The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-18

when general reduction took place In orr navy
ana when Congress neglected TO compensate Mr..
Webb for the immense OUTLAWS exceeding the con-
tract price, her constructor secured the pas
sage OF an act by which the Dunderberg
was placed at tho disposal OF Mr.. Webb.
Immediately propositions poured in from several
South American Powers and from France and Prus
sia; but France offered the largest sum- and she was
purchased by the personal direction OF the Emperor
who mad heard OF her prOwess and her wonderful
offensive and defensive devices. IL Ii said that Mr.
Webb received 1000, 0oOf. for the vessel as she
stood.
The Dunderberg now ROchambeau, was launched
In the summer OF 1865, after she had been In
process OF construction for three years. She Is an
Immense irOn-plated ram, displacing 1000 tons Of
water. She Is built OF the best timber fore and aft
though some mcndacious writer's have mad the au
daciy to make contrary assertions. She Is 378 feet
long, has 70 feet breadth Of beam amidsbps and Is
30 feet In the hold. She has larger available deck
surface than any war vessel ever constructed.
Her lines are original with MI. Webb, and the
principles upon which she ia built bold and pro-
gresslve, but have been successful and brilliantly
triumphant She has no dead rise-that is. she Is
dlcularly from the bottom Forward she is sharp.
ana mas an invulnerable iron ram twenty-five feet
sUng sosrp pointed s ana 80 curved on the upper
ram that Is one Of the destructive features OF the
Rochambeau. In the naval battle OF LISA the
victory was won with this weapon; and that and
other engagements have Enthusiastically shown that
IN the future running the enemy down. Is more
II WAS computed by Admiral Goldsborough that
the shock sustained by impact with the Rochambeau
would be equal to the Impression made by cannon
ball weighing 1000 tons and moving ut the velocity
OF 800 feet second, provided the Rochambeau
were steamng ten knots an hour.
IL the ROchambeau had this great feature for
ward she mad another aft equally important. but
which the French have destr0yed-her ovcrhang
L hv hnr hitt1 gru m
protect her screw and ru1der from terrific seas ana
me assaults OF an antagonist. In her passage to
TINS appendage, and 1t not clear that the French
authorities nave not been guilty OF piece of folly
III making the alterations. saiNl
Upon the spar deck is easement 200 feet long,
egh hon ana &ai set hlgh ana sixty wide protected
iron plating nine inches thick, inclined to The deck
al an angle OF sixty degrees and backed by three feet
OF solid wood TINS molina Ion of the easement sides
Teaeers absolutely Impossible for any proecte to
tumhllng and Kissing through the air
Casemaed vessels, 1t is needless to say. supe-
riOr 10 monitors and all the worthless inventions OF
Ericsson Coles and others, and this fact was demon
strated In the late war.
CHASED IN TINS country two OF which were placed on
board by Mr. Webb. She completes her bat
terry with fourteen l5-inch shell guns OF
| 800 tons and her plating 100 tons. making
heavy superimposed burden of 1,4Oo tons Her
screw has diameter OF 20 feet; her shaft one of 20
| inches. Her engines are two OF 5000 horse mower
each aud she can carry 500 tons OF coal using but
| 20 day. Her fire room, engine room quarter and
cabin ara superb and were fitted up at great ex.
pcnse.
The Rochambeau sailed from this port on the 10th
OF July, 1867, and entered U,erbourg harbOr August
y making her remarkable passage in fourteen da,
| she eXhloied great speed, logging fifteen knots
during the run and she has frequently made six
! teen since her ownership IN France.
Sie Is buoyant IN seaway, steers easily. can turn
Win remarkable rapidity and sits gracefully upon
the water. moving at the slightest application OF
| power. She can concentrate The heaviest battery
ahoat In the world, can anDhlatc antagonist
with her ram and yet be from the hostile
movements OF an entire squadron. She f. the most
terrible engine OF war In the world ana Prussia VIII
have to meet powerful enemy conceived by Anne
ricau genius.