The Republican journal., 1873-07-17
The Devastation.

Travellers going to Europe this summer
by the way of Queenstown will have an
opportunity to see what is supposed to be
the most formidable ship-of.war now
ahoat. The famous Devastation, which
has been for four years building, is now
at last complete and ready for trial. She
made the trip across the Irish sea, from
Portsmouth to Bantry bay, in safety, en-
countering, however, only short waves
and light winds. She has now been wait
ing tor several weeks, and at this season
of the year may not improbably wait for
several weeks longer, for an opportunity
to test her seaworthness in a real Allan
tic storm. With the fate of the turret-
ship Captain fresh in their memory, not
only the admiralty, but the whole nation,
feel no small degree of anxiety and a
lurking distrust as to the result of the
trial. Even in her trip in quiet water,
though she behaved generally very well,
yet at times she pounded heavily upon the
ocean swell, and occasionally flung
''clods' of water weighing thirty or forty
tons upon her iore-deck. Yet she is in
tended not only for coast defence, but to
serve in the channel, along the western
coast of Europe, in the Mediterranean and
even on this side Of the Atlantic, accord
ing to the naval needs of Great Britain
If she cannot do this, Mr.. Goschen, the
first lord of the admiralty, acknowledges
that she will be failure.
To judge by the descriptions given in
the reports and newspapers, the vessel is
indeed fearful monster Her armament
consists of four thirty-five ton rifled guns,
N, ho or
line, in turrets cased in - to IA inch
the sea on every side. She can be pro-
PEELED as a ram, and her speed for this
purpose is estimated as high as at the
rate of sixteen statute miles per hour
In two minutes she can describe half
circle, that is she can right-about-fa or
turn her beak from due north to due
south at this surprising speed. On her
trial trip she made from 1920 to 13.41
knots per hour; on the voyage to Queens
town she made between seven and eight
knots.
The Devastation is propelled by two
separate screws driven by double cylin-
ders and separate engines. Either screw
alone is capable of propelling her. 1t
was al first intended to make of her
mastless vessel, but lately one mast has
been put into her. The change, however,
by no means gives general satisfaction
The mast is necessarily to some extent in
the way of the guns, and prevents their
controlling complete circle with their
fire. Neither is it conceivable that the
mast can do much good; it would be of
slight use as an aid to the two engines :;
and in the rare chance Of both engines
breaking down, the ''skeeliest skipper
would hardly expect to carry such craft
far beneath the meagre amount of canvas
he could spread. The first plan was to
give to the vessel a carrying capacity for
fuel alone of 1000 to 1900 tons. But the
addition of unexpected weight in other
parts rendered necessary an economy in
weight somewhere. This could be effect
ed nowhere save in the fuel, and now she
is expected to carry 400 tons, and it is
not quite certain that she will not be
over-weighted even with that amount.
The 100 tons was supposed to be suffi-
clent to enable her to remain at sea thirty
SIX days. But alterations made during
construction have, it is claimed, increased
her speed; also, by an unusual and sin
gular piece of good luck, her engines
nave developed upwards of thousand
horsepower more than was contracted
Tor. Thus her speed is knot and quar-
tor more than was calculated upon, and
the belief is that she can now make as
long voyage, in point of distance, as
was at first expected of her
These alterations, made during the
building and adding to her weight SO ma
terially, are viewed with a good deal of
dislike by some persons who are authori-
ties in such matters. Sir Spencer Robin
son, the late controller of the navy. has
Just published 4 pamphlet in which he
brings out these facts very clearly. The
present weight Of the vessel, he saws, is
532 tons beyond the original estimate
made in April, 1869, and 5S5 tons in ex-
cess OF the estimate made in January,
lSI. Her mean draft Of water, with 1000
tons OF coal on board, is greater by one
foot / u inches than the estimate of 1869,
and one foot ) 3-4 inches than the estimate
OF 1871. 10 Justify sending her into the
Atlantic, Sir Spencer says it will be neces-
sary to remove this additional weight by
diminishing the coal and projectiies placed
on board OF her, sin other words, to clip
the wings and pare the talons of the most
formidable sea-gong ship yet designed"
Moreover, what is more provoking is that
some OF the alterations have not increased
her hghtlng powers, as for example, the
mast already mentioned. Also forecas-
tie has been raised nine feet above the line
OF the original deck, and deck has been
placed over the top of the armored breast
work around the turrets This makes her
a little oyer eleven feet instead of a little
over tour feet above the water line; and
the additions being of light iron work are
liable to be smashed and perhaps even to
be thrown up in the way of her own guns
by the shells OF the enemy. Boston Ad-
vertiser.