The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-07

being nine inches, with depth of Is feet
and a length of 216 feet, and it viii be
treated by the improved Harveyed process.
Two armored bulkheads varying in thick
ness from nine inches to twelve inches,
are fitted. joining the ends of the side
armor thus forming a complete belt
around the vital portions of the ship.
There are two strongly protected decks,
one being of the now usual turte-back
shape, on which the armor rests, and
formed of two-inch plating on the fat
portions, increased TO three inches on the
slopes and at the after end.
The main armament of the Formidable
will consist of four 12-inch breech-loader
wire guns of new and improved type,
mounted in pairs, two firing forward and
two aft. The Pinch guns will be pro-
tected by a shield eight inches in thick
ness while the hydraulic mechanism and
machinery will be safeguarded by a cir
cular armored redoubt, the thickness of
the armor being twelve inches The aux
Hilary armament is to be formed mainly
by twelve 6-inch quck-firing guns of a
new type-eight on the main deck and four
on the upper deck. Four of these can be
fred right forward and four right aft.
Each of these Finch guns is to be inclos-
ed in a casemate of HarVeyed steel. Six
teen 12-pounder quickfiring guns are to be
fitted equally distributed on the main and
upper decks. Two 12-pounder eight-hun-
dredweight guns, for boat and field pur-
poses and arranged to fire forward, will
form part of the armament. 1t is no Sc
cret flor il is expressly stated in Mr.. Cost
chen's last memorandum, prior TO the in
PRODUCTION of the navy estimates), that the
heavy guns for the main ornaments of
the new battleshipS and first-class cruis-
ers will be much more powerful weapons
than the corresponding guns afloat In
Al, -iy . Fsar "a n
be mounted for protection against torpe-
do attack and she will carry eight Maxim
guns Four submerged torpedo tubes,
eighteen inches in diameter, two being Tor
ward and two aft are fitted to the snip.
An important factor in the fighting etti-
cheney of the Formidable is her MASSIVE
ram, which consists of steel casting
weighing by itself over thirty tons, and as
a protection for the ship while using the
ram. the sides forward are partly cover
ed with two-inch plating in addition to
the ordinary skin plating. The structure
of the ship is carefully designed with
view to prevent any serious injury arts
ing from the use of the ram. The am
munition will be sent up for the guns
through an armored tube being therepy
under protection from the moment 1t
leaves the magazine
The estimated speed of the vessel is Is
Lnots She is to be propelled by twin
screws each screw being actuated by
set of triple-expansion engines, OF H5oO m
dictated horse power. The steam wih pc
sIlpuried by 20 independent water-tube
boilers of the Belleville type, fitted with
all the latest improvements, and capable
of supplving steam at 300 pounds press
IRE which win be reduced at the engines
to $50 pounds pressure. The engines and
boilers are being manufactured by Earle's
Shinbuilding and Engineering Company
Ujmited) The quantity of coal carried
at the above draught is 800 tons, but pro-
vision is made for the storage of 2,lOO tons.
A distinctive feature of this latest type
Of hattleship is that her lower bunkers
cap he loaded direct Independently of her
INNER bunkers When complete and ready
for, commission the Formidable, if employ
! ed as a flagship, win have a crew of 7S9 all
told She is to carry two steel masts, each
| fitted with a militry or fighting top, and
with a searchfight platform. On the main
| topmast a long-distance semaphone (about
| 160 feet above the level of the water-line)
| for signalling at sea will be fitted. The
masts are to be provided with three der
ricks. Two forward and one in the main
mast. These derricks though primarily
fitted for hosting out the ships boats, viii
| be of great utility when coaling. The boats
| include four steam craft, Two Sc feet an
| length, and two 40 feet in length, and IA
| sailing and pulling boats, ranging from a
| 42-foot sailing launch to a small dingy.
| The two larger boats are to be capable of
| steamng about 1873 knots per hour, and
| will be fitted with torpedo-dTopping eppa-
| ratus. They are also to act as scouts while
| the Formidable is in harbor