Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-06
THE BRITISH ARMY AND NAVY.


to which division Of the British army has been lately
subjected on Chobham Common, in the vicinity of Wind
sor, dgresses into the following remarks upon the inn
proved condition in which, for the purpose Of national
defence both branches of the British military service
have been recently placed 1t is worth the consideration
Of our own Government says the Boston Daily Advsr-
tiser inquire whether hint might not be taken from
the imposing condition Of the British feet at Spit
head compared with what its state two years ago,
for some attempt reform the condition Of navy
There less talk the subject of reforms in
the navy in the last Congress- but yet without
evidence of any important improvement being made The
army thanks to the influence of the West Point system
OF instruction. does need the process Of resusc
tation. The Times remarks follows
'sThe chief improvements will probably be effected in
the personal equipments of the All military autho-
rites are now Of opinion that marching is quality in
erior only to that Of lighting and in marching it is OBJ
vious that weight must tell II can tighten the soldiers
muskets and kits and SO dispose what they still carry
that the load may be borne with greater ease is plain
that we are making each man. and therefore the aggre
gate OF men, 50 much more efficient than they before
L was told OF the Great Duke that when he first Joined
the army as ensign he carefully weighed all the ne
coutrements of private soldier and that in his after
estimates Of military work he forgot this unit Of
measure In those days, we believe, the equipment in
question weighed full 70lb it is less than COBB at
present but there is every probability that II or labs
at least will be taken off by the improvements now in
enormous.
Wih respect to the feet do at length appear to be
achieving two grand points We seem to have hit upon
the right build for steamers and going the proper
way TO get men, How long foundered about in ruin
GUS experiments it is not worth while to reckon but it
really now appears that the line Of battle ship
is the particular thing for which long looking
IN vain All our work of this description admi-
raby nor have yet heard Of single decker
which, after being heightened and fitted with her prope-
ler taken into dock to be shortened and adapted to
la-xvba n,.1ra % -.
model not only Of size and strength but speed and ease
After such examples read with fewer misgivngs
announcements like that in naval intelligence Of yes
terday that the Admiralty had ordered six more screw
to be built three sail of the line and three
rigates We only hope successful fashion may not
soon be superseded.
As regards the manning of the feet we observe that
Sir James Graham obtained leave last week bring ip
two important bills, concerning the sentry and sr-
vice Of seamen generally and the other respecting naval
coast volunteers If we rightly understand aese an
nouncements the two points thus aimed at comprehend
all our present wants One bill will proye Tor the gene
raj service of the feet the other will d US IN emergen
ces 1t is highly desirable both mat ships, when put
ordinarily in commission, shoua complete their COM
plements with somewhat less difficulty than at present.,
and also that species Of naval reserve may enable
to equip strong squodron for home service whenever
circumstances may to require it. The first of these
objects we are now attempting to attain by improving
the of service that will enter it freely the
second is aed at presume, in the bill for coast
volunteers 1t has been long ago suggested that the
lied in such to make the available
emergency without prejudice to the ordinary duties
of this class Of people, and conjecture that Sir James
Graham bill is for nstitutng this species of maritime
militia The scheme need involve neither expense nor
trouble and the training required is very slight. The
men in question ready-made sailors and nothing is
wanted but facilities for sudden muster.
ANOTHER MouNrAIs BoRER-The Hartford Times states
that great Tunnel Borer has just been built in that city
by Messrs. Woodruff and Beach, which promises great
things. 1t is operated, the Times states, by steam
engine Of sixty horsepower which drives four piston rode
horizontally These rods four half circle plates OF
stout proportions which circular revolving blsdes are
set These four plates turned with exactaess about
oneourth of circle and back and all set upon re-
vovng plate Of about ten feet in diameter and as thus
set cut circle Of seventeen feet in diameter The ma
chine weighs about eighty TONS and is OF stout proper
ions throughout The motion obtained by this invention
IS entirely BY it the revolving knives, each rum
& Quarter circeout completely from the centre to
me circumference, and they do mcr work steadily and
surely cutting round hole they are turned by the
arge or centre plate A trial of the machine is to bc
made at Harlem.