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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



vessel was laid down on May 1, 1897, and although the engineers' strike 

 resulted in a delay of more than six months in the delivery of armor, 

 armament and engines, the trials of the vessel were completed to the 

 satisfaction of all parties concerned, and the 'Shikishima' was turned 

 over to her owners in less than twenty -nine months from the date above 

 given for the commencement of the work. In its way this achievement 

 also constitutes a record which has had no parallel, and certainly the fact 

 that despite detrimental circumstances a vessel of 15,000 tons displace- 

 ment and 19 knots speed can be built, equipped, armored, engined and 



Fig. 4. The Launching <>f the Battleship ' Hatsuse,' June 27. 1899. 



tested under actual service conditions, all in little more than two years' 

 time, speaks well for modern erigineering methods. 



The loss of the Russian contracts previously referred to — and other 

 circumstances — have seemingly made some impression on French ship- 

 builders, and a shortening of the time consumed in some of the principal 

 yards has already been made. For instance, it is announced that should 

 nothing unforeseen intervene, the first-class battleship 'Snffren\ which 



