28 
THE WORLD'S WAR-SHIPS. 
merchant steamers were the Inconstant, Active, and Volage, followed 
by the Shah, they were officially designated as “ iron screw-frigates and 
corvettes." They were entirely guiltless of armour. The Raleigh 
and Boadicea followed, and then the Bacchante, Euryalus, Iris, and 
Mercury. They all looked to protection to numerous water-tight 
compartments, coupled by the defensive position of their coal bunkers. 
Thus they all run the risk of being sent to the bottom by a single 
shell. In view of this the Leander class were built. With a length 
of 300 feet and extreme breadth of 46 feet, they have a displacement 
of 3750 tons. A steel protective deck 1'5 inch thick extends over 
engines, boilers, and magazines. It is slightly below the water at tbe 
middle line, and curved down so as to be four feet below it at the 
sides. The armament consists of ten 6-incli B.L. guns, and a number 
of smaller quick-firers, Maxims, etc. Their speed is 17 knots and 
coal endurance 11,000 knots. They rank as second-class cruisers. 
Their rig is light, with square yards on their foremasts, and fore and 
aft sails only on their main and mizen. 
They have two funnels, and can hardly be confused with, the belted 
cruisers, which are not rigged, or with the older line-of-battle ships. 
The large amount of room taken up by engines in itself proves a guide 
to the newer cruisers. Of this type are the Amphion, Arethusa, 
Leander and Phaeton. 
Of an altogether smaller size, ranking, indeed, as third-class cruisers, 
is the “ 0 class." They are only 225 feet long, greatest breadth 44 
feet, and tonnage displacement 2380. Their maximum speed is about 
13 knots and coal endurance 5400, in some 6 cases less. The armour 
deck is similar to that of the Leander class, but in one curve to the 
side t They carry when re-armed ten 6-inch B.L., but a smaller num¬ 
ber of lighter weapons than the preceding class. 
In both cases all the guns are on the upper deck. Of this type we 
have nine vessels, Comus, Champion, Cleopatra, Conquest, Curacoa, 
Canada, Carysfort, Constance, and Cordelia. 
They are thus well armed, strongly built, protected by a steel deck 
and coffer dams, with internal bulkheads, but, alas! sadly deficient in 
speed. 
The old gem class were ships of about this size. They have three 
masts and are fully rigged. 
The Calypso and Calliope are well-known ships, and are also of this 
size. They were completed in 1883 and 1884, and are yet old- 
fashioned. Their speed is under 14 knots. They are slightly larger 
than the “ C " class. 
Smaller than these considerably is another class, that of the 
Heroine, Hyacinth, Pylades, Rapid, Royalist, and Satellite. They are 
only 1400 tons displacement, 200 feet long, and 38 feet beam; their 
speed at their best is only 13 knots, but at 10 knot speed they can 
steam 6000 knots. Their armament, too, is good, carrying eight 
6-inch B.L. guns. These three classes complete the partially-protected 
cruisers. It will be observed that the Leander ranks as second-class, 
the Comus as C," and Heroine as third-class. It seems unlikely that 
any more will be built. 
