New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-03
A NEW RATTLE SHIP.

Tho launching OF the British battlc-ship Cano-
pus. recently effected At Portsmouth IS OF more
than passing interest. for 1t marks the appear
ance Of n new type OF fighting machine among
tho nav,cs OF the world The Campus Is one OF
six similar vessels now under construction rs
experiments Opinion as to their merits IN
much divided but there seems reason 10 expect
that they will be found satisfactory and the
number OF them be increased In future naval
programmes
The new Campus is briefly described as a
modified and improved Majestic. The latter
vessel has already been amply described, and
an account OF the points OF variation will there
fore make cl'ar what manner OF snip the
Canopus IS In length the two are alike. each
measuring 800 feet. But the Campus dispihces
only 1880 tons to the MajcsIic's 14.9OO-a con-
siderable difference. The Capopus IS thus
naturaIlv narrower and shallower than the
Majestic. being only ~ instead OF % feet wide
and drawing only "a instead OF 2Ila feet. "hile
thus smaller than the Majestic. the Canopus
Is fitted with more powerful engines. Her
boilers nre OF the new Belleville water-tuDe
type Each OF her two screws Will be driven
by an independent set OF triple expansion en-
gIncs the whole developing 1880 horse power
against the Majcstic's 1900. and driving the
vessel nj the rate Of 49, knots. or full knot
faster than the Majestic. The coal bunkers
will have capacity Of 1900 tons.
In armament there will be little change from
the Majestics model. The main battery Will
consist Of four 12-inch wire guns, mounted In
pairs in barbettes. There Will also be twelve
Gnch quick-fring guns. each In an nrmored
easement twelve 12-pounders. six 3-pOunders
and eight Maxims There will DO five torpedo
tubes four OF them being submerged. In
armor the contrast is marked The belt OF the
Campus Is only six inches thick. while that Of
the Majestic Is nine The heaviest armor Is
over the bulkheads and on the barbettes and
conning-tower It's maximum thickness being
twelve inches, or two inches less than that
OF the Majestic. There WILL however. he no
loss OF strength In this respect, for the IIar-
veyzed nickel steel used makes up In Impcne-
trablity what It loses In thickness. The armor
OF the Campus Is thus we'll believed to be
more effective than that put on the Edinburgh
dozen years ago. which was eighteen inches
thick, with n twenty -two-inch backing. The
protective deck Is OF nickel steel, from one and
n half to two and half inches thick and COW
cred not with wood. but with lInoleum- an i'm
provcment suggested by experience In the battle
OF the Yaloo.
Such. in general terms. Is Great BritaIn's
latest achievement In The construction Of war
ships. The movement s in the direction Of
smaller and swifter ships whose fighting
strength Is yet ms great rs that Of the huge
levathans" which preceded them. II will be in
terestlng to see what the Campus will do on
her trial trip in the way OF speed. II she does
not exceed the estimate already made she will
not be by any means the fastest ship Of her
class afoat. for the Japanese battle-ship Ya.
shma, now In commission. makes 1914 knots
with ease. 1t would be rather annoying for the
British TO find that they had built for a for
egn nation n swifter ship than they are able
to build for themselves.