The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-29 00:00:00

and Bellerophon, each representing
a different
of the iron-plated squadron. With regardierenttotytphee
trials which had taken place at Shoeburynteedss
otonttebset
the resisting powers of targets construe
principle of the vessels named, it hadthe rteecstesntly
ai been
urged at a scientific meeting that
insisted upon were far too severe,
wre,thhiechtawrgonetisdbneevinerg
subjected systematically to trials
be equalled in actual warfare, where
andwhe wrefiarhinvgariwoousuldb
be
irregular, at greater distances,
de-
grees of obliquity. The Admiralty had, however,
consideredeects it the wisest course to find out the worst
ff
which could possibly be produced upon their
ships, and in this respect had acted most judiciously,
while the results would prove that our officers and
men would, in time of war, have the greatest confi-
dence in their ships, and go into action with a degree
of daring fully equal to that which in other times and
under other circumstances won us the naval honour
and renown we had so long enjoyed. After alluding to
the form of construction of the Warrior, in which
were embodied two subordinate but important com-
ponents—viz., the double skin plating above and
below the line of ports and the external stringers
upon the iron frames below the ports —Mr. Reed
described the construction of the Minotaur, and the
surprising nature of the results obtained in the ex-
perimental trials made on the Minotaur target,
which differed from the Warrior mainly in the re-
duction of the wood backing, with an increase of
equivalent weight in the armour. A single layer of
gin. teak, with armour of 51in. thickness, formed
its component parts, the frames and skin plating
remaining about the same. For a long time it was
supposed that this target had proved much inferior
to that of the Warrior, while the departure from
the system adopted in the Warrior was repeatedly
condemned. Subsequently, however, the important
fact was discovered that the wrong powder had been
used in the trials against the Minotaur target, it
having been ascertained that what was known as 2
A powder had been used with two out of the three
rounds of 1501 b. cast-iron spherical shot fired from
the 10iin. gun at the target, the effect of which was
found to be to raise the striking velocity of the
shot from 1,620 ft. to 1,744 ft. per second. This
comparison consequently invalidated all the compa-
risons which were made at the time of, and after,
the trial, subsequent trials having proved the Mino-
taur, Agincourt, and Northumberland to possess far
greater strength than had been at first supposed.
Mr. Reed then passed on to consider the Bellerophon
and the experiments made on the Bellerophon tar-
get, the principal feature in which consisted in ex-
tending throughout its entire structure the
double skin plating and the external stringers pre-
viously introduced. By their adoption important
advantages were secured, the combined horizontal
and vertical 10-inch frames, connected by the double
skin of three-quarter inch iron, constituting an
enormously strong and rigid structure. After allud-
ing to a variety of details connected with the Bel-
lerophon and the leading features which rendered
her superior to any of the ironclads which preceded
her, Mr. Reed next gave some interesting details
respecting the Lord Warden, and the improvements
made in her construction. The most striking of
these was the device of solidifying the frame in the
wake of the armour, the chief advantage being that
the frame of the ship was thus rendered solid, and
the inside of the vessel fitted with a thickness of 2ft.
7in. of solid timber behind the 4i-inch armour
plating. Another important feature introduced in
the Lord Warden and Lord Clyde was the addi-
tional 1i inch of iron placed between the frames and
the outer planking of the ship, to prevent the pas-
sage of shell—the most important thing to guard
against in the case of a wooden armour-plated
vessel. Such a contingency was not thought possible
at the time the Warrior was designed, but the im-
provements effected by Mr. Whitworth and Sir W.
Armstrong demonstrated clearly that shells could be
made to penetrate the iron armour of armoured ships.
It was therefore decided to give the sides an addi-
tional thickness of iron plating, and the results of
the experimental trials subsequently made proved
the soundness of the principle, the shells fired
against the targets so constructed failing to pass
through them. A similar plan was also to be
adopted in the construction of the Hercules, which
would carry a thickness of nine inches of armour-
plating for several feet above the water-line, with
a backing of teak varying from 12 inches to 16
inches. The Hercules would, however, be ren-
deied still more capable to resist the passage of
shot and shell through her sides by the addition of
a :double wood backing, supported by a second
series of frames and skin plates. The result of the
improvements in the construction of the Hercules
had been fully anticipated in the experimental
trials recently made ,on the Hercules target at
Shoeburyness, where it was only penetrated by two
600-pounder projectiles,
,each fired with 1001 b.
charges, both missiles striking upon the same spot,
leaving no doubt whatever that the Hercules her-
self would be proof against any shot fired from
any gun in the world. Mr. Reed, before terminat-
ing his address, briefly described the Monarch,
double turret ship, about being commenced at
Chatham dockyard, and concluded by describing
the several experiments made at Shoeburyness on
the various descriptions of armour-plates and
targets, the particulars of which have been given
on various occasions in The Sun.

