Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-27
and the Terrible, which are now

ful and the Terrible. which are now
building
Another feature In our navy Is the
so-callcd dynamite cruiser Nesuvius. we
have also another craft that is unique,
concerning whose capabilities there can
be no doubt She Is the so-called Ammen
ram. Admiral Ammen planned her In
tho rough, and for many years urged
the government TO build her. inc
use of the ram was doubted In war
fare; but one day, long after the katah-
din had been laid down, there came
the news that IN collision at slow
speed the Camperdown OF the English
navy had sunk the Victoria OF the
samu navy. in some peaceful evolutions
in the Mediterranean. The ram on the
bow of the Camperdown struck rifiing
blow. compared to that which the ha-
tahdin could give. and the good sense
and enterprise Of the American navy
were once more vindicated.
Among our older vessels are the New
ark. the San Francisco, and the Bal
timore. These ships are better. ship
for shin. than those that have been
constructed elsewhere. But they are not
OF the most effective type. The en-
cinnati at least one third smaller than
the San Francisco class, is equal to that
class in speed qualities, and almost
equal to IL in fighting abilities. Then'
too. we have some mighty smart gun
boats our Machias and Castine are
from 10 to % per cent. more effective
than the little craft OF a similar size IN
other navies. and our Montgomery and
Detroit are marvels in speed and cruis-
ing abilities The Yorktown class has
excited the admiration of the world In
steaming qualities. the Bennington
having beaten the record in long steam
ing under disadvantages. Then. too we
are about to build some gunhOats with
sheathed bottoms that are expected to
surpass those that any other nation is
building.
As 10 the men who compose our navy,
they are confessedy among the best nght-
ers In the world.
THE BRITISH NAVY.
In the year 1889 England found that
II Britannia would continue TO rule the
waves. she must wake up. The naval
defence act of that year provided for the
expenditure of more than $lOO,VW,WO LOT
new ships, and most of these vessels are
in commission to-day. This expenditure
has given England fifteen new battle
ships ffty-eight cruisers, and twenty
seven torpedo-catchers besides numerous
torpedo boats. That was tremendous
addition 10 any navy, and, with the
changes and repairs that were maze III
other vessels. was enough 70 astOnish the
world But that was not enough. In the
year 1893 another agitation arose FOR an
increase in that cOuntry's naval strength,
and in that year and the following pro
vision was made for another tremendous
addition 10 the navy, amounting 10 10
less than 10 vessels, eight IF which
hould be battleships Of 1900 tons c.
pacity the first two OF which have ie-
Gently appeared in the Majestic and Mag
nidcent This plan included the TWO
great protected cruisers which are also
underway. the Powerful and Terrible.
The total strength Of the British navy
is now between 100 and 500 vessels Of
which 100 are armOred cruisers. and II
employs 5000 men. The Majestic and the
Magnificent are the most conspicuous oil
all the vessels of the new navy. While
they are not equal as hghting-machines
10 our battleships, they are magniiicent
creations. The Powerful and the Terrible
will be the longest warships in existence
having the unusYl length Of 800 feet.
on the record Of our Columbia and Min
neapolis. They will be armed with two 81
inch guns. and this and all their smaller
guns Will be mounted in armored turreis
and classmates. This is an advance al
naval construction that England alone
seems to be employig on a large scale.
Six Of her new battleships are TO be com
pietely armored on the broadside, ana
carry their guns in classmates.
The Royal Sovereign class OF English
vessels includes the Empress of India,
Resolution, Revenge. Royal oak, RANT
les, Repulse, and, to n certain extent
the Renown, although that vessel is sup
posed TO be somewhat of an improve
ment or the Royal Sovereign class, being
nearly zoe tons larger.