The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-12-18
News of Foreign Navies.

The triple-screw cruiser Guichen
was launched at st. Nazaire, October
! 25. This ship lie of 1877 tons and
$4,000 horsepower, with a calculated
speed of twenty three knots. The
battery consists of twenty-six inch
quick fire guns, ak 81 inch rifles and
ten l inch guns; the total estimat-
ed cost is $3,059, 725, and her compile
ment numbers thirty-fve officers
and 500 crew.
The armored cruiser Russia has
her full power trials July 18, and
made 20a knots over the measured
mile. She is triple screw vessel,
and with eighty five revolutions de-
veloped 1887 horse power for the
port and starboard engines and
2750 horse power for the center en-
gines. The ship was built at ST..
Petersburg, and is of 1890 tons
displacement. The calculated speed
was twenty knots with 14,500 horse
power, and both speed and power
we're considerably exceeded.
Electric light and power are to be
introduced in the Portsmouth dock
yard, and the Admiralty has author
lied the building of structure $50
feet by 80 feet at cost of 100000,
to contain an electric light plant
and motors to drive much of the
machinery hitherto worked by
steam. Gas alone for the yards and
barracks now costs $4,000 a year.
An extension OF sixty. two acres is
being added to the yard to be util-
lied for parade grounds, store
houses and other purposes.
The idea of inclined turret armor,
which was proposed by Chief Con
structor Hichborn some seven years
ago for the monitors and other arm
ored vessels in the United States
navy, has been adopted in the Brit
ish navy on the Campus class. The
ordnance bureau at Washington OF.
posed the innovation and the Carne-
gle company proiessed inability to
make the armor, and as a result a
very important element OF strength
lacking in Anne rican ships has now
found favor in Great Britain, from
which it is fair to assume that the
armor manufacturers in that couu-
try do not dictate how the vessels
are to be protected.
The British cruiser Powerful ar
rived at Slmon's Town October 30,
and was to leave for Singapore Nov
ember 9. Before leaving England
tho ship passed through series of
progressive speed trials, important
and interesting in their character,
showing the requisite horsepower
for certain speeds. With 1856 horse
power speed of 1859 knots was
maintained; 1875 gave 12.49 knots;
5452 gave speed Of 1922 knots and
with 1914 horse power a speed Of
1921 knots was reached. 1t required
$4,000 horsepower to make a speed
OF twenty-five knots, or as shown by
the foregoing figures it took prac-
tically ten times the horsepower at
1859 knots to double the speed.
Two new cruisers in the French
navy have undergone very success
ful trips. The De Chayla, built at
Cherbourg, laid down March 10,
1898, and launched November 10,
1896, had her trial October 81 last,
and made POI knots, whereas only
l94 knots we're anticipated. Her
engines Of 5000 horsepower were
built at the Government establish
ment at Indret and the boilers are
Of the Lagrapel d'Allest water tube
type. The other cruiser, Cassard,
was also built at Cherbourg, laid
down October %, 1898, launched
May u, 1896, tried October 25 last
and made three. quarter knots more
than expected. Her engines we're
built by contract. Both vessels are