132 Book of Steamships 



worth while trying on the older coal-fired 

 craft. 



Later came whole classes of destroyers 

 and the very big destroyer, known as the 

 flotilla leader almost a light cruiser. 



It would have been interesting to have 

 given you a great deal of detail regarding 

 the wonderful engines of destroyers and 

 other fast craft. When the Admiralty do 

 not absolutely forbid it they are still ret- 

 icent concerning the design of modern 

 warships. Without any question we can 

 respect the reasons which prompt this 

 reticence, and as we shall be dealing with 

 similar propelling machinery on the fastest 

 liners very shortly, we will not stay for 

 further details of warships. This brings 

 me to the end of our second branch of the 

 " family tree ". 



