Year: 1870




The Liverpool Albion of q late date, says


The defenses of the Jersey are just now as fol-
Altcar Battery-an earthwork; armament, twelve
fhirty-two-pounder smooth-bore guns. Would be
guns, the distance to the main channel being about
two miles, and the Formby Channel about mile
and quarter, the latter being navigable only for
vessels of light draughs. 1t is used for volunteer
practice only.


nearly an obloDg, with corners rounded; built of
sandstone and armed with eighteen guns, compris-
ers (ninety-1ve hundred weight five 32-pounders
four 24-pounders, and three 10-inch shell guns, all
The present armament would be of little or no use
against an iron-clad, which would be able to keep
at distance, in the ,L main channel, Of from one
thres hundred yards on the contrary
yesse armed v,h MIN Inca neavy red guns could make
sandstone, and soon reduce 1t to ruins. The vessel
having passed the fort not more than three four
guns could be brought to bear on her, and these
guns might infict as much damage to the dock pro-
perty as to the iron-clad. battery placed on the
hill above New Brighton and properly armed would
be much more formidable than all our forts put
The North Fort Liverpool side, is built of sand
stone Its present armament consists of fourteen
smooth bore guns-viZ.: ten 92-pounders and four
s-nch 1t is not capable Of turning its fire up the
river, except from one gun, mounted on the south
tower 1t would not be able to damage an iron-clad
make too hot for defenders for the barracks i'm
medately in rear would act as a back-stop for all
he TS Womb er rebS a be o
in the soft sandstone, Of which the barracks are
built, and splinter the stone, to the serious danger
of the men working the guns. Shot or shell, pass
ing over the barracks would fall among the ship
ping


opposite to the North Fort is an earth battery, with
1 sea wall Of stone. Its present armament consists
of seven smooth-bore guns mounted en- bGrbete-
that is, without embrasures-and consists OF up
per and lower battery, covered way leading from
guns and the lower three sixty-eight FOUNDER guns
all smooth bore 1t Is capable OF lighting either up
or down the river but firing across the river would
be as likely TO do as much damage to the dock pro-
perty as to the enemy.


less. A vessel carrying heavy guns or ten or thir-
teen-inch mortars could lay OFF from three to four
thousand yards and send shells into the docks and
present forts. 1t is impossible to conjecture why
they were built seeing that II an iron-clad vessel
utterly ineffective, and the forts prove saugh-
ter-pens for the garrisons; and in action
the Mersey 1t will scarcely be believed that at the
North Fort on the Liverpool side, the north case
found its way through the doorway the magazine
to the rear OF the casemate and would be struck by
every shot or shell which passed through. IL has
vented from entering the Channel by the removal OF
the lights and buoys, by torpedoes and by the sink
of cutting OF your to spite your face, as the
carrying out OF such measures would prevent ves-
sells from getting TO sea, and so put end to our
commerce during the war;


The Naval Steam Ram Question.


Mr.. William Coppin, late Surveyor of Steam Yes
sels under the British Board OF Trade, enters into
the controversy now raging in Great Britain on the
subject OF the steam ram as means OF warfare, and
proposes one on the following plan:-


She would have solid prov OF forty feet in
length and OF form which would insure the yes-
sells immediate release even after striking an enemy
amidshps, to the extent OF driving in an area OF
nifty TO sixty square feet OF twelve inch armor pa-
ting. She would instantly disable an enemy by a
single blow struck at her screw, rudder, or PROV
My ram Would be so plated on her bows stern, sides
and upper surfaces as TO repel all counter attack by
shot or shell, and render boarding her an impossi
bity On going into action she would require neither
masts nor funnel above deck, while she would be
scarcely discernable to an enemy by day and not
at all by night Her speed would be fifteen
knots per hour, and she would be capa9le
OF carrying fuel TO last her ocean voyage equa
TO crossing the Atlantic Even In rough weather
against heavy rolling IN seaway. She would only
require only OF forty men, all OF whom would
be placed in safety below the water line ON going
into action. The only person on deck would be hel
Dficer directing the attack, and he would be pre-
tected by a shot and shel-proof cowl. single
breech- loading gun, carrying 200pound steel
headed conical shot, would be the rams sole arma
ment. This gun to be fired by gavanic battery, al
perforate the opposite side OF the attacking vessel
below her armor- plating thereby augmentng the
rapidity OF her sinking. BY eXerting the Leverage
power OF the ram through her steerage after striking
an enemy considerable portion OF such vessels
side would be wrenched outwards. Indeed, this IL
most important feature OF attack, but one which
present ships are incapable OF executing, al
the sharpness Of their proWs would almost invart
ably cause such amount Of Dondlng When dawes
into an enemy as would greatly cripple their steer
ing power,