The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-24 00:00:00

THE' ARMY.

An official despat ch from the Horse Guards was
yesterday received by Gen. Sir Richard Dacre,
comrartn.ding at Woolwich, announcing the
intention of his Imperial Higness the Grand Duke
Michael, of 'Russia, to witness a parade of the Royal
Artillery t roops this morning at Woolwich, and
afterwards to pay a visit of inspection to the de-
partmentFi of the Royal Arsenal.
In cons equence of the destined removal of Capt.
Mercer's, No. 3 field battery, 4th Brigade Royal
Artillery, from headquarters, Woolwich, to New
Zealand, as stated in The Sun of yesterday, Major
G. Davis, V.C., commanding the 7th battery, 15th
Brigade Garrison Artillery, at Gosport, is ordered
to;repair to Woolwich on receipt of further orders
to that effect, and assume the command of a new
battery to be organised for the purpose of replacing
Capt. Mercer's battery, ordered on foreign service
as above stated. The new battery will be equipped
With Armstrong guns.
The entire arrangement baying been completed
for the transfer of the department of the Assistant-
Adjutant-General of the Royal Engineers from
Chvstham to Whitehall, the whole of the officers of
the staff attached to the Assistant-Adjutant-Gene-
ral's-office, as well as the clerks, have been removed

from Brompton Barracks to the Horse Guards,
where the duties connected with that department
will for the future be carried on.

In consequence of the representations made to the fire the moment she can strike, and half a dozen
Government of the necessity of having an increased only of molten iron shells, or liquid fire, hitting (we
number of Sappers and Miners of the Royal Engi- know one alone has been sufficient), the wooden
neers stationed at Corfu, for the purpose of prose- vessel must be in flames long before she could close
cuting the engineering and other public works now upon her antagonist. At 300 or 400 yards the shot
in progress at that island, the authorities have de- would drop off harmless from the iron sides, but
tided on augmenting the number of troops be- every shot and shell would easily penetrate the
longing to that branch of the service now doing wooden vessel at 3,000 yards.
duty in the lonian Islands, where the 9th and As it is clear the iron walls must supersede
29th companies of Royal Engineers are at pre- wooden ones, let us examine which of the two actual
sent stationed. Orders have accordingly been arrangements of the former is the most efficient—
forwarded to Colonel H. D. Harness, C. 8., Di- the steam frigate iron-cased, with the usual mast,
rector of the Royal Engineer establishment at yards, and sails, of a line-of-battle ship, only using
Chatham, directing him to select a detachment of her guns ; or the modification of the steam frigate,
the most skilful mechanics and artisans from the which also uses artillery, and is expressly built for
detachments now at head-quarters, in order that speed and strength, and weight sufficient to sink
they may be at once forwarded to Corfu, where by concussion, and with a rig subordinate to that
there is a great demand for well-skilled men of the important quality. I give my reasons in the follow-
Royal Engineers. The men employed, in this sering observations to show why I think the latter
vice will receive extra pay, in addition to several (steam ram) is ininitely superior for service, less
other advantages. expensive in construction, and much less in main-
The Elswick Ordnance Company have lately pur- tenance.
chased above five acres of land to the east of their . The iron-plated steam ram can make use of guns
present works in Newcastle-on-Tyne, on which it is as the steam frigate, equal in calibre, and, if re-
understood they propose erecting a series of commo- quired, equal in number. She can use more guns
dious buildings for fitting up and finishing the from each extremity than the steam frigate from
Armstrong guns before they are shipped to Wool- her bow or stern ; therefore, whether retreating or
with. lieretofere the guns have been sent from pursuing, the steam ram is more formidable, even
Elswick in an unfinished state, the carriages and when she trusts to her guns alone. -
other fittings being added when they reached A single *steam ram can effect with her beak
Woolwich. In the new works about to be erected it an amount of destruction in a few minutes
is intended that the guns for the future shall be which would take many steam frigates to effect
fitted up and finished before they leave the Tyne. very imperfectly in as many days, if at all. She
Yesterday, at 12.25, Lieut.-Col. Mitchell, with could get in among a fleet at night, sink two or three
Lieutenants Lane and Mackay, and 62 men of the ships and disperse the rest. She could run into a
No. 2 Brigade, Royal Artillery, arrived from Dover, harbour, such, far example, as Cherbourg, by one
via Hastings, at Bexhill, a station on the London, entrance and out by the other, sink some of the
Brighton, and South Coast Railway, in order to ships at anchor in the outer road by her beak, and
make the necessary preparations for a new experi- set fire to others by her incendiary projectiles.
