Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-25
BY TELEGRAPH.


Powsss On 0us coasea.
NV Yonx, Jure n This Bsiifah vaR
ships HsicuIes. Sirius and Spartan have
been ofdsssd = dsty on the Nesth Amesi-
can coast. The Hefcuies il ons Of EDs.
lans.'s largest ironclsds- The Sifius and
Spartan ere two Of her fastest cruisers.
The orders referring 80 the above men
toned vessels fellow ssfies ef recent
Rdtish naval orders which have caused 4 to
be observed IN American naval circles thas
g reas Britain il quietly replacing al her
ships on the As,eficsn coast By the most
DO vefful var vesoels she can spare. Tbs
Hercules ., lissss the fAgship Bellsrophon.
| tins Sirius ard Spa,tsn relieve the Emerald
ami Comus, both inferior ships.
The Hercules brings out from England
Vice Admiral Hopkins This cficeH will
commasd all British var ships now in or
ordered TO Amefscsn vs,efs. Two addi.
tionsl cruisers have been selected to relieve
the guuboata Ready ard Thrush. An
sYmored cruiser will relieve the Tournsiine.
| II 10 declared in veIl-infofmsd government
circles that the British admiralty proposes
to OBJECT in fighting efficiency the rev ves-
sells OF the United States navy. To do this
49,
Bri,ish feet in America in proportion TO the
growth of the new navy Of the United
states.
The Hercules. the new f,gship. though
not Ensland's most powerful vessel. IL
| counted ~ very efficient craft British
| naval officers believe shat by reason Of her
great .ixe the Heyules 10 more powerful
vessel than the new American armored
i ia. ~
| exception Of the Miantoncmoh, they say,
the Hercules 10 more than match for any
| Of the American va. ships nov in commits
sion.
| In displacement the Hercules measures
| $3.50 tons. She carries armor ranging from
nine TO six inches 10 thickness. with back
log OF from II to 10 inches Of wood. Her
battery consists Of eight Is ton rifles, two
twelve-and -arhalf- ton rifles, four six and-a'
half ton rifles and six fcur-irch rifles. She
has in addition seven rapid fire and 10
machine guns. The speed Of the Hercules
IA knots.
The cruisers Sirius and Spartan are sis
ter chips. They each measure in displace.
ment $500 tons They have been selected
for duty on the American cast more g.
pecial,y on account Of their speed. Tie
speed of each is placed at 10 Is knots pei
hour Until their advent the new AmsIi
can cruisers can run around any British
cruisers now on the American station, II
the Spartan and Sirius can maintain thsil
accredited speed for four hou-s' continu
Gus running they will b. we'll matched 10 Z
race with either the Philadelphis or the
Newark The speed OF the ms jority OF
Bri' sh war ships, however, 10 estimated b.
runs ever the measured mile. Such test
by DO means demonstrate the ability Of
vessels, to msintsin the same speed during
even Few hours Of cJntinu3us steamins
The British force in Amsric ah water
will in future be larger than Of any tint
since the civil war. 1t has been constantly
incre asing, until no. it has assured f0fmid
ably proportions. Besides increasing he'
naval force, Great Britain during the pas
three yee-s has increased BY one half ,hs
Strength of her troops in the West Indies
These troops she has stationed at Jamaci,
and Bermuda. Nor only has the Yves
India force been increased dutirg the pas
two ears, but the very pick of the British
| Army has been drawn on. The SECOND
bs,tsli9n Of The Grensdier Guards. i. vii
remembered, WAS recently sent to Bermuda
for ALE ged mu ionous conduct. Bermuda
and Jsmsica are only given to Engtisl
troops, Itish ba.sslions are sent to the Yves
Indies
The late H. crease 10 Great Britsin's Nortl
American force will be closely watched. A
prominent American naval officer, who's
name cannot be mentioned, expresses til,
belief that Grea. Britain will shortly RAJ:
the North America station second in i'm
| pnrtancp pnlv To tb, Medits rraneau