The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-19 00:00:00

Russian Preparations for War.

During the last three months much has been
done not only in strengthening Cronstadt, but also
in fortifying the entrances to the Neva, in building
gunboats, batteries, &c•
Cronstadt is being strengthened under the super-
intendence of Gen. Tod'chat and Oen. Zsreva, by
placing the old fat is in a better state of defence, and
at many points covering up the masouzy by earth-
works. On the main island of Cronstadt, seaward,
large earthworks are being thrown up, some of
which are nearly finished. From the sea they will
be scarcely visible, and they not only enfilade the
channel, but some of them, being connected by paral-
lels one with another, will be able to hold guns to

take in reverse any ships which may run the gaunt-

let of their fire and that of the forts. Some of

these earthworks, more exposed than others, are to
be covered with 71-inch plates, placed on an angle
of 45 deg., and curved over the top, so as to form a
cover from vertical fire, and at the same time obviate
the necessity of having bolts or any other fasten-
ings to retain the plates in position. The embra-
sures will be closed immediately the gun is fired by
a slide of 11-inch iron, or by a drop door. The guns
to be placed in these iron clad and other earthworks
are to be 9-inch rifled cast steel, carrying a 3001 b
rifled shot, or a 2501 b shell, 22 inches long. For
the protection of the granite forts, enormous sup-
plies of earth and fascines are placed at different
points, all carried thence from St. Petersburg at
enormous labour and expense. To provide further
against the possibility of a fleet passing up to the back
of Cronstadt by the south channel, about 300 lighters,
laden with stones, have been sunk, so that now in
no part is there more than four feet of water.
The authorities have supposed a possibility of
some hostile fleet passing the outer forts and earth-
works. They are therefore preparing to lay 300 in-
fernal machines in the channel, each of which will
contain '7olb. of powder, and explode by a slight
touch from a vessel passing over. Yet, still further,
the enemy, we shall suppose, has passed Cronstadt,
and arrived some ten miles up to the head of the
bay, and wishes to pass the bar and enter the Neva.
liere, on either hand, are fresh earthworks thrown
Tip ; they will not be completed for some weeks yet,
but will be capable of mounting, is all, about 90
guns of the largest calibre, and ecfilade the en-
trance to the river at a point where it is about
3,000 ft. wide. A supply of infernal machines is also
to be kept ready to sink in the narrow channel of
the bar.
Another means of defence is also in course of pre-
paration—a submarine boat of colossal dimensions,
in the construction of which about 200 tons of iron
and steel are to be used. It is rapidly progressing
towards completion. Great secrecy is being used
about this boat. We can, however, say that it is to
have engines worked by compressed air, to have a
very strong beak, with provision for attaching large
cylinders charged with powder to the bottoms of
vessels, to be fired by electricity. The psrties na-
vigating the vessel will see what they are do:ing by

means of bulls'-eyes, and they will be able to re-ou- I
late the depth at which they swim, generally keep-
ing quite close to the surface. The Emperor has
not only approved the plans, but some months since
signed the decree appropriating about £27,000
say, 175,000 silver roubles—for this monster.
By the Ist of Jane,lB64, the Marine Department
confidently expects to have at Cronstadt sixteen
iron-clad vessels, and they consider this a very poor
fleet for such a Power as Russia. There will be
four vessels of larger size, all in many respects alike,
including the Pevenetz, lately arrived from Eng-
land, and which is now receiving her armament and
being finished off at Cronstadt. The second is build-
ing in St. Petersburg, under contract, by Messrs.
Mitchell, of Newcastle. All her armour plates are on
the spot, from Messrs. John Brown and Co.'s works,
and she should be ready at the time named, and is to be
called " Me Tron Menya" (Touch me not). The third
is building in St. Petersburg by Messrs. Semenikoff
and Politika, and progresses fast towards completion.
Her armour plates are also supplied by Messrs. John
Brown and Co. The third is building by the Marine
Department in the new Admiralty-yard, and her
armour plates are also from the same firm. The
general dimensions of these vessels are as follows :
—Length over all, about 240 ft ; breadth, 53ft ;
depth, 27ft ; builder's measurement, 2,800 tons;
the armament is not exactly settled, but will be rifled
guns of heavy calibre. The remaining 12 vessels
are all Monitors, but only one will have solid
armour plates, supplied by Messrs. Beale, and
building by Messrs. Mitchell. She is from Captain
Coles's design, and very nearly a facsimile of the
Danish vessel Rolf Krake. Her length is 175 ft be-
tween perpendiculars ; breadth, 38ft; depth, 14ft ;
tonnage (b.m.), 1,250. The remaining 11 vessels

