THE MOTHER IRONCLAD OF THE CLYDE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 282, 8 June 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MOTHER IRONCLAD OF THE CLYDE.

THE BLACK PRINCE'S 58th

ANNIVERSARY

"We have no ambition in the way of unprincipled aggression or lawless aggrandisement."

On the 22nd February, 1861—fifty, nix years ago—these words appeared in a newspaper leader dealing with the "t'meously issued" Navy Estimates for that year. They might have been written yesterday, for they ring as true now as in the middle of last •century. At the time the words were written our naval strength was sufficient to maintain "our own." But rumour? were in the air—rumours of invasion, and a giTr.it homo-dfcfeneo volunteer movement was a-i'oot in England. France wrrs the menace to our safety then; Germany unthought of. The act'on of Napoleon IJI. in constructing an ironclad frigate-of-war—the Gloire —had caused disquiet in the minds of the British Government and the people, and the problem of the age seemed to bo "whether France or Great Britain will excel in the construction of impregnable floating fabrics" surely a strango mouthful of words tc describe an armoured warship! THE FIRST IRONCLADS. Towards tho conclusion of the Crimean War the French Government had had floating batteries built, and, at tJi-o time, they were coasdored a success. So the British Admiralty placed orders for the construction of several, but they were ultimately condemned as unserviceable and their building discontinued. One of these batteries—tho Etrebus—was built on tho Clyde by Messrs. Napier, and although undoubted ironclad, it would not bo right to consider this vessel the forerunner of the modern armourclad man-of-war. It was in 1857 that tho Admiralty determ'ned to add large ironclad ships to the Fleet, and two years later orders were placed for two of these vessels. The first contract was given to the Thames Co., at Blackwall, for tho building of the Warrior; the second was placed wih RcVrt Napier and Son, at Goran, and this vessel may l>o looked uipon as the Mother of the Cyde-built ironclads.

At first tho ship was to be named the Invincible, but a few days later oflße'al intimation was received that it Ir.d l>cen changed to the Black Prince The Admiralty's most astounding action in connection with the Black Prince was the ordering of the eng'nes —6000 i.h.p.from Messrs Penn, of Greenwich, and, to quote again from the old newspaner, "Tlrs is surely sending coals to Newcastle with a vengeance!'' A CLYDESIDE GALA-DAY. Tho building of the ship was a stupendous undertaking at the time, and* the estimated time of construction of one year was exceeded by twelve months. The ship was STO feet in length, 58 feet in breadth, of R«3O tons displacement, and a speed, of 141 knots. Merers. Napier eventually surmounted all difficulties, and tho Princo was launched on Wednesday, February 27, IS6I.

The event was of such outstanding importance in the history of Glasgow—even r.lthough Goran had not Wn forced into the tight embrace of the Second City—that a public holiday was declared, and it is s.nid that ''even Professor Lushington adjourned his Greek class with the remark that 'This was a sight the Athenian* would have loved to see.' " Hours before the t'me of launching the ponds to Govan and Partick were crowded with men. women, and ch'ldren. Four steamers, racked with spectators, sailed from the Broomielaw, and the ship? in the harbour were decorated with flags and bunting. Every position of vantage on both sides of the river was occupied by the 11111-brella-ed crowd, for it was a wet day. The wonderful new ship they had all come to see lay in the stocks, with the Royal Ensign an dthe Union Ja'-k floating altove her. The figurehead at tne bow represented Ed.vnrtl the Blach Prince, clad in a coat of mail, a battleaxe in his right band and his left hand resting on the hilt of a sword. AX ANXIOUS MOMENT Everything had been ordered for the succcsdof the day. The r'.ver had been deepened, and a liydrauhc ram placed near to the bow of the ship to give a gentle send-off should it be necessary. The yard was crowded, and bands played to the About three o'clock, the bilge blocks having been knocked away, the ship was christened by Mi"-* Xapier, grand-daughter of the builder, and "the dogshores removed, but the vessel did net move." Messrs. Napier's men. who were on the ship, were ordered to run from ono s'de to another at the to vt her in motion ! But still the boat did not move. Then the ram slowly exerted its great pressure. "She is moving—she is movin"*" gasped the people as the great ship glided down the way,s into the water of the great river to winch sho belonged. Chow alter cheer rose from the crowds, and the bands struck up ••I'm Afloat" and