New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-19
FOREIGN Ma VAL NOTES.

Despite the aggravating mishaps to many OF the
vessels that took part in the recent BRUSH i'''i
manoeuvres and the exhibition OF dehaehey VI speeu
OF some of the fast D torpedo cruisers as wen % soo
OF the other new ships, nothing was more cie''p
demonstrated than the fact that the meh'al anu
physical strain TO which those who parucip"te III INC
next naval war Will be exposed Will be Of the most
terribly trying nature. commander who knows that
he has fast foes opposed to him must always be pre-
pared for Instant action He Will not Icet tSst ne
can take OIL his clothes to 60 to oed ne WI Tatn5
below" will probably not be permitted 10 tuia d h2
their hammOcSs but will probably lie down on oscs
near the magazine and guns; the guns must DC lohcu
and the search lights In good trim; in fact every
oficer and man will have to keep "weather-eye"
open for emergencies.
The Endymlon tho first Of the miro frstclass
protected twn-screw cruisers Of the type known as
the improved MeIsey, was launched on july - al
Hull. The Warehouses Of salisbury performed the
ceremony of christening and about her were scores
of hlgh-rank officers In full uniform, judges In gowns,
and various court officials The new vessel Is 5oo
feet In length and Of 1850 tons displacement enc
will have engines capable OF deveopns 70 az nofs
over the measured mile course. anu 10 hhots az az
sea under continuous sleemng; Her atlae ,a WI ~
consist of two o. 2-nch reechlOadlDg guns, Hn "
inch rapd-firing guns and twelve 6-pOunder rapid
firing guns. The cost Of this vessel will be ll'ooooo
The French squadron is soon TO arrive at Ports
mouth. 1t consists of the Marengo, flagship Of
Admiral Gervasls the battle-sbip Marceau, tho
cruisers Requin Furieux, surcOuf and Lance and two
torpedo boats The French squadron that Msi, 'i
British waters In 1860 was composed ol eleNo4'
cruisers.
The new battle-ship Hood was launched on July 30
at the Chatham Dockyard. The vessel was ehdstened
by vscountess Hood wife of the peer descended from
that famous commander, Admiral Sir samuel Hood
who was made Lord Hood, in recognition OF his con-
spicuous exploits in the last century. The new snip
is one Of the eight rselass battleships called for
by the Naval Defence Act OF these she Is the only
urret vessel, the Others being on the baroette prL
cpe. 1t is said she is the largest turretsp , SeI
built her floating weight being 1900 tons. Her
length is $50 feet displacement, ALSO tons IN
Her armament is 10 consist Of four 10 l2inch breech
loading runs, in turres ten 6inch, ten 6pounder ana
nine 3pounder quick firing guns, besides twenty,fo
cost Of this ship Will exceed $4,0oo,Ooo.
An excuse was made In an English service journal
recently that the dsablement of the two 67ton guns
of the Trafalgar was due to the fracture Of the
ackngbo of one and the shifting OF the bed of the
other In addition to this the turret was rendered
practically useless for three days These continuous
failures of the steam and hydraulic machinery
in fine weather and under favorable drcum
| stances prove only too clearly the small
reliance that can be placed when in action.
upon the pipes and valves upon which the working Of
the heavy English ordnance is entirely dependent Even
II the steam Itself did not fall few OF me battiesps
could safely use their rams owing to their being I'M
supported by armOr; hence, instead OF sinking the
enemy these ships would he liable to share the fate OF
the corvette Amazon ramming another vessel some
criticism has recently been made against the Alexandra
launched I'm 1877 which carries her heavy guns in tine
centre OF the ship, we'll protected by armor and like
wise provided With powerful ram sun she mas
good Arrangement OF plating her high sides and IS
Spoken of as of the best Of ships In abe recent
manoeuvres. This would seem to show how lttle real
! Improvement has been effected In British naval con-
srrucOn and armament during the last fourteen years
The Italian Government has decided TO bulld az once
three ronclad battleshis, each of which Is to be
| NJ . 900 tons displacement The Government is also
having plans completed for four new cruisers ana
twenty-five first class torpedOboats The estimated cost
of these additions 10 the italian Navy S2O0OooOo ahd
this seems to be bit OF extravaganza If the reported
dorganized condition OF the Imperial Treasury Is true