Armour ships more necessary since the intro duction of high explosive shells. have been too much reduced. been bought from Sir William Armstrong & Co. by the Italian Government. But with the increase of the number of cruisers it has been recognized, in view of the recent introduction of high explosive projectiles, and the increase of power and rapidity of fire of rapid-fire and other guns, that renewed attention must be given to the armoured fleet, and the prevailing opinion in England, France, Italy, Germany, and Russia is strongly in favour of additional armoured ships to be built at an early date. In these new vessels the armour will be much more widely distributed, and will certainly protect the battery and crew as well as the water line and machinery. The destructiveness of high explosive shell fire against unprotected sides emphasizes the peculiar advantages of the monitor type for coast-defence service. At no time have the increase and development of navies abroad received greater attention or greater expenditure of money and talent than at present. The table on p. 691 indicates the number of cruisers built or building, together with the number of armoured vessels building, and a statement of the annual expenditure for new construction for the navies of England, France, Italy, and Spain. Weights of While speed is still considered as the most important charactermachinery istic of the modern cruiser, it is now generally recognized that too much has heretofore been sacrificed to reducing weights of machinery beyond the limit: necessary to secure reliable results. This has been particularly illustrated by the numerous accidents to machinery and boilers in many of the most recent English vessels taking part in the naval manœuvres last summer. An increase of weight and machinery found necessary to properly maintain the desired speed entails either a reduction of ordnance, coal, and other weights, or an increase of displacement in each type; and this latter is the direction in which designs of cruisers (not especially built for police duties in time of peace) are now advancing. Mobilization. With the question of increasing the fleet that of mobilization and preparation for war receives equal consideration, and all Navies are devoting the greatest attention and study not only to the development of their resources for the supply of war material and the fortification of naval bases, but also to the improvement and proper training of their reserves of men. The naval manoeuvres of England and France were this year chiefly devoted to testing their capacity for rapid mobilization. The operations of the next naval war will certainly follow immediately upon its declaration, and the nation unprepared will find itself at the mercy of perhaps an inferior foe. As regards guns the principal developments of the year have been and pro in improved powder and projectiles, in the adoption of rapid-fire guns Guns, of about 30 to 45-pounder calibre to replace the 5-inch B.L. rifle, and powder, in the experiments with high-explosive projectiles fired from high- jectiles. power powder guns. Number of Protected or partially Protected Cruisers built or building. The greatest improvement in the manufacture of gunpowder has Gunbeen made in France and Germany, notably in the former, whereby powder. initial velocities have been increased to 2400 and even 2600 footseconds with reduced powder charge, while the pressures are kept well within the limits required by safety. Such an increase of velocity increases the energy of the projectile of the 6-inch gun about Speeds given are trial speeds; 10 to 12 per cent. reduction should be made to get corresponding maximum sea speed. † Indicates partially protected cruisers. This does not include a large number of vessels which have no protection. To be expended for new construction through nine years. The 4.72inch quick firing gun. The 6-inch quick firer. The 33pounder quick firer. Melenite in England and France. Howell torpedo. Patrick torpedo. 75 per cent. and increases its penetration from 12 to about 15 inches in iron. The Armstrong 4.72-inch rapid-fire gun (generally known as the 36-pounder) now fires a projectile of 44 pounds with a muzzle velocity of 2,373 foot-seconds and a penetration of over 9 inches in iron. This gun has fired ten well-aimed shots in 1 minute and 40 seconds. Its weight is now 42 hundredweight. It has been introduced into the English service and forms the principal armament of six cruisers. of 1600 to 1900 tons displacement, now building. It has also been introduced into the Italian navy on board the new cruiser Piemonte. An Armstrong 6-inch rapid-fire gun has been completed and is now nndergoing trial. It is expected to fire a projectile weighing about 110 pounds, with a powder charge of 40 pounds and chamber pressure of less than 18 tons. The Hotchkiss 33-pounder has also been recently tried, with satisfactory results, giving a velocity, of 2034 foot-seconds, and a penetration of over 8 inches. The rapidity of aimed fire was 10 rounds per minute. A 6-pounder Driggs-Schroeder gun has been built during the year by the Driggs Ordnance Company, and is now at the Naval Ordnance Proving Ground for trial. The steel cast guns received from the Pittsburgh Steel Casting Company, and the Standard Steel Casting Company, of Thurlow, have been machined and finished at the Washington navy yard and sent to the proving ground, where they will be immediately tried. While the results of experiments made with melenite shells in France and England have been closely guarded, it seems assured that these projectiles have been safely fired from service guns, and that their bursting effect against the unarmoured portions of a vessel is most destructive—against the armoured portions the explosive effect is said to be not very great. The manufacture and use of melenite has certainly been greatly developed in France, while the original patent rights have been purchased by an English firm and are now undergoing development in England. In this country the Hotchkiss Ordnance Company has established works for the manufacture of the Howell torpedo, for which it has purchased the rights. The Patrick torpedo, spoken of in my last report, has been still further developed, and has on trials before a naval board shown valuable qualities for harbour defence. One of these torpedoes has been purchased by the French navy. The recent naval manœuvres abroad have shown that torpedo boats boats, must still be regarded as most useful for coast and harbour defence. Torpedo At the present time England is building two classes of torpedo boats, England. the first, of 130 feet length, 85 tons displacement, and 22 knots speed, armed with three tubes, giving practically all-around fire, and rapid-fire guns; the second, intended for ship's use, of about 11 tons displacement, 17 knots speed, and armed with one training torpedo Torpedo boats, France. tube. France is building four deep-sea torpedo boats, 137 to 147 feet long, 100 to 119 tons displacement, 20 to 22 knots speed, armed with two to three training torpedo tubes and two revolving cannon; also 41 boats, 115 feet long, 55 tons displacement, armed with two tubes and two revolving cannon. Some of these boats carry the spar torpedo. In the new English and in all French torpedo boats powder is used for discharging the torpedoes. Italy is building 30 boats, 127 feet long, 85 tons displacement, armed with two torpedo tubes and two revolving cannon; also two smaller boats, 101 feet long, and 34 Germany. tons displacement. Germany is now building 19 new boats, 121 feet long, 83 tons displacement; armament, two bow tubes and two revolving cannon. Italy. Submarine boats. The French Navy Department is now giving its attention to a new type of submarine boat, of 30 tons displacement, and it is reported that the Germans are experimenting with one of the Nordenfelt type. The Spaniards also have recently launched at one of their dockyards a new type of submarine boat, of 87 tons displacement. No submarine boat yet tried can be considered as satisfactory. The table on p. 693 exhibits the appropriations, expenditures, and balances under general heads, the balances being those which were undrawn on June 30 for the fiscal year 1888. ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS, 1889 AND 1890. The estimates for the Navy and Marine Corps for the current fiscal year amounted to £4,600,724; those for the next fiscal year amount to £5,353,535, a difference of £752,811. Summary of Estimates for 1890 for the Navy and Marine Corps. For ordinary objects of Expenditure, carried forward. £2,786,813 |