The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-15
IRON-CLAD)S.r
MI. E. J. Reed, the English Builder.
on Naval Architecture.
TORPEDO BoATsna USES.
Changes That May Take Place in Az
mored War Vessels.


Mr.. +. ]. Reed who is known all over the world
authority on the subject Of ronsclsds arrived this
city yesterday morning in the steamer Germanic,
from Liverpool. Mr.. Reed 10 . member Of Parliament
and holds the honorable positions or c. B.. Fellow Of
the Royal Society, presdsns the institution o.
Naval Architects. and 10 an active and honorary
member OF several literary and philosophical soce.
ties He is the author OF number OF books on naval
warfare and vessels OF war, the mode OF constructing
and building iron-cIads being q special branch Of
the subject on which he treats He visits this
country for the benefit Of hts neath which has be-
come somewhat impaired by his incexsant mechani.
cal and literary abora He 10 accompanied by his
daughters and son, young man about twenty three
years or age Mr. Reed 10 about dty years u pge. Of
medium height, stout and well proportioned He will
this city Tor lev days, and afterward visit
West Point Saratoga, Niagara Falls Boston ana Pha.
delphis. Roach's iron works on the Delaware and
other industrial and notable points where prac.
tical observations can be made and recrc-
alton obtained few years ago Mr.
Reed made the plan aud specifications for
building clad vessel called the
OF 5000 tons, for BRAZILIAN government and Of
fercd complete her for certain sum- but the offer
declined the alleged ground that tho price
too high, and other parties obtained the contract
When being launched, however, she ''broke her
back, " and the Braztltau government PAID Mr. Reed
$50 900 TO superintend her completion. The same
vessel was sold lev months since to tho British
HERALD reporter called ON Nj. Reed ut hts omar.
ters at Fifth Avenue hotsf yesterday. The con.
versation that ensued - given substantially a. io
lows- ---"-.~s -s--t---
THE ENGLISH rLrxE
ecency oi the large ,rou.o.s vessels o. Earopc,"
'rhat IS very broad question, Tue view take Of
from tho time OF the introduction iron ciads kas
gone upon the principle OF suocessvey increasing the
power OF ships possesses efhcient rsn-cad feet,
the number Of their ships. By pursuing this
England has become POSSESSED OF an
combined fleets OF the other Europesa Powers
The destructive Effects Of the cast grave doubts
because white scarcely possible % make them
capable OF being ahmed and Of w,tbstAndinR ram
ming their danger increased by tho existing system
OF steam tactics In days OF sailing ships eli tho
vessels OF a squadron were propelled by the same
moving torce-namsiy, the wind-bu, now every ship
possesses perfectly Independent source OF moving
power. Their handling becomes a master OF the Arst
Importance, while snps are steamed in squadrons
Plies Of the worst KIND must be looked for"
WAS THE LOSS OF TIN VANGUARD AlvIrABLYf
'ln the case OF the Vanguard, was the loss OF the
ship inevitable Y' 49,. a
NO; the Vanguard was lost because the water tight
door between ,. tue engine room and Dosr room was
the very moment an injury 10 either compartment
occurred these rooms being tho largest compartments
In tho ship" I'll An 4gst4
clio regard to the late collision between the King
William and Crosse Kurfars, was the loss Of the las
81 thuk SO. because in this case the woaud in the
ship was so large as to deprive her Of stability before
os by view or ss k ,ss VS.
suit that recently pressed upon the British Al.
miraity In Parliament the serious dohciency OF the
lnncxibie as regards her power OF floating upnght
alter sustaining heavy damage either from ram, .
torpedo or IRON shot or shell hro." III -,rl
CONDITION or rHK KING WILLIAM
"was the King " iii,am la great danger OF founder.
ing alter the coIislonas was at the time repressnedS"
she had watertght bulkhcad sufficiently near TO Tue
bow 70 prevent tins. But ths injury which she
forged stem was both broken or aud torn completely
away from the whole OF its fasseniugA This shlp's
stem proved too weak, both 10 Itself and In It's COO.
necuons, for the work imposed upon by the COL
lsion, there can be no doubt whatever. Bur is
was nevertheless AZ strong construction was ever
Aued 70 the bow OF an iron-ciad. The enormous In.
jury which the ship sustained the grave Quss.
ton wns.her any ships bow has hitherto been 20
constructed as to withstand blow delivered at high
speed against smother ronclad moving past her aso
~ high speed" .tl.
STEEL A SUBSTITUTES sox IAox /.
ln case the iron pla,ng be superseded, has been
suggested what would you suggest as the best subs
.In my opinion extremely hard steel possessius
great ductility likewise, will take the place OF Iron
armor altogether: mean sacn material SIR
has iatsIy been producing by his system OF
COMPRISING steel IN = duid state have no doubt
q
similar method, will produce srmor plate practically
mpenerabe To all sting ordnance and Of less
thcknsss than The armor plates OF the English
and Italian iron clads BY adopting steel both toe
armor and for the hull OF the ship wo shall soon, 4
doubt not, be able to accomplish what has hitherto
been tho dream alike OF naval officers and naval
construc.ors--namely. small snip OF immense
speed. carrying very heavy gun and efeetually
protected In her vital parts That, In my opinion.
is the future armor- plated var vessel"
PROTECTION AGAINST TORPEDO BOATS.
"How eau you construct vessels 70 resist the tor.
Al a N In Eur,
1.-THE only protection against the actual blows Of
torpsdoes IS extreme subdivision Of The ship into
small compartments; but the useful application Of
orpedoes In naval warfare NJ sea Is not all Ger.
taiu 10 succeed as many suppose Boats built
ric lights, to light up ths Jog sea BY uight
and by the use vi light revolving guns san Gent
BE- for the future number OF lignt torpedo craft At.
tAched 10 every seago'ns squadron a. . dsisnsvs
measure"
"w,il 10. sen.propeInns sorpsdOss destroy you,
iron-cad vcsses1o
"Hmhcrto thu action of self propeing torpcdoes has
the interference with the drcctness their
aim. When launched from the shore or IRON per-
iecty smooth they will, NO doubt prove most
formidable element OF hsrbor defence but doubt
their efficiency in sea hghtsn
not abandon the large roDclad vessels altogether
adopt tho torpedo systcmYn
..fhe British navy at least can never abandon guns
for any form Of submarine attack whatever Tor tue
simple that her naval force is exerted against
ioregn shores ten times oiteuer that II 10 exerted
believe that America viii conssn, 10 forsso
the general use OF guns In war ships guns being
tho only means by which ship attack or threaten
tho batteries aud coasts OF hostile assert
tho rights OF her eitlxens 10 foreign ports"
M REED's NovExxsra
On Mr.. Reeds arrival yesterday morning he was
received at the wharf by Mr. N. Mckay OF Philadsl.
ph, aud was escorted by that gentleman 10 ths PARK
aud other places OF interest yesterday, including
Gilmors's Garden in the sveuisg. He VIII
remain In TINS country about three weeks.
He viii visit Japan some time In october OF
ho Rai
ami San Francesca The Emperor oil japan has ten
dered him the uso OF palace on bic arrival, he
goes there on ofic,al business by Invitation Of the
government He has just complotcd Tor tho japanese
Ministry OF Marine three ironclad frieates and de-
hversd them during the last few weeks Al Yokohama.
SUICIDE OF A PATIENT. t
A thu Chs rnhsrs es,.cs u,.cxs.t tsss .~oct~~