582 



NAVIES OF EUROPE. 



NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



it up. As the saddle moves sideways, that part 

 of it containing the loading-tube comes into 

 position exactly behind the rear end of the 

 bore. The small piston which withdrew the 

 breech-screw now pushes the loading-tube into 

 the gun. The projectile and its two half- 

 charges are always kept ready on trolleys, 

 which rise by hydraulic pressure from their 

 places in the magazines, and arrive between 

 the hydraulic rammer-head and the breech of 

 the gun. Other levers thrust them forward 

 into their places ; the loading-tube is with- 

 drawn and the breech closed by a reversal of 

 the different movements just described, which 

 do their work more quickly than the descrip- 

 tion of their action can be read. The breech 

 of the gun can not be moved till all is complete, 

 and the piece can not be fired unless the breech 

 is accurately closed and locked to prevent its 

 opening. 



The absence of trunnions and the method of 

 mounting makes it possible for two of these 

 guns to be worked side by side in a turret, but 

 the arrangements on the Italia and Lepanto 

 are for firing en barbette from behind a breast- 

 work which completely shields the men from 

 the fire of an enemy. In the trial of the gun 

 at Spezia, eighteen rounds were fired with 

 charges of varying weight, but the new armor- 

 plates were not used in the experiment. Fos- 

 sano (Italian) and prismatic (German) powder 

 were provided, but, as there was found to be 

 little or no choice between them, the former 

 was mostly used. The maximum velocity at- 

 tained was 1,833 feet per second, and the high- 

 est energy 46,700 foot-tons, sufficient to raise 

 the gun itself a height of 500 feet, and to pen- 

 etrate thirty inches of wrought-iron. The fol- 

 lowing table exhibits the results of the different 

 rounds fired : 



The results of these experiments threaten to 

 turn the efforts of governments in the arming 

 of navies in the direction again of large ves- 

 sels and ordnance of heavy caliber and enor- 

 mous power. 



NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. In 

 comparison with last year, the condition and 

 prospects of the navy are somewhat improved, 

 although far from being yet what it is felt that 

 they ought to be. From the report of the 

 Secretary of the Navy for 1882, it is plain that 

 the following facts and statements are worthy 

 of careful consideration : 



1. The available cruising war-vessel* of the 

 navy are 



One first-rate (the Tennessee) 4,480 tons displacement. 



Fourteen second-rates, from 1,100 to 4,000 " " 



Twenty-two third-rates, " 900 to 1,900 " 



Thirty-seven in all. Four of these, of less 

 than 1,400 tons displacement, have iron hulls; 

 all the others are built of wood. These vessels 

 are good and commodious for all ordinary 

 naval exercises, and useful for displaying the 

 national flag upon the seas and in the harbors 

 of the commercial world. But they are of 

 low speed, with inferior engines and destruc- 

 tive capacity, compared with the present war- 

 ships of other navies. It is urgently recom- 

 mended by the Secretary of the Navy and his 

 advisers in the service, that the wooden vessels 

 be replaced, as speedily as possible, by new 

 iron or steel cruisers. The honor and reputa- 

 tion as well as the interests of the country 

 demand that the navy of the United States be 

 placed on a footing of efficiency to meet 

 possible emergencies. 



2. The available armored vessels are thii 

 teen fourth-rates, the single-turreted monitor 

 from 1,800 to 2,100 tons displacement. Tin 

 vessels were built twenty years ago, have 

 speed, and have been mostly laid up since 

 war. Three of them are in commission fc 

 harbor-defense, in the Hudson and Delaw* 

 Rivers and at Hampton Roads. 



3. Under the head of Ordnance, it ap] 

 that the guns of the navy are 



Smooth-bore muzzle-loading (of various calibers) 2,2 



Parrott muzzle-loading (40-pound rifles) 



Muzzle- and breech-loading (converted rifles) 



These last have fair power, and may be us 

 ful for the present at least ; but the others 

 wholly behind the age. " With not one modern 

 high-powered cannon in the navy, and with 

 only eighty-seven guns worth retaining, the 

 importance of action for the procurement of 

 naval ordnance seems apparent, if the navy is 

 longer to survive." 



4. Officers and Seamen. On July 1, 1882, 

 the record stood : 



937 officers, on sea duty, annual pay $1 



644 " on shore duty, annual pay 1,568, 



236 " waiting orders, " " 



.Total 



. . . 



7,074 seamen, receiving ......................... 2,170,096 



950 apprentices, receiving ...................... 152,556 



Add to these over 300 officers on the retired 

 list, and the officers and privates of the marine 



