AN ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR, IRONCLADS.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 39, 9 July 1877, Page 2

AN ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR, IRONCLADS.

The Alexandra, which is said to be the finest masted ironclad in the world, is provided with an electric lamp, carried at its foremast when at sea. The cost of this apparatus, with reflector and machine for generating electricity, we are told was not less than one thousand pounds — a large amount enough if taken by itself, but not considerable if regarded in the light of insurance to a ship valued at half a million of money. The electric light is to fulfil two important duties. In times, of peace it may be used after, the manner of a carriage lamp, and in war-time it can be employed for searching the seas for j torpedo boats meditating a night attack. In the former capacity, this brilliant means*of illumation will not, perhaps, be often used, for the simple reason that big ironclads like the Alexandra will give "land and dangerous channels a wide berth. At the same time, there may ba cases when the vessel is navigating a dangerous coast, or is in the vicinity of rocks or breakers, in which a strong light thrown ahead would be invaluable. A powerful electric lamp would at once betray the presence of any white cliff or of foam, which would naturally reflect light, at the distance of a mile or more on the darkest night, nnd would thus point out to the officer of, the watch the danger of the course he is steering. But it is from its value in wartime, as a means of detecting a night attack by torpedo boats, that the eiectric light will be most appreciated on board an ironclad. By continuing sweeping the sea around with the electric raj, it is possible to mark the approach from a distance of any stranger, and especially of steam launches, the smoke of which, it seems, reflect more light actually than the low bulls of the boats themselves. The use of the electric light mmt certainly prevents the approach of craft unseen, and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. VVe hail, therefore, with satisfaction the idea of providing our costly ironclads with such a means of surety as the electric light will undoubtedly prove to them.