The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-22
Bloodhounds Of the Ocean When the
Wild Alarms Sound for
Battle.
Fully Five Hundred and Fifty Yes
sols Ready for Active
Service.
An Immense Swarm OF Merchantmen That
Can he Turned Into Commerce De-
str0ycrs at short Notice.

placement. They are covered with steel
nrmor varying from twelve to eighteen
inches in thickness. and are armed with
high-power guns Of from twelve to sixteen
inchos caliber, and Weighing from fifty to
100 tons. placed in the turreta. In addi-
ton to these each chip carries a large num-
Der OF guns varying from six to nine inches
in caliber to be used az broadside guns,
while the bridges, tops Of tho turrets and
mastheads bristle with rapid-fre and ma
chine guns. This class of vessels carry a
large amount of coal, and can remain at
sea for from twenty to thirty days without
coaling, and are Able to steam from
twelve to sixteen knots an hour. The
turret rams are similar to the turret
ships. except that they are not SO large,
having a displacement of 5000 tons, and
arc fitted with powerful rams. England
possesses four of this class, each covered
with armor a foot thick, and armed with
two twslys-inoh gun and a powerful bat
t.rv of rapid fire and machine guns. These
vessels have n medium coal capacity and
can steam from fourteen to sixteen knots
an hour. In the barbette class are sixteen
of tho largest warships afoat, six Of them
having IL tonnage Of 10000. and the other
ten being each of 14,00O tona displacement.
These vessels are the pride of I%1ngland's
navy, and are claimed to be the best fight
ing ships afloat. This formidable squadron
carries no less than sixty-two guns, all of
131S-inch caliber, while in tbs secondary
battery there are a large number of cannon
varying from six to ten inches in caliber,
und no end of rapid fire and machine
guns. They are protected with steel armor
of great thickness. that around the vitals
of tho ships being nearly twenty inches
thick, These vessels were designed to
keep the sea for a long time, and for this
reason have q very large coal capacity and
nearly all Of them can steam eighteen
knots an hour.
The central battery class of ships num-
her eleven and derive their name from tho
fact thnt the heavy guns are carried in bat
tories placed amidships. Their displace-
ment ranges from 5000 to 5000 tons, and
thev are protected with armor ranging
from eight to twelve inohes in thickness,
md are armed with LOG guns varying from
nine to twelve inches cnliber. These ships
carry n worry large secondary battery, and
nre we'll supplied with rapid-fre and ma
chino guns. They have a medium coal car
rying capacity. and can steam from twelve
to sixteen knots.
Each of the ships in the above classes car
PICS OIl8 OF IlOE6 lSb BtChuA NV
signed to be used as torpedo boats and to
act ns guard boats in time OF war. The
vessels are also fitted up with the most APP
proved appliances in the way of electric
search lights and torpedo nets, and carry q
largo number of torpedoes for use IN the
boats or to discharge from the ships them
selves.
There are six armored cruisers, ranging
from 5000 to 5000 tons displacement, spe-
cially designed to cruise at sea for a long
time, and have a large coal-carryinR capac-
ity. They are protected by armor from
eight to ten inches thick, and the six ships
carry twenty-eight guns. varying from
eight to ten inches in caliber, with q power
full battery of gix and eight-inoh high
power guns. Rapid-fre and machine guns
are carried in the tops and on the bridges,
and the vessels have a speed of from four
teen to seventeen knots an hour. Electric
search lights and fast steam launches also
form part OF their equipment, and they are
we'll supplied with torpedoss, both for ship
and boat use. 4,
The seven vessels comprised in the belted
cruiser class were built expressly for fast
cruising, and are protected by a belt OF
armor ten inches thick from stem to stern,
extending a short distance below the water
line. Each vessel carries two guns of nine
and n half inches caliber, Weighing twenty
four tons, anda powerful secondary battery
of six-inch guns, besides an Immense num-
Der of rapid-fre and machine guns for use
in the tops, on tho bridges and In the boats.
Each ship Is fitted with four powerful cleo
trio search lights and carries two fast steam
launches that can be used rs torpedo boats.
These vessels are dttod with several torpedo
tubes for discharging torpadoes under water.
AS the vessels were built for fast steamlng,
they have powerful engines, capable OF
driving them eighteen knots an hour with
out forced drauRht.
The eight broadside ships range from
q mn - IN mn toro orN nrA NnlV MIN tad
with armor about five inches thick. They
belong to the older class of ships. and have
only a small ooal-carrying capacity and a
speed Of from twelve to fourteen knots an
hour. The eight vessels non sixty-hve
GUNS of nine inches caliber. and are lifted
rapid fire and machine. All carry search
lights and fast steam launches, and are sta
toned either in the East Indies or China.
or coast defense ships England has thir-
teen. ranging from 1000 to 5000 tons They
are low speed ships, and can only steam
from eight to twelve knots an hour. They
ara we'll protected with armor, varying
from eight to twelve inches in thickness,
and are armed with high-power guns, ten
inches oalibsr. The thirteen ships carry
forty-six of these powerful guns and a few
machine and rapid-fire guns for Gloss quar-
tors. This class Of guns was designed to
protect the harbors of Great Britain, and
nrs scattered around in the principal sea-
ports along the coast.
England possesses q feet of deck-pro-
tected cruisers that we're especially designed
to destroy an enemy's commerce.. The
thirty-tive vessels comprising this fleet in
clude ten or twelve that can steam fully
twenty. two knots an hour, and all OF them
can show Il speed of over eighteen knots.
All have a very large coal capacity. and, If
necessary, could steam around the world
without stopping to coal. In most of this
class speed has been the principal object in
view, md to attain this they are fitted with
engines, some of them Of $1,000 horse
power. In the place of two or three heavy
guns, the ships. are armed with guns of
flom six to eight inch calibcr. and the
thirty-tve vessels carry 1G3 Of those handy
Weapons Their main reliance.
however, ia the large number
of smaller guns carried. n each
ship has enough of these to crush in the
side Of nearly any vessel afloat If they were
NIL fred al once. AS commerce. estroyers,
they stand far above anything flying the
flag Of any other nation, as not half a
dozen ships nfloat could escape them on &C
count of their great ooal capacity. Every
thing TINT science or long experience in the
art OF building ocean cruisers could suR-
gest has been Incorporated III those famous
vessels. Electric wites run to every pnrt Of
the ship, While their search-lights are the
most powerful atioat. Torpedoss md fast
steam launches form part of their equip
ment, and their crews are all picked men.
These vessels have been nptly named "the
blood hounds OF the ocean,
Another GLASS of cruisers and very similar