The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-02

Throwing Out the Old FIug--The North Anne.
ricnn and West Indian squadron-The Neu.
English Rams Compared Sk4allfs ma Trench-
1911 H(lMccf5s Torpedo Refused by Adj
mirnlty Accepted by Rassia-Thc McncrieG
system.
LONDON, August 20, 1870.
After the British Channel, China and the Medter-
ranean squadrons, comes the one cruising on the
coasts OF North America and in the West Indies
under the command OF Vice Admiral c. G. Wellesley.
u. b, II consists OF twenty-One ships with their
remnants flying, besides few vessels ''lad up" In
ordinary at Port Royal and Bermuda The vessels
III commission the following, VIZ
Royal Alfred (nagshlp OF the commander.in-chep
Aboukir with the broad pennant OF the Commo-
dore at Jamlica.
The Raccoon. valorous, Eclipse Danae Sphinx.
Niobe. vestal Royalist Philome, Lepwing, Plover.
Myrmidon, Terror. Britomart Cherub and MINSTREL
the three latter small ella OF gunboats.
Tho Dart, another gunboat, OF larger type Is
Just leaving the station for England, and O cor
vette-the Pylades-has just arrived from the Bra
zis, as well double screw gun vessel, from the
west coast OF Africa.
| Among the whole squadron are only two paddle
wheel steamers, the remainder being propelled by
screws
The whole squadron has q total horse power OF
nearly 5000 nominal; 229 guns 27 600 tons. and
manned by force Of nearly 4oGo officers men, boys
and marines.
NAVAL IRON RAMS.
Sir George Rose Sartorius, one or the admirals OF
the nect In the British navy has for some consider
able time past-in fact years-adyocated the intro
ducion OF vessels OF The class. His steady per-
severance was at length listened to by the Admit
rally, while it Is worthy OF remark that the French
have several OF these vessels and, as Is always the
case, our neighbors across the Channel mostly inves.
tigate from their point OF view, with every de-
gree OF energy, anything that is made public In
England, and there is no Doubt that when
the argument was going on in this coun
try some few years since respecting this
class OF vessels the French vera as usual
on the alert, and tested most fully The capacity
OF such vessels; and the proof have OF the light
they are held In bJ them is their adoption. While
An this country "John Bullr pays his money, and
smagtnes that he possesses every class OF ship to
protect his commerce on the sea, as well as his
hearth and home and is in fact, supplied with every
modern necessity OF the age he lives I'M yet alas,
when the time arrives how glum he looks to find that
in all classes or vessels OF the day he alone is def
Client In turrets rams little wasps OF gunboats OF
proper class, when Of all other nations he should
have been the happy possessor OF The finest. In
deed, he must say within himself ~ have badly In
vested my bullion for these iron sheets and plates
why, have none OF them compared with the gold
which exchanged for them"
L
fhe ironclad vessels England does possess Though
few-in some instances are fine specimens. at the
same time 1t cannot De denied t0 o'o' that ali and
every Que OF the vessels arc in positively satislc
tory condition
THE COST AND RESULT.
Two millions OF money was voted last session for
war purposes and portion OF this viii doubtless
be SET apart in improving and al the same time ad
ding 20 the iron-ciad fleet. However, 10 return 10
tile rams we have only the uOtspur, which has just
arrived al Plymouth from private yard at Glasgow,
and nom what can learn, Is line specimen OF her
fore he END Of the year as at the keyham c t
tile other ships are placed on her.
The other ram Is the Rupert, now building ut
Ghatham Her keei was ald aowh aa n n
yard people were buslly engaged In laying down the
Iron Keel plates and IN June last she was so far adj
vanced that her first bolt was driven. She Is now
making rapid progress. The greater portion OF her
double bottom Us now nearly ready for the inner
plating and before the end OF the year Will be far adj
yancod towards completion
The late chief constructor OF the the navy INTRO.
in use, and the Rupert is built upon this plan. 1t is
said by many that It gives maximum or strength
win minimum 81 Wsgnt. She VIII DC piateid, WIN
Fourteen inches having an inner skin OF iron one
md quarter inch thick; and Notwithstanding her
l6,lO9 tonsj and the Mlnotaur 16e2l tons)
Rnd other similar vessels, 1t Is generally
believed that she will be better protected than any
Of the British iron. cads and immensely superior TO
the Cerbere ana Boule-Dogue, the TWO French rams
from which are anticipated great EXPEDITIONS and
like which the Rupert, III some respects Is 10 De
constructed.
! There Is scarcely a shadow OF chance but the
Rupert will be far superior vessel 10 the TWO
French rams have named when tell you they are
pnly to have an armor plating Of eight and onenfth
Inches thick, on wooden huils.
: The Rupert's deck on the level Of the top.of the
Hrm0r belt will be covered with three inch deck
pr0n which Will render her invulnerabe against
s'depressed fire." She is TO be armed with TWO 18-
ton guns, which will be mounted on revolving tur-
ret and she Is constructed that she will be able
10 fight her guns up to the time OF OF her ramming.
pr. Reed. the late chief constructor Of the navy,
whose design she is, Is very sanguine about her,
understand as well as the officials and assistants
who were In his department.
!, MONITORS.
1t appears most singular thing that the govern
ment do not hold . feet OF small type monitors They
form, in case OF necessity, marvellous auxiliary
10 o squadron. AT tho present moment
the British feet at home and abroad is denuded CON-
6letely OF gunboats, taking In round calculations
khat there are nifty sixty OF these vesscsi there
6nay be about fifteen twenty,in the West Indies,
6hina Japan and probably ten in the Mediterra.
6ean the remainder being employed for coast guard
mouth narbor, the Midway and at Plymouth.
THE TURRET QUESTION.
This Is stln the aabsorbent TOPIC Next TO this Is
NJ An OF Captain Moncrien. the basis OF which ID 10
have ssWaepu fleet OF small craft, without turrets
hnd with high frcebOrds fitted with the M0ncrien
Run carriage which are OF most admirable construc.
Zion, as you will say when will tell you that II
Ind returns Il again to Its place when reloaded The
high freepord would secure and give ample accom-
mediation for the officers and crew and would dis
6npear when the battery was put I'm position,
kne ship being sunk to any required depth by the
bdmtssion OF water, which Is abe 70 De got f'd Of