[GERMANY.]

KAISER FRIEDRICH III.

[JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION.]

On the 1st of July, at Wilhelmshaven, the new first-class battle-ship Ersatz Preussen, but now the Kaiser Friedrich III, was successfully launched in the presence of the Kaiser.

The dimensions of the ship are as follows: Length between perpendiculars, 373 feet 9 inches; beam, 67 feet; and the mean draught of 25 feet 8 inches, she has a displacement of 11,130 tons. Protection is afforded by a water-line belt of hardened steel, extending from the ram aft for four-fifths of the vessel's length, with a maximum thickness of 12 inches tapering to 6 inches; there is an armored deck on top of the belt 2.5 inches, and a second armored under-water deck, extending from termination of belt to stern, 3 inches thick. The armament is composed of 24-cm. (9.4-inch) guns disposed in two turrets, one forward and one aft, protected by armor of 10-inch hardened steel; a secondary battery of eighteen 15-cm. (5.9-inch) Q. F. guns, six of which are carried in 6-inch armored turrets, and the remaining twelve in 6-inch armored single casemates; twelve 8.8-cm. (3.3-inch) Q. F. guns on the superstructure deck, protected by shields; and twenty small Q. F. guns distributed between the tops and various parts of the ship. There are six torpedo-tubes for 18-inch torpedoes, one in the stem, one in the stern, and two on each broadside. The ship will have three screws, and the engines are to develop 13,000 I. H. P., giving a speed at load draught of 18 knots. The boilers will be partly cylindrical and part water-tube, while the coal capacity at load draught will be 650 tons. There will be two military masts, and the crew will number 655 officers and men.

[RUSSIA.]

The activity of Russia in developing Vladivostock since the war between Japan and China has led to a great demand for Chinese labor at that port. It is estimated that during the present season fully 10,000 Chinese coolies have been shipped from Shanghai and other ports to work on the fortifications, the great dry docks, and the railway which is being built eastward to meet the trans-Siberian overland road. The fortifications are said to be more powerful than those which the Chinese built at Port Arthur, although for seven months in the year ice effectually bars entrance to the harbor. The Russian military officials are said to have received stringent orders against any inspection of the harbor or city fortifications, and they even go to the length of forbidding tourists or any residents from ascending the hills, from which a good general idea may be secured of the works and of the depots for ammunition. For years it has been the custom of military and diplomatic officials and business men to hunt and fish with perfect freedom near the city; but now shooting and fishing permits are difficult to obtain, while arrest and fine await any sportsman who fails to get the necessary permission from the commandant.

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Orders have been given, says the St. Petersburgskiya Viedomosti, to the Admiralty works at Ishora to build two destroyers" of the Sokol type. The Normand torpedo-boat Pernoff, which was intended for service with the Mediterranean squadron, will, according to the Army and Navy Gazette, be detained to serve as a model at the same works. The torpedo

[SPAIN.]

WAR-SHIP BUILDING NOTES.

The Spanish Minister of Marine has applied to the Spanish Council of Ministers for special credits to the amount of £920,000 for increasing the Spanish fleet and extending the Spanish arsenals and naval establishments. The special credits include an item of £80,000 for the new first-class cruiser Reina Regente. The Spanish Minister of Marine further contemplates the construction of an ironclad to have a displacement of 11,000 tons, and to cost £880,000; two cruisers of 6800 tons each, and two torpedoboat destroyers. The Minister further proposes to equip the Pelayo with rapid-firing guns, and to convert the Numancia frigate into a floating battery.

The Spanish Government has closed the contract for the purchase of two cruisers now building in the Ansaldo works, Leghorn, to be named the Cristobol Colon and Pedro d'Aragona, and to cost from 17 to 18 million francs.

It has also been decided to purchase in Scotland an ironclad of 10,500 tons, a cruiser of 6500 tons, and two torpedo-catchers. A cruiser of 1500 tons, having a speed of 20 knots, is also to be built in England. According to the contract the vessels are to be built in 18 months.

In view of the present activity displayed by the Naval Department, the following particulars of the various vessels built and being built on the home station may prove interesting.

The Pelayo, ironclad, at present at Cadiz, carries four big guns and about twelve of smaller caliber, with the usual number of Nordenfelt, Hotchkiss and other quick-firing pieces. She is employed as the flagship of Rear Admiral Requera, and is capable of doing fifteen knots on a push.

The Vizcaya, also in Cadiz, is a belted cruiser, 7000 tons, and carries two 28-cm. guns in protected turrets and ten of 14-cm., with also a number of quick-firing Nordenfelts. Her speed is eighteen knots natural draught and twenty forced draught.

The Maria Teresa and Oquendo, two sister ships to the Vizcaya, are in commission at Barcelona.

