900 . REPORT—1896. 
does not affect the lamps in series with it. Each circuit is divided into two 
branches, taking equal amounts of current. Each lamp has in series with it an 
electro-magnet. A resistance is placed as a shunt to the lamp. The normal 
current will not lift the armature of the electro-magnet, but when a lamp breaks, 
double the current passes through the allied lamp, and lifts the armature, com- 
pleting the circuit through the shunt, the resistance of which is equal to the 
lamp. 
a series system with overhead wires is suitable for scattered districts, and is 
as cheap as gas. 
Now that it is possible to obtain lamps suitable for working at 250 volts, and 
when used in conjunction with a three-wire system, it may be worth while to pay 
for the extra copper. 
An alternating system might be considered with a small transformer for each 
lamp, reducing the voltage in the primary mains from, say, 2,000 to 250 in the 
secondary wire, on which the glow lamp would be placed. 
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Armour and Heavy Ordnance—Recent Developmenis and Standards. 
By Captain W. H. Jaques, of the United States of America. 
When I picked up the last issue of Brassey's‘ Naval Annual’ (1896), and upon 
the title-page read— 
‘No system of conduct, however correct in principle, can protect Neutral 
Powers from injury from any party. A defenceless position and a distinguished 
love of peace are the surest invitations to war. —THoMAs JEFFERSON. 
it occurred to me how little our legislators are influenced by the words of the 
eminent statesman which have been selected by the editor of a British Annual of 
the record of the naval events of the year as a warning to Great Britain, the first 
naval power of the world, that its preparations for defence must be liberal and 
continuous. 
The situation and policy of the United States could not be more accurately de- 
scribed than by these words of Jefferson, ‘A defenceless position and a distinguished 
love of peace,’ yet little heed is given to his warning that these conditions ‘ ave the 
surest wnvitations to war. 
In fact our engineers and manufacturers are the only ones who have awakened 
to the situation,and this awakening will no doubt be attributed to the hope of 
pecuniary gain. They have, however, no matter whatever the incentive, attained 
the highest standards in the production of armour, heavy ordnance, and projectiles. 
All we need in the United States are adequate budgets and well-planned ship- 
building programmes, That we are gradually reaching out in the right direction 
is shown by the following table of estimates for 1896-7, taken from Brassey’s 
‘ Annual’ for 1896 :— 
£ 
England. : P : : ; : : . 21,823,000 
France : : : : : i ; : . 10,637,096 
Russia . : - : 5 > - : ; . 6,440,666 
United States. : : : : : : . 5,862,228 
Germany . : : : ; : : 3 . 4,372,068 
Italy . - - : - : : : . 9,641,324 
although in the table of effective fighting ships, built and building, the United 
ae a left out, England, France, Russia, Italy, and Germany only being 
included, 
