The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-26


eliminated on the waters OF the Solent.
London witnessed the sumptuous out
pouring OF loyalty, the love OF a proud
people for their sovereign and an ex-
hibition of national growth and domi-
nation. All Of IL put together. how
ever. furnishes no such living picture
OF the might of the British empire
as was afforded this morning by the
great naval display i'm these waters.
Nor has there been anything this week
in all that has gone before to bring home
so vividly the material changes Of the
queens long reign.
When Victoria ascended the throne
the walls of England" were wooden.
There were no steel battleshps. no iron
cruisers, no triple expansion engines, no
steam in use in war vessels. no search
lights, no electricity In the service of
man. no great or quick firing guns, no
torpedoes. The guns were still fired
with slow match. the hree-decker was
the model of all that was worthy in naval
architecture. and tonnage was reckoned
within such modest limits that a vessel
of more than 800 was looked upon as a
marine wonder
At Spithead this morning was as
sembled the latest triumphs OF the in
dustrial revolution under Victoria tri-
umphs Of workers i'm iron and steel and
metals, triumphs Of inventors. triumphs
of chemists and the giants OF the labor
atory, triumphs OF the shipbuilder, the
engineer and the artizan, triumphs Of
the genius OF a great nation.
This day may be designated better by
figures. In 1887 the total number OF
ships In commission was 1876. Omitting
steam paddle tugs, not then considered
vessels OF war. and other small crafts
such as cutters. receiving ships, yachts
ard packet brigs. the navy list COM
prised l29 ships, whereof the largest had
q displacement.o 1000 tons. The navy
list this ycar-inoludng ships in and out
of commission. but on the list--com-
prises 43e vessels. mounting 1868 guns
with tonnage of 1,463219 and a horse
yower of 1887 .595.
o.d-Timers Missed.
IT Is perhaps pity that I'm the seven
lines OF the British fleet at Stithead there
was not anchored an old three decker to
emphasize this startling change. For
the men-of-war that first saluted the
queen In the long ago were magnificent
sights with their high and towering
niasts, bearing billow on billow of SWELL
Ing sail, riding the waves like great sea-
birds and realizing 10 the full all the
witchery OF the romance OF the ocean.
Far different were the battleships this
morning with their sullen steel sides
and short masts. great guns rams and
orpedoes-everything that gave the
sense of power, the brutality of force.
The fleet was drawn up in seven lines
on the south of the Solent the head OF
the lines being off Brading, thence
stretching westward almost TO Cowes.
The outer line of all on either side of
the Sturbridbe shoal, and known as "E"
In line. was composed Of IA merchant
vessels whereof the American liner
New York" was one Next in "A"
line were the foreign men-of-war
r"B, &C" ID" n" &C" lines con-
sisted entirely of British men-of war
from the Majestic and Renown. the
latest type of battleships. down to the
smallest torpedo boat. "B." &C" lines
were made up OF battleships and cruisers
OF the first and second class. ID" OF
ehird class cruisers. gunvesseis and tor
pedo gunbcats. F. OF destroyers. gun
boats and sailing training briggs. while
&c" line was OF torpedo boats. All the
lines except c. were approximately
five miles in length.
Two things are TO he noted after "A
tour OF this tremendous aggregation
OF sea-hghting power. The nrst is that
fact that, IL need be. their number and
fighting value can be duplicated, as this
feet was only the channel squadron and
coast defence feet slightly augmented
by new and larger ships. The most
noteworthy fact was the remarkable
testimony 10 the growth and improve
ment OF the feet. OF the p battle
ships reviewed by the Prince Of Wales
this afternoon only four took part i'm
the jubilee parade OF 10 years a go. while
of the IS cruisers az anchor in the Solent
not one existed In 1887. Needless to
say that the 80 torpedo boat destroyers
are OF class which has only bees in
troduccd during the past FIVE years
Further. tie battleships which were
built before 1857 were armed with muz-
sle loa ding guns. which, though extreme
ly powerful and marvellous I'm their day.
have been outclassed by breech loading
and wire guns Then too. the later bull;
vessels are armorod by Harveyizcd steel.
which can scarcely be penetrated i'm
actual warfare. whereas the guns OF any
o. the ships ~ the Majestic class could
easily send projectiles through the armor
belts Of amy OF the 1887 squadron.
Amors the battieships nine types were
Represented. the first OF these being the
naje.tlc type. the latest and most
powerful model OF British battleshlps,
carrying four i2-inch. 30 ton guns Some
Of the others present had heavier arma-
nent-sr. ~ a-a---tnc HeniJow- and Sans
Psreii. each possessing q III ton gun.
There were four OF the Royal Sovereign
tlpe. The Renown was the only one
OF her type. the distinctive feature OF
which is a huge centre battery. The
Admiral claes Of vessel was represented