There are three torpedo-boats at Carracas (near Cadiz) and other three at Cartagena. Also at Cartagena, Carracas and Ferrol are a few obsolete vessels. Two or three of these might, on an emergency, be put in commission, but this is scarcely likely, owing to their having old-fashioned boilers and machinery.

Before the 18th of September the Princessa de Asturias, it is expected, will be launched. Her hull is of steel; tonnage, 7000; draught, 6.58. She has an armor belt of 300 mm., tower, 300, and protective deck, 50; will carry two guns of 240 mm. Hontorio; eight of 57 Nordenfelt; eight of 37 Hotchkiss; two mitrailleuses of 11 Nordenfelt, and two of 70 Hontorio, besides eight torpedo-tubes. Indicated horse-power, 15,000; speed, 20.25; coal capacity, 1200 tons, sufficient for 9700 miles at ten miles per hour. Crew complement, 497 men.

In the arsenal at Ferrol, nearly ready for launching, is the Cardenal Cisneros, belted cruiser, 9000 tons.

The Catalina is on the stocks at Cartagena. These two vessels are

In construction also at Ferrol, but in a private yard, are three gunboats of 600 tons each.

Great activity is being at present observed in the construction of the Carlos V, 900 men being employed. The government is desirous of having her ready for sea in as short a time as possible.

The Lepanto, a sister ship to the unfortunate Reina Regente and Alfonso XIII, with a few modifications, is nearing completion at Cartagena, and will probably be ready for her sea trials about March. The Alfonso XIII has undergone some preliminary trials, but is still at Ferrol. The boilers of the torpedo-boat destroyer Distructor, which was built some years ago by Messrs. Thompson, of Glasgow, are in a bad state of repair.

[BRAZIL.] THE BARROZO.

Sir W. G. Armstrong & Co. (Limited) launched from the Elswick shipyard, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on Tuesday, August 25, the Barrozo, a cruiser built to the order of the Brazilian Government. The Barrozo is built of steel, her under-water portions being sheathed with wood and coppered. Her principal dimensions are: Length, 330 feet; breadth, 43 feet 9 inches; draught, 16 feet 10 inches; and displacement, 3450 tons. She is protected throughout the whole of her length by a curved steel armor deck. This deck completely covers all the machinery, magazines, and steering gear, and additional protection is afforded by the reserve coal bunkers, which are carried along the vessel's side to a height of about 6 feet above the water-line. With full bunkers the vessel will be able to traverse a distance of about 8000 knots at a moderate speed. The vessel is fitted with twin screws and machinery of 7500 indicated horse-power. She is expected to attain a speed of 20 knots. The Barrozo will be provided with guns of Elswick pattern, the armament comprising six 6-inch quickfirers of 50 calibers in length, four 4.7-inch quick-firers of 50 calibers, ten 6-pounder and four 1-pounder Nordenfelts, four Maxim guns, and two field guns. She will also have three torpedo-tubes. The six 6-inch guns are arranged to fire three ahead and three astern.

SHIPS BUILDING.

There are under construction for the Government at present the following ships: In France, two small battle-ships; in England, three protected cruisers; in Germany, three torpedo-cruisers; and in the dockyard at Rio, two monitors for river service. It is further contemplated to add three more cruisers, the orders for which are expected to be placed in Italy. The three torpedo-cruisers are being built in the Germania yard at Kiel, and the first of them, the Garamuru, was launched in April last. Their dimensions are as follows: Length, 260 feet; beam, 31 feet; and with a mean draught of 10 feet inches the displacement will be 1030 tons. The engines are to develop 6000 I. H. P., giving a speed of 23 knots. The armament will consist of two 105-mm. (4-inch) guns, six 57-mm. (21⁄2-inch), and four 37-mm. (1.5-inch) guns, all Q. F., with three torpedodischarges, one in the stem and one on each beam. A small twin-screw

[CHILI.]

THE ALMIRANTE SIMPSON.

The torpedo-gunboat Almirante Simpson, built and engined by Messrs. Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, for the Chilian Government, was taken by them to the Clyde for her official trials on July 23rd. The runs were made in accordance with the Admiralty conditions on the measured mile at Skelmorlie, with an average of 211⁄2 knots on six runs on the measured mile, and a mean speed for three hours' running of 214 knots, the contract speed being 21 knots. On the natural-draught trial of six hours' duration a mean speed of 1734 knots was obtained with 1⁄2-inch air pressure, being 34 knot in excess of contract, the coal consumption in both cases being very light. The vessel is similar to the Almirante Lynch and Almirante Condell, built by the same firm for the Chilian Government in 1890, and Her Majesty's ships Onyx and Renard, built in 1893. Her length is 240 feet, beam 27 feet 6 inches, and she is built of steel. The thickness of the side plating abreast the machinery is increased to afford additional protection. She has a topgallant forecastle and half-poop which give accommodation for officers and crew. The builders have also supplied and fitted the armament, which consists of one bow and two broadside 18-inch torpedo-tubes, two 4.7-inch quick-firing guns of Armstrong's most modern type, four 3-pounder quick-firing guns, and two rifle caliber machine guns by Maxim-Nordenfelt. The machinery consists of two sets of triple-expansion engines supplied with steam at 200 lbs. pressure from four water-tube boilers of the modified Normand type, first introduced by the builders, with extra large evaporators and distillers. This vessel has been rapidly constructed, the order having only been placed in September of last year.

