404 Her Majesty's Ship "Sultan" 



deck, it is impossible for any more water to get in. If, now, a 

 supply of air can be forced into the damaged compartments, 

 then the water which has entered can be easily forced out again 

 through the leak. For this purpose it is only necessary to 

 have adequate air-forcing machinery in the engine-room and 

 to have it connected by pipes with the compartments of the 

 ship. All the most modern ships of war could be very easily 

 fitted so as to deal with leaks by means of air pressure. More- 

 over, the uses of air as a medium for the conveyance of power 

 are daily increasing, and it cannot but be an advantage if it 

 can be made to contribute to the safety of the ship. 



I will close this letter by one remark which is worthy of 

 consideration. A ship is built weighing 10,000 tons; she is 

 fitted with engines capable of indicating 10,000 horse power. 

 These are capable of driving her through the water at a high 

 rate of speed. When she sticks upon a rock they are of no use. 

 Yet engines of 10,000 horse power ought to be able to lift 

 10,000 tons at a rate of nearly 15 ft. per minute. How can a 

 ship's steam power, or even a small portion of it, be made 

 effective for lifting her as dead weight in other words, for 

 keeping her afloat? The only suitable "mechanical power'* 

 with which I am acquainted is the pneumatic lever acting on 

 an air-tight deck as a fulcrum. 