A Brush with the Wahabees.

Her Majesty's sloop of war Highflyer, 21 guns, Captain
Pasley, loft Bombay at the latter end of December for a
cruise up the Persian Gulf. She first touched at Muscat,
where she landed two guns which had been sent up to the
Imaurn. Thence she went to Soor on the 2nd of January,
and then on the following day to Elphinstone Inlet, where
she expected to meet Colonel Pally, but, not being able to
find that gentleman, they returned to Soor, whet() he was
awaiting their arrival. She afterwards left for Bahrein,
and there sent a message to the Chief of El Katif, who was
to have made restitution for certain outrages committed
against British authority. After a short delay it was found
necessary to proceed to Bassadore to coal, after which she
made a run along the pirate coast and destroyed a fort at
Ag-aina, and then returned back to Elphinstone Inlet.
Some three days' time was given to the chief at El Katif
to satisfy the demand made upon him ; at the expiration
of which, as ho had failed to comply with the same, they
opened fire on a fort, which was destroyed, as well as
three " dhows," two of which [were boats. The High-
flyer then proceeded towards Damaun, but in conse-
quence of the shallowness of the water she could not get
within eight miles of the fort. The boats were then
lowered, but the two larger ones could not get within
half a mile of the shore ; two smaller ones, however,
approached within about 300 yards, when they ran
aground, upon which abou t3O officers and men jumped out
and waded ashore, arid made their way towards the fort.
When they got ashore one of the Wahabees came down and
commenced a parley with the party, evidently for the pur-
pose of gaining time, and enablilig the men in the fort to
get theirguns into such a position as to give their assailants
a warm reception. After a few minutes thus spent, one of
the Highflyer's men seized the Arab, whereupon the guns
from the fort opened.a sharp fire of grape upon the small
force, when an immediate rush was made at the fort. One
of the leaders of the party managed to clear the embrasure
and got in, being instantly followed by the men. The fort
is a square one, having an outer wall with guns mounted on
each side. Within this wall is another fort, with towers at
each corner. When the men got within the outer wall they
were ordered to place themselves close under the walls of
the inner fort, so as to be under cover of the fire from the
towers, but in consequence of the impossibility of restrain-
ing their ardour several were wounded by gunshot. The
enemy also threw down upon their heads large stones and
other missiles. The officers found that they had been mis-
informed as to the strength of the besieged, having been
given to understand that there were not above 14 men in
the fort. They were soon undeceived, for they found it
crowded with men, having been reinforced by the followers
of another chief. It now being found impossible to take the
Placei the
orwithh their small force, and not having scaling ladders
tirenn of
the fort the wayen
ebresatpplianees at hand, it was determined to re-
fore they conledl7.9 again opened fire
they could. As soon as the party left
wounded. The lossese upon them, and be-
their boats several more men were
retreat to the Brits amin front of the fort and in the
Incanted to three men killed and
three officers and five
Wounded
one of the latter
mortally, from the effects of
Which he died on the next
3
shelled with
havingas could he
day. On the following day the fort
the hope of dislodging the enemy, but as
ascertained without any favourable re
been
effected, though, as many of the shells were obs ra -
lodge in the fort, it is reasonable to suppose that its7c to
occu-
pants must have suffered to some extent. Several of the
enemy were known to have been killed or wounded by the
storming party, but no accurate estimate could be formed of
their losses. Subsequently the party returned to Soor, and
as the chief had not complied with the terms demanded
they captured 14 dhows, and destroyed some of those which