are building by Messrs. Carr and Macpherson, two
Semenikoff and Co., two ; Kondraftzott, two ; and
the Government, five. They are to be clad with
four and five one-inch plates, rolled in long lengths,
following the American plan. The towers are to
be of 11 one-inch plates bolted together, although a
question has just arisen whether it would not be
advisable to tap them through and through, and by
that means strengthen them. The covering of
these vessels with one-inch plates results partly from
the haste with which the resolution to build was
taken,.ll,a and partly from the want of machinery in
le to roll heavier plates. This want they
ajoet now about to meet by erecting at their
machinery a large armour plate mill, the
but which g which has been sent from England,
largeat 111 not be sufficient for rolling the very
second rolliee. It is, however, proposed to build a
merit, but with a not, however, by the Govern-
a certain guarantee from the authorities of
however, amountsomewho: work. The building of this is,
Tne old glenb„tt l'rubielee aticel.
have alln
beenmade th
toorens beilt during the Crimean war
bus bee
put them
surveyed, and a contract
order. Fourteen are
being provided with ne: I,lll_ 1"8, and all are to have
in
steam up and be in Thorough 1
working condition on
the Ist of June, under heavmortar boats byielei:butae?
builders
lieh brethren in
the nse of green timber, &e.
Enormous exertions are being used to
obtain the
requisite quantity of guns, with suitable
ammuni-
tion, for all the forts, earthworks, and aiP i_s
will perhaps be found that the
Rualan. auetid it
really got ahead of England in
gttliand shot,
The large rifled cast steel guns which they are
obtaining from Krupp, and which they will shortly
commence making themselves in St. Petersburg,
are good, and the smaller sized cast-steel guns,
which are being produced rapidly in the Ural, and
also in Pootieloff's works in St. Petersburg, on
Abonkoff's system, are found to be a great step in
advance. They are not, perhaps, all that could be
desired, yet they sustain a large amount of work,
and their defects seem to arise from a want of
hammer power, which want will be shortly sup-
plied. Guns are now being produced in about a
dozen factories, working night and day, and in a
few weeks another Elswick will commence. its
production will be solid cast-steel guns, from
the six-pounder to the eleven-inch gun, which
latter is to fire a 5001 b. shell. To provide the
necessary shot and shell for these guns all the
foundries around St. Petersburg have orders vary-
ing from 15,000 to
50,000 each. All the shot and
shell from 12•
pounders und ers upwards are for rifled guns,
The shot are
nosed,
and from 2to 21 diameter, are round-
nosed,
the aregrooves of
provided with soft metal bearings to
shell of theexert
Emma the guns. The production of steel
ant!
grcatescription is also increasing fast,
suppler. Round
deu e d
are being made to deliver large
hammeredt steel shot are also
being prepared to so
the naval 60-pounder gun.
One firm alone has in hand
The land artillery forces 30 000 of these.
'
steel guns for their service,also adopting the
and find them well
are
adapted by their lightness. A
gun
calibre is about one-third lighter thanof the same
a brass gun;
nevertheless, fearing that the Supply of steel
for the 3 branch of the service may adequate
a be dequate
guns
a large quantity of .brass guns are ordered, and are
to be ready for service early in January.
Large supplies of saltpetre have been purchased
during the summer, and the powder works have
been extended, and are working night and day to
have a full supply.
Should the anticipation of the authorities prove