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

Russian Preparations for War.

During the last three months much has been
dine not only in strengthening Cronstadt, but also
in. fortifying the entrances to the Neva, in building
g unboats, batteries, Se.c.
Cronstadt is being strengthened tinder the super-
intendence of Gen. Todleben and Gen. Zareva, by
placing the old forts in a better state of defence, and
at many points covering up the masonry by earth-
works. On the main island of Cronstadt, seaward,
large earthworks are being thrown up, some of
which are neari.y finished. From the sea they will,
be scarcely visible, and they not only enfilade tine
channel, but some of them, being connected by pr Aral-
leis 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 e. drop door. The guns
to be 'weed iu 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
protection of the granite forts, enormous sup-
plies of earth and fusciues axe placed at different
points, all carried thence from S-. Petersburg at

'tlosratms tabour and expeuse. To provide further
against the possibility of a fleet passing up to the back
of Cronstadt by the south channel, about 3001ighters,
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.
Here, on either hand, are fresh earthworks thrown
up ; thr ry will not be completed for some weeks yet,
but wi.it be capable of mounting, in all, about 90
guns of the largest calibre, and enfilade 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 parties na-
Tinting the vessel will see what they are doing by
Moans of bulls'-eyes, and they will be able to regu-
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-2-for this monster.
By the Ist of June,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 bui d-
log in. St. Petersburg, under contract, by Messrs.
'Mitchell, of Newcastle. All her armour plates are on
the epot, from Messrs. John Brown and Co.'s works,
an 6. she should be ready at the time named, and is to be
called '• Me Tron Menya" (Touch me not). The third
is building iu Sr. Petersburg by Messrs. Semenikoff
'grid Politika, and progresses fast towards completion.
Her armour plates are also supplied by Messrs. John
brown and Co. Tile third is building by the Marine
DEPaCtment in the new Admiralty-yard, and her
armo ar plates are also from the same firm. The
general dimensions of these vessels are as follows:
—Leagth over all, about 240 ft ; breadth, 53ft ;
depth, 27ft ; builder's measurement, 2,800 tons ;
thr, armament is not exactly settled, hut will be rifled
;Yang of heavy calibre. The remaining 12 vessels
'..ire 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
J) tnish vessel Rolf Krake. Her length is 175 ft be-
Aween 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
lour 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
team
? and partly from the want of machinery in
"Ilmnt to
are roll heavier plates. This want they
now about to meet by erecting at their
Colptee
Works a large armour plate mill, the
machine,
but which for. which has been sent from England,
largest iihtsetoall not be sufficient for rolling the very
second rollin. It is, however, proposed to build a
Govern-
ment, but V/1401131111' not, however, by the Govern-
guarantee from the authorities of
a certain amount4a
040:t work. The building of this is,
however,
problematical.
The old gunboats built during the Crimean war
has uglily surveyed, and a contract
have
beaeln 1 bmeeande t
thoor
pellet them in order. Fourteen are
being provided withnew
and all are to have
steam up and be in thorou;teza'h
'working condition on
the Ist of June, under heavyuiplzataelties.
the gun and mortar Many of
up,
b p,
completely used °4lltlld the
biailders in Russia
n years ago are
seem to have emulated their English brethren in
the use of green timber, &e„
Enormous exertions are being heed to obtain the
requisite quantity of guns, 'with suitable
shipsit
au d
earthworks, and ammuni-
tion, for all the forts,
will perhaps be found that the
Basel.tan, have
really got ahead of England in guns and Shot.
The large rifled cast-steel guns which they
are
obtaining from Krupp,
and which they will shortly
commence making themselves S
in St. Petersburg,
are goali, and the smaller sized cast-steel guns,
which are hein produced rapidly in t,e Ural, and
also in Pontieloff's works in St. PeTersharg,
on
Aboukoff's system, are found to be a great step in
advance. They are not, perhaps, all that could be
desired, yet they
want of
sustain a large amount a
of work,
and their detects seem to arise from
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 Elawick 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.
lug •
Arore 15,000 to 50,000 each. All the shot and
shell from 12-pounders upwards are for rifled guns.
The shot are from 2 to 21 diameter, are round-
nosed, and are provided with soft metal bearings to
fit the grooves of the guns. The production of steel
shell of the same description is also increasing fast,
and great exertions are being made to deliver large
stipples. Round hammered steel shot are also
being prepared to suit the naval 60-pounder gun.
One firm alone has in hand 30,000 of these.
The land artillery forces are also adooting the
"tyke, and find them well
steel guns for their
adapted by their lightness. A gun of the same
calibre is about one-third lighter than a brass gun •
fearing that the supply
not be plYofsteel g
nevertheless,
for this branch of tne service m
adequateun
a large quantity of
brass guns are ordered, endure
to be ready for service early in_ January.
Large supplies of saltpetre have been purchased
the powder works have
and
during the summer,
been extended, and are working night and day to
have a full supply.
Should the anticipation of the authorities prove