The Chilian Government has ordered from the firm of Ansaldo and Co., of Sestri Ponente, Leghorn, an armored cruiser similar in type to the Garibaldi, which, built originally for the Italian Government, has lately been sold to the Argentine Government. There is considerable jubilation felt in Italy at the increasing number of war vessels which are being constructed for foreign governments in Italian yards. The Guardia Marina Riquelme, fourth and last of the 30-knot torpedo-boat destroyers, building by Messrs. Laird for the Government, was launched at Birkenhead, June 20th.

[ARGENTINE.] THE SANTA FÉ. [ENGINEER.]

The Santa Fé is the first of four destroyers ordered by the Argentine Government. The names of the remaining three are Corrientes, Misiones, and Entre Rios. They are 190 feet in length by 19 feet 6 inches beam, and one special feature in which they differ from similar vessels in the British Navy is that the machinery space is partially protected by 1⁄2-inch armor. This partial protection with tough steel plates extends on each side and on the deck throughout that portion of the vessel occupied by the machinery and by the men who work it. In spite of this extra

a three hours' run, was found to be 26.7 knots, carrying a load of 35 tons with only 14 inches air pressure in the stokehold. The armament of the Santa Fé consists of two deck torpedo-tubes, and one bow tube of the Whitehead pattern, also one 14-lb. Maxim-Nordenfelt gun, placed in an elevated position on the conning tower forward; two 6-pounders are placed amidships, and one 6-pounder at the stern; while two Maxims are placed on either side of the conning tower on deck. The engine-room contains twin-screw engines of 4000 horse-power, besides many other auxiliary engines.

The steam is supplied by six of Yarrow's patent straight-tube watertube boilers, four being placed in the main and two in the forward stokehold. These stokeholds are kept cool and supplied with air by forced draught produced by two brass fans, revolving in a horizontal plane, close below the deck. The boilers are each encased between diaphragm plates, so that in case any boiler is damaged by shot the influx of steam would be confined to that portion of the vessel occupied by the boiler so injured, and would not pass into the stokehold. This has been proved, by actual experience, to be an important method of protection to the stokers in case of a boiler being struck by the enemy's shot. It may, in passing, be mentioned that in the Santa Fé there are no less than between five and six miles of tubing in the boilers, every inch of which can be readily examined and cleaned. The deck accommodation of the Santa Fé is commodious, and the fitting up for the six officers and forty-four men shows that, as far as possible, the comfort of "those who go down to the sea in ships" has not altogether been forgotten.

We now come to the automatic boiler feed. It has come to be understood that if water-tube boilers are to be worked in comfort there must be some form of automatic feed. The demand for steam is so constantly changing, and the quantity of water at any time in the boiler is so small, that incessant vigilance is necessary, on the one hand, to prevent the boiler from being filled up, with the prospect of drowning the main engines and breaking them down, or, on the other hand, of stinting the feed, with the risk of burning the tubes. The system adopted by Mr. Yarrow is the invention of Mr. Mariner, and is very novel and peculiar. It consists, in one word, in feeding each boiler separately by a Worthington donkey pump and placing the mouth of the steam pipe for supplying the donkey close to the water level of the boiler. If the water rises too high, it will enter the donkey steam pipe and choke the cylinder with water. Then the donkey will almost stop. If the water level falls, then the donkey will work fast and pump the level up again. The accompanying sketch will make the arrangement clear. The steam pipe is placed between two perforated deflecting plates as shown, in order to give it “solid” water to deal with. The level of the pipe is adjustable from outside by means of a cock joint. It might be imagined that this would cause much pounding and thrashing, but personal inspection on Saturday proved that the Worthington pumps work quite quietly. If the boiler is too full of water the pump still works slowly and extracts from the boiler the surplus water to the extent of the difference of the capacity of the steam and pump cylinders respectively, until the level in the boiler is corrected. Thus it will be seen that with this system not only is the water, if low, immediately raised to its proper level, but if too high, it automatically falls. The simplicity of this arrangement, as com