went with artillery on a Martello Tower, No. 49, The steam rams should have both extremities the
about two and a-half miles from that station. One- same (I proposed a screw and rudder at each end,
half of the men are billetted at Powell's Hotel, in and also paddle wheels for Channel service) ; she
the village of Bexhill,"ebout a stone's threw from could run in or out among the enemy's vessels, and
the station, and the remainder at a place where advance or back with the same velocity and quick-
there are a few houses, called Little Common, which ness. If attacking at night, with masts lowered,
is in the immediate vicinity of No. 49 Tower. They she could not be seen until felt, could launch out
will be employed in fitting up a four-gun battery, her incendiary projectiles into the town and har-
consisting of two 68 and two 84 pounders of the bour, and there would be no masts, sails, or rigging
ordinary description of cannon, :the object being to obstruct their flight in every direction. Guarded
to compare their efficiency with that of the by loepholed and bullet-proof towers to afford re-
Armstrong guns lately tried at Eastbourne. fuge to her people when boarded, and boiling water
Part of the materiel arrived yesterday at made to be ejected from them, it would be impos-
Bexhill from Dover at 4.50 p.m., and it Bible to take the steam ram.
is thought the preparations will occupy about No steam frigate could do all this. A steam ram,
a week. The operations are under the direction of when prepared for action (she has, of course, no
Colonel Burke Cuppage, and as the presence of bowsprit), with her masts lowered, the rigging, the
the Duke of Cambridge is anticipated, his grace little she has, frapped in amidships, and without
will, doubtless, fix the day for the experiment, any kind of outside projection, can clear instantly
which is as yet uncertain. d any vessel she may fall alongside of, or that she has
The Deputy-Adjutant, Col, C. Bingham, an- run into. If boarded the boarders must be killed
nounces the following removals, appointments, or scalded. As no wreck can hang overboard, her
Ike., in the Royal Artillery, in a general regi- screw cannot be foaled. The steam-frigate falling
mental order dated the 20th inst. :—Second Capt elongside of her enemy, andeither vessel losing masts
Henry Benny, to be Capt. vice G.,'-,R. C. Young, and yards, they must get entangled, and their screws
removed to the half-pay list. Lieut, W. G. Mar- fouled by their wreck ; there would then be nothing
tin to be Second Capt., vice Renny. Second Capt to prevent a fresh ship from running alongside and
Arthur iT. G. Pearse to be Adjt., vice Ravenhill, effecting an easy conquest of the steam frigate.
who resigns the Adjutancy only. Lieut. F. L. G. If the steam ram is constructed with both ends
Little, of the 7th Brigade, to be raised to increased as sterns she will never require turning in action ;
pay, vice Martin. Second Capt. It. H. Newbolt is she can, therefore, run up or back in passages or
appointed to the Horse Brigade, vice Major Grylls, rivers as narrow as the breadth of her own beam,
who resigns his appointment in that branch in and engage batteries at the closest distance. She has
consequence of ill-health. Second Capt. T. P.
two screws to rely upon (she may in addition have
Carey is transferred from No. 1 Battery, 6th paddlewheels), and her screws cannot be fouled
Brigade, to No. 1 Battery, 11th Brigade, vice New- from her own wreck. If a steam frigate of the rig
bolt, end Major Grylls is therefore posted to the and dimensions of the "Warrior were to run up a
former Battery in the room of Carey. Second narrow channel or river to engage a battery at
.Capt. and Brevet-Major T. S. P. Field is trans- close quarters, any wreck from her own guns
(erred to the Depot Brigade, vice Pcarse, and would infallibly foul her screw ; so circumstanced,
Second Capt. Ravenhill ii therefore posted to No her great length would prevent her from having
5 Battery, 11th Brigade. Second Capt. F. G. E sufficient space to wear in, as she would require at
Warren is transferred from Major Barstow's Bat- least half a mile for the purpose, and the ember-
tery, 4th Brigade, to Major Hastings's Battery, rassed screw would prevent her from tacking. The
11th Brigade, in place of Capt. Renny, and Second velocity of a steam ram can only be slightly affected
Capt. W. G. Martin will therefore join the former by the wind, her schooner rig end lowering masts
Battery. The following removals have been presenting no comparative resistance when bring-
sanctioned,—viz., Capt. Itenny, from Bengal to ing the wind ahead. This position to a steam fri-
'Woolwich ; Major Field, from India to Woolwich gate, with her heavy masts and yards, might make
Second Capt. Carey, from Malta to India; Major a difference of several knots an hour, besides much
Grylls, from India to Malta ; and Second Capt impeding the quickness of her movements.
