Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-01
Like the Brick Man-o'-War at Chi.
cagO, 1t Never Goes to Sea.

Like the Brick Man-o'-War at Chi
cagO, 1t Never Goes to Sen.
The most novel warship in existence
appears on the admiralty list. It is
known as H. M. s. Excellent, but H.
M. S. Excellent never weighs anchor
never gets up steam with Belleville
or any other boilers, and has never left
these shores in search Of any enemy.
The ship as a ship. In fact, does not
exist. H. M. s. Excellent Is an admir-
atty fiction. The name has been be-
slowed upon what was 30 years ago 9
mere mud bank off Portsmouth, but
which now, owing to the exertions OF
the handy man." is the most perfectly
equipped gunnery establishment in the
world.
On H. M. s. Excellent-or Whale Is
land, as it is sometimes called-The
armor plates for British warships are
tested. Special proof butts have been
built for this purpose. For its supply
Of armor plates the admiralty relies
entirely upon the enterprise Of private
firms. Very few Of these are wealthy
enough to put down the costly plant
necessary for producing armor plates
and stand the expense Of the not less
costly experimental work that has to
be constantly undertaken If the man.
ufacturer would keep abreast of his
rivals. Great Is the competition
among the few big firms who do pro-
duce armor, and the result Is that the
admiralty are constantly being asked
to try some make of plate that is de-
signed to offer more resistance to pro-
jectiles than the older patterns did.
in other words, the admiralty let's the
private firms do the experimenting and
selects the best from the material Of
fered to it.
When a firm has produced something
they deem an advance upon the pro-
duct of their rivals they send 1t on
board H. M. s. Excellent and ask the
admiralty to subject the plate to the
official test. The armor Is built up in
proof cells against strong backing OF
thing Is ready a day is fixed for the
experiment.
This is conducted by a party Of gun
ners under the direction Of the captain
Of his majesty's steamship Excellent
Admiralty officials watch the proceed
ings and the firm whose goods on trial
is permitted to send representatives,
though the latter are little more than
spectators. Five projectiles are fired
at the plate, one at each corner and
one in the center. For testing four
inch plates a 47-inch gun is used, fol-
six-inch plates a six-inch gun, fol
nine-inch plates a 9.2-inch gun and for
foot thick plates a 12-inch gun. The
firing takes place at short range with
charges carefully calculated to give g
high sticking velocity to the armor-
piercing projectile that Is loaded into
the gun. When the gun Is laid, q. e..
aimed,) everybody goes into a bomb.
proof shelter and the weapon is fired
by electricity.
AS soon as the danger Is over the
party emerge from their shelter. The
plate is carefully examined, photo.
graphed and the depth Of the indenta.
tion, If any, measured. Time after
time is this repeated, If the plate
shows sutIicient resisting power, unit
the trial Is completed. Sometimes the
projectile punches a hole through the
plate or cracks it in all directions, as
though it had been a bit Of glass in
stead Of big mass Of rolled steel
Then an unfavorable verdict is giver
and the unfortunate manufacturer
finds that research and experiment
that have perhaps cost him hundreds
Of pounds will bring no return. Wher
any new invention is brought to thu
notice of the admiralty and Is accept
ed by the august body the inventor j!
required to disclose every detail ol
manufacture. It Is, in fact, one Of th'
strictest rules that the process from
beginning to end shall be plainl!
stated, so that a strict watch may bt
kept by the properly appointed off
cials. In this way, and in this wa!
only, can the standard Of quality b
assured.-London Mail.