OUR NAVAL STRENGTH.

Evening Star, Issue 4230, 16 September 1876, Page 4

OUR NAVAL STRENGTH.

A London correspondent says a return has just been issued by the Admiralty, which gives.-a complete list of England's ironclad navy. A large flee't of magnificent ships has latelybeen ordered: to .the Mediterranean, though its -presence -there will be more for the of, the English residents than., for taking any hostile action against other powers. Still, it is read^ifor .whatever eventualities may tuns apy-Someof the London newspapers have been tryihg to terrify susceptible Englishmen by pointing out supposed; deficiencies in our naval strength. The returii v I refer'to demonstrates very, clearly that if war was to break out England has vessels -in' the ■ Mediterrawithin reach of it—strong enough and numerous enough to blow any opposing fleet out of the water. According to the statement of the Admiralty, thirty-eight broadside ships, one, ram,, aud fourteen turret ships, carrying 625 of our heaviest guns, cottM-be got ready for an engagement within a comparatively few hours. No fewer'than six ol these broadside monsters—such, for instance, as 'tHe' Northumberland and Black Prince—are over 6,000 tons each ; two are more than 5,000 ton's; and ten, like, the Royal Oak and Bellerophon, are over 4,000 . tons. The remainder are all 3,000 tons each or near it. Only three r of the entire fleet of broadsides are classed as gunboats, and two as sloops; but as they are all fast. sailers, and carry our.heaviest ordnance, they would not fail to be extremely effective in times of need. Many of the oldest of these vessels have had their boilers renewed duriDg the last year or two, and are, therefore, in admirable order. In cases where a similar renovation may be desirable now the work could be so quickly accomplished, if necessary, as scarcely to cause a delay worthy the name. The turret-ships, headed by the Devastation, all rank as first-class, and a half-a-dozen heavier samples like the Inflexible are in course of construction.—' Belfast News.'