The Forrest City times., 1891-05-29
ALLAN BATTLE-sHrp "DaNporou

ana healthy as in Italy, It is no tran.
 sient enthusiasm invoked by the hero
 ism or capacity for leadership of one
 man, out the very life and soul of Inc
 new acquired liberty and union. The men themselves are built on n small scale, but this does not imply in leriorlty of physique, for there is a oeptn or chest, breadth of shoulders.
 ana ireeness Of movement that amnIv compensate Tor want of stature me rise and development of the Italian war-leet has been one of tbe least discussed and least understood themes Tn reference to the naval and
 military preoccupations of the country.
 inc role pertaining to the Italian iieet m case of war is capital ono. if
 forms an absolutely indispensable ele.
 ment In the defense of the kingdom. In Italy the fleet is defensive
 weapon, intimately connected in all manonuvres with the operation of the land forces,
 To cover the Hanks of the army in the valley of the Pc; to defend. if possible, the long seaboard and the unprotected towns and villages on the coast; 10 prevent local or general de. nafkatlonS; those are duties more vital than the protection of national mer- ehahdIse or far-reaching attacks on hostile commerce.
 lta'ian naval construction, consider able np to tSo6, declined in marked man. ner after the battle of Lis,a. This may appear strange, but, in fact, the cesslon ot Neuetla seemed to point to the conclusion that greater benefits were to be derived from n development of the army: anu to this all attention was, in consequence, bestowed, and the navy was neglected In proportion Renewed activity was manifested ln 1870, and since that date progress has been rapid, while all due regard has been paid to the possibilities of the future of naval architecture.
 Admiral L'e Bon began the reforms.
 ard to-day Italy has ailoat and in ser vice seven huge armored battle ships
 of dIsplacements between 10, S00and IA
 QUO tons Thetr charaC tertstic feature is great development of gun powder and
 speed Ut the expense of ahstalning, to a
 large extent, from the use of side arm.
 or, where some other systems employ
 It as n protection to stability. Their plating Is wholly used to protect the motive power. the magazines, the bis, guns. and their gunuers Each of these
 vessels carries m its main battery four
 Armstrong breeeh- loading guns of about tseventeen.inch ealibre, and weigh ing from i0l 10 i03 tons. The maximum speed of the slowest of the big ships Is fifteen knots and that ot tue fastest Is above eighteen knots. Such comb- nation of battery power and speed in armored vessels makes them very for midable.
 On taking the office the first step of Admiral De boa was to insist on the
 immediate dlsmantliug of number of antlguated vessels of war, whose pres- ervation demanded heavy sums an- nualty. or the seveniy-three ships ex- istlns at the time, the minister request ed leave to condemn thirty-three out of hand, making the matter u question of confidence. After an animated four days scussion, the minister's plan was accepted.
 The Duilio and Dandolo were then built.
 They are of little over Il. 900 tons displacement, and are 3i0 feet long by b4t feet beam and as feet draught. Their engines of 7,100 indicated horse power give them about fifteen knots speed. The maximum thickness of armor at the water line is twenty-two inches. Each carries four l0l-ton Arm strong guns. besides twenty rapid fire and machlne-guns in the secondary coat supply is 9s0 tons.
 The Duilio and Dandolo were followed by the Andrea Doria, of 1l,o00 tous.