

2C6 SECTION MECHANICS. 



be constructed on the same principle as the " Inflexible " but will have 

 a knot less speed than the " Inflexible," thinner armour (one and a-half 

 feet instead of two feet) and 38-ton guns. 



These changes have been made in several steps extending over 

 several years. I do not know precisely to what extent Mr. Scott 

 Russell influenced the general conception of the design of the " War- 

 rior," but I believe he did so to a considerable extent. I know that 

 the influence he has exerted while the development of iron ship- 

 building has been going on in the Royal Navy has been far greater 

 than has ever been recorded or acknowledged. 



It ought to be recorded by me here, I think, that the Exhibition 

 contains models of the three grandest ships of war in the navy of the 

 German Empire. The " Konig Wilhelm," and the " Kaiser " and 

 41 Deutschland," now forming part of the squadron commanded by 

 Admiral Batsch, were designed by an English architect, and built in 

 English dockyards, and I may also mention that China, which has now 

 an important naval establishment at Foochow, where ships of war and 

 marine engines are constructed under the superintendence of a French 

 officer, has recently had built for her in England two of the Rendel 

 gunboats, with 25-ton guns, the models of which are furnished by the 

 builders, Messrs. Laird. The Thames Company send a model of the 

 " Vasco da Gama," the first ironclad for the famous navy of Portugal. 



I should like now in a few brief sentences to discuss and dismiss the 

 question of armour-plating, and pass on to matters of less national 

 moment, but of more general interest. 



There are people who say that it would be a gain to the world, and 

 notably to England, if some one would find the way to get rid of 

 armour-plating. Their minds are distressed with a condition of things 

 of which they cannot pretend to foresee the probable end and issue, for 

 the contest between the armour and the gun is of this character. 



I do not myself pretend to foretell at what point on the road we are 

 travelling we shall be obliged to turn off, but I do not doubt that 

 wherever it may be, and in whatever direction the new road may lie, 

 naval armaments will not become less costly or less subject to the 

 progress of mechanical invention. The introduction of artillery, of 

 steam, of armour-plating, and of torpedoes into naval warfare have all 

 tended to increase the power of civilisation, of wealth, and of 



