Sir ^Joseph Petavel 185 



being relatively the same distance apart as were the war- 

 ship and the liner at the time of the smash, they switched 

 on the current, and the two boats moved off on their 

 voyage, while all those interested stood above, taking 

 notes. 



The models steamed on their course at an actual speed 

 of sixteen knots. Then came the thrilling moment and 

 the crash. With their own eyes the President, counsel, 

 and witnesses saw just what happened in the Solent. 

 They could see for themselves how the liner's wash 

 affected the small cruiser. Then the collision was re- 

 peated for them again and again, so that they should 

 not miss the slightest detail. 



The evidence of the Tank tested the expert's theory, 

 and the lawsuit was settled. 



Through increased activity in our shipyards and im- 

 proved methods in shipbuilding the Tank is being kept 

 busy, and much ' shipbuilding ' is going on in the minia- 

 ture shipyard next to it, where those exact models in 

 wax are constructed. 



One of the problems recently tackled by these scientists 

 was associated with a difficult branch of shipbuilding, the 

 designing of fruit-carrying steamers, whose essentials are 

 ample cargo space and speed. Speed raises the question 

 of the stream-lining of hulls, and the systematic research 

 carried out at Teddington has led to results greatly 

 beneficial to our shipyards. For example, in the case of 

 a ten-knot tramp boat it was found possible, after experi- 

 ment with hulls of various shapes, to effect a reduction of 

 no less than thirty-five per cent, in horse-power without 

 altering the speed. In another case, where a nineteen- 

 knot ship was involved, ten per cent, of the horse-power 

 was saved, which for that one ship was equivalent to a 

 reduction in the coal bill of about five thousand pounds 

 a year ! 



Speed, too, can be tested in anticipation with the aid 