W. U. Martin, from Gosport to Sherncliffe. I have hitherto spoken of the " iron-protected
His Royal Highness the General Commanding, shot-proof steam ram." Now, it must be evident to
with the concurrence
of the Secretary of State for every man acquainted with maritime matters, that
War, in reference to the War" office Circular of the when a steam ram has the superiority in speed and
7th of November, 1859, No. 198, has appointed quickness of movement over her enemy she can
the following officers to be Inspectors of War- make herself equally formidable without shot-proof
like Stores anal
ireraasters at the undermentioned protection. She can then choose the time and mode
stations :—Capt. R. Boyle, Malta; Capt. C. Hardy, of attack most advantageous to her. Such a steam
Halifax ; Capt. T.
Mahon, Quebec • Lieut. E. T. ram could carry six weeks' or two months' fuel (the
Warry, Gibraltar. To be Assist.-Inspector.—Capt.' ships of the day do not carry more than from
.screw .
C. B. Le Mesurier, Corfu. The appointments of seven to ten da s') • besides, as the aggressive
officers to the remaining stations named in the cir- y ' •
party, she can more easily economize her fuel. She
cuter referred to will be notified
as soon as the offi- would probably keep out of gunshot during the
cers have passed through the course of instruction, day, and making frequent feints at night, obliging
and received certificates of cm
petency from the the sips to keep up full steam, the time would
respective superintendents of the manufacturing
. soon arrive when their fuel would be expended, and
departments. As there are at the present time they would soon become mere sailing vessels. In
officers several vacancies not yet provided for, any'
a dark night when the steam ram has all her masts
who may be desirous of the appointments are re-
quested to. submit their wishes to their lowered, she uses fuel that emits little or no smoke,
cornraandine. and, turnbeakshe
who (if they have no objection therein) -•`"
officers,
to the Horse Guards. I'l'l becomes ihvisible to them at 200 yards ; but every
forward the names
movement of the ships, with their high broad
The following are the names of the recipients in hulls, tall masts, and square sails, is easily
the Royal Artillery of the medal and gratuity for visible to the steam ram. She ~,,torts her vie-
" long d conduct for the current
service and goo c tim; 60 or 70 seconds after the first cry of the
ear:—Sergt.-Major Henry Nelson, Sergt.-Major look y
out man that the " enemy is running down
t William Huggins, Sergt.- upon us,"
John McDonald, Serg •the five or six bow guns are pour-
Major Charles Serbutt, and Gunner David Cupar, ing in
their molten iron-shells and liquid fire either
Sergt. Neil M‘Beath, 3d into the ship at ten
or the one
of the Depot ; Gunner- ahead or astern of
Brigade ; Sergt. Bernard Doolan (X 10), Coast Bri- her, and she crushes in either bow,
beam orquar-
ter of the enemy. Every sailor knows that in so
glide.
adapted to all de short a time it would be impossible to
A new pattern of rocket scale,get a large
dby Capt. Jerning s, I/
h i to avoid the blow, still less to man, point, and
scriptions of rockets, submitted
' and one fire her guns at so rapidly-moving •
ham, R.N. has been approved for service, ing an object as the
demanded steam ram, going Bor 10 knots. Wh
of these new scales, with bits, has been
the moral
e. at must be
._ the effect, also, upon the
home setcrew attacked,
for each battery of the Horse Brigade on
-. knowing that no earthly courage orskill
n pox can save,
vice, in exchange for the brass scales now i
them from the inevitable destruction • •ng them
awaiting session. A new vent-piece for 12-pounder Arm-
i a few seconds P
strong guns has been approved under authority, 1 '
As the two vessels have different movements (the
and steps have been taken to have the vent-pieces A
now in use exchanged for those of the new patters. beak of the steam ram is made only to penetrate to
His Royal Highness the General Commanding- a certain distance), and the latter immediately
In-Chief has 8, .quickly disengages herself, disappears
approved the following promotions backing, she
004 Appotatinout% master gunners : Master
up the darkness, and returns to repeat the same
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