left a clean
hole without crack or rupture of any kind. The
same missile was next directed at the 41-inch
plate, which it struckubout two feet from the base.
It penetrated 13.; inches, and, breaking off in this
us in subsequent firings, remained in the
breach. The shell dewed slightly to the
right, but the incision was as clear as
its predecessor. Another shell of the same calibre
was fired, strikinr, the joint of the 6 and 43-inch
plates a couple of feet from the bottom, and enter-
ing about 81 inches. This shot not striking where
it wail intended, another shell, as before, was dis-
charged at the 6-inch plate. It struck about 2 feet
from the bottom and 2 feet from the porthole,
penetrating 101 inches, and forcing off half a dosen
nut heads from the mantlet within. Another shell
bulged out the mantlet nearly half an inch, it
having gone through the 4-inch plate outside, and
penetrated 13i inches; several rivet heads were
missing inside. When tried again at the 41-
inch plate anothershell penetrated 14 inches, but it
struck on the edge of the stringers, and not on the
full concrete backing, as was intended. The head
of a nut inside, loosened by previous firing, fell off,
and a Palliser bolt was started outwards. The
9-inch rifled gun was next tried. It weighs 12
tons, carries a shot of 2501b5., and was fired with a
charge of 431bs. The penetration was 13 inches,
the shell striking on the 8-inch plate. It was a
fair open shot, and like all its predecessors made a
clean entrance, without the shadow of a fracture
around it. The same projectile was fired at the
44-inch armour plate, making a penetration
of 21.3 inches. A rivet at the extreme back
was snapped off, and a few other rivets
appeared to be loosened. The 9-inch shell
was next fired at the 6-inch plate. The pene-
tration was 18.3 inches, and a bolt was
driven into the casemate. Another shell struck
the plate about seven inches from the bottom,
starting a bolt about 21 inches, penetrating 14.6
inches, but showing no split. The next shell
struck nearly close to a previous one, but the 31
thickness that divided the two gaps appeared to
be as firm as the most compact portion. The
penetration was 19.8, and the course of the shell
deviated slightly to the left. The corner of the
mantlet was thrust inwards by the head of a bolt.
A penetration of 22.3 inches was then made by
the same projectile fired at the 41-inch plate. It
struck half on the concrete. So far the target
had been practically unharmed.
_ _

The reinaining were 10-inch shells. The first,
striking an 8-incli plate, pmetrated 32.1 inch, and
started a bolt # inch. The shell firmly imbedded
itself near a bolt, from which it was separated by
a thickness of less than half an inch. To the sur-
prise of everybody the splendidly tempered iron
remained without a crack. The concrete on the
roof was started, where or how was not plainly
visible. But for the resistence offered by the pier,
which stood in its way, this shell would probably
have found its way through. The same missile,
still with 601 be. of powder, was fired. It pene-
trated 4ft. 91 inches, having caught a spot
where it had fair play at the thickest part
of the concrete pier. The concrete roof,
which had been previously loosened, was now
rent and forced out of proportion, but no damage
yet was visible within the casemate beyond the
shaking off of a little paint in the corners, and the
rivet heads, to which reference has been made.
The next shot hit the target on a 6-inch plate
with a large proportion of the pier at its beck.
The penetration was now six feet, and the explo-
sion of the shell within the concrete forced off
about ten inches of the iron backing at the pier
angle. The mischief still was much less than
could have been expected, and extended further
only to the loss of a few bolt-heads. The
next shell, from the same gun, and on the
same conditions, struck a weaker part, and went
through, the section being a six-inch plate, with
stringer at the back. A large piece of three-inch
bolt was hurled backwards on the casemate floor,
the brickwork on the ceiling was shivered, a thin
deal screen, a yard or two off, was blown into
splinters, and there was a general looseness inside
in the vicinity of the shot. Strange to say,
although the shell went through close to a bolt,
the plate retained the clean puncturing it had
shown from the first. Had the armour plate been
of lead instead of fine rolled iron the holes could
not have been freer from surrounding creeks;
while in the matter of strength, it of course
claimed the admiration of every one. Another
shell was discharged with similar effect, and the
splinters were showered on the other side to a
great distance. Then the big American smooth
bore was fired twice, but did no damage beyond
penetration.

THE FEMALE &WOOL OP ART.—The feu in aid
of the funds of this institution will be held in the gardens
of the Royal Botanic Society, Regent's-park, to-morrow
and the two following days. The school is the coly one
devoted exclusiiely to female education in art, and de.
serves support from all those interested in the advance-
ment of art education amongst women. It is the hope of
the committee that the result of this Pe may materially
assist them in liquidating the debt that hangs so heavily
upon the school.
CRYSTAL PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAY.—
TryseAT, JUNE 23.—Admissions by season tickets, 1,466;
ditto on payment, 3,127; total visitors, 4,582.

hair restored to its original colour by
H Xagoetk Bradt sod Ootob. Price Brothel. Ha sad
)5o combo, fa., 7. Id., and 166. of an perfumers owl ohoodots.
Pamphlets on applfost6oo. 667h01a510, Novoodook amid loos,
6, Ores* 1166116orousbatmet, W., awl Mfail 95, Ottf-6069,
tAdvostimmati