The Press., 1889-04-18

there arrived of the coast of Canada the first result of Great Britain's prepara- tions for her war with the American syndicate, in the shape of the Adamant, the largest and finest ironclad which had ever .crossed the Atlantic, and which had been sent to raise the blockade of the Canadian port by the syndicate's vessels.
 This great ship had been especially fitted out to engage in combat with re- pellers and crabs. As far as was possi- ble the peculiar construction of the sym dicate's vessels had been carefully stud jed, and English specialists in the line of naval construction and ordnance had given most earnest consideration to methods of attack and defense most likely to succeed with these novel ships of war. The Adamant was the only vessel which it had been possible to send out in so short time, and her cruise was somewhat of an experiment. If she should be successful in raising the block ade of the Canadian port, the British admiralty would have but little difficulty in dealing with the American syndicate.
 The most important object was to pro- vide defense against the screw ex- tracting and rudder breaking crabs; and to this end the Adamant had been fitted with what was termed "stern jacket" :" This was a great cage of heavy steel bars, which was attached to the stern of the vessel in such way that 1t could be raised high above the water, so as to offer no impediment while under way, and which, in time of action, could be let down so as to surround and protect the rudder and screw propellers, of which the Adamant had two.
 This was considered an adequate de- fense against the nippers of syndicate crab; but as a means of offense against these almost submerged vessels a novel contrivance had been adopted. From a great boom projecting over the stern, large ships cannon was suspended per pendicularly, muzzle downward. This gun could be swung around to the deck, hoisted into a horizontal position, loaded with a heavy charge, a wooden plug keeping the load in position when the gun hung perpendicularly.
 If crab should come under the stern this cannon could be fired directly down ward upon her back, and it was not be- ieved that any vessel of the kind could stand many such tremendous shocks. It was not known exactly how ventilation was supplied to the submarine vessels of the syndicate, nor how the occupants were enabled to make the necessary ob- servations during action. When under way the crabs sailed somewhat elevated above the water, but when engaged with an enemy only small portion of their covering armor could be seen.
 It was surmised that under and be- tween some of the scales of this armor there was some arrangement of thick glasses, through which the necessary ob- servation could be made; and it was be- ieved that, even if the heavy perpen- dicular shots did not crush in the roof of a crab, these glasses would be shattered by concussion. Although this might ap- pear a matter of slight importance, it was thought among naval officers it would necessitate the withdrawal of crab from action.
 In consequence of the idea that the crabs were vulnerable between their overlapping plates, some of the Ada mant's boats were fitted out with Cat ling and machine guns, by which a shower of balls might be sent under the scales, through the glasses and into the body of the crab. In addition to their g2Hs athese boats would be supplied with
 heans of attack upon the crab.
 Of course it would be impossible to destroy these submerged enemies by means of dynamite or torpedoes; for with two vessels in close proximity, the explosion of a torpedo would be as dan- gerous to the hull of one as to the other. The British admiralty would not allow even the Adamant to explode torpedoes or dynamite bombs under her own stern.
 With regard to a repelfer, or spring armored vessel, the Adamant would rely upon her exceptionally powerful arma- ment and upon her great weight and speed. She was fitted with twin screws and engines of the. highest power, and 1t was believed that she would be able to overhaul, ram and crush the largest vessel, armored or unarmored, which the syndicate would be able to bring against her. Some of her guns were of immense caliber, firing shot weighing nearly 2,OO0I pounds and requiring half ton of powder for each charge. Be- Ades shese she carried an unusually large number of large cannon and two dynamite guns. She was so heavily plated and armored as to be proof against any known artillery in the world.
 She was floating fortress, with men enough to make up the population of town, and with stores, ammunition and coal sufficient to last for long term of active service. Such was the mighty English battle ship which had come for ward to raise the siege of the Canadian port.
 [Continued next weekl
 OFFICIAL LIST OF PATENTS ISSUED TO C1r1- EMS OF CONNECTICUT from the U. s. patent flee for the week ending April 9th, 1889, reported from the office of Simonds & Bur- eft solicitors If r,.kop%c No Q No~A.ol D.