Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-26
A TRANSFORMATION.
How a Peaceful Atlantic Liner IS Con-
verted Into 4 War ShiD.

AHto IL war mp
The United States was the first ma
ton to improvise a navy of merchant
ships. At the outbreak OF the rebel
lion the necessity for an enormous in
crease Of the navy was met by the
prompt purchase or charter of steam
ers OF ali classes, even the peaceful!
ferry-boat being transformed into a
man-of-war, some of these vessels being
turned to excellent account, especially
for the river and inland water service.
The suspicion of wal with Russia in
1873 led the Cars Government to see
the advantage of swift cruisers, and
the American mercantile steam navy
was drawn upon to furnish two such
commerce dest:oyers. Their services
were not needed. The effect of this
action was to teach the British what u
powerful weapon they had at hand.
Acting on the hint, it has to-day about
$50 such vessels from which to choose
as commerce protectors. The Atlantic
feet has been drawn upon for
this purpose, and one of the
most notable of these, the National
Liner America, has been finished
for the new service and is nearly ready
fos commission as a wal vessel. 1t is a
new navy. of which she is the pioneer,
and the details of her conversion can
not fail to be of interest. Messrs.
Laird, of Alabama notoricty, are the
ad.pters of this ship, II of the finest
of the Atlantic squadron, which had
accommodations for 1850 passengers.
The America is built of steel, and has
thirteen water-tight compartments, any
two Of which can keep her afioat. The
passenger accommodation has been
swept away. BY SO doing she can now
accommodate 1000 mes. This SEEM
ing paradox is explained by the fact
that the Injuries Of ocean travel are
moi necessary for the conveyance OF
troops, and the America may be used
as an armed transport. The arma-
ment of this new war vessel is peculiar
and adapted to her build. Two five
inch guns are placed On either bow on
the %forccastle; six sixty-four-pounders
are placed in other parts of
the vessel. On the poop two
other tive-ineh guns of the same char
acter as at the bowH are placed.
The four tive-inch guns thus placed for
ward and aft are in very exposed posi-
tons, but their great range OF over $50
degrees is the compensating gain.
They have a direct fire over bow and
stern, and as they will be able to work
around to tifty-eight degrees toward
midships it will be difficult for any
hostile vessel to escape their range.
The sixty-four-pounders, three on a
SIDE. will each have q range of ninety
degrees, and will thus command the
whole broadside of the ship.
Six Nordenfcldt Mitrailleuse or ma
chine guns are on the upper
deck, and four pinnaces, specially
adapted to torpedo work, make
up the armament to this vessel,
which will be the champion for the new
class of vessels thus withdrawn from
the peaceful passenger traffic to take
her place us a regular ship-of-war OF
the British navy.
The Etruria, Umbia and Oregon OF
the Cunard Linc, and the Alaska OF the
Guion. are also being fitted. The arm
ament varies, according to the peculiar
construction of the several vessels, but
is of the same general character
Boston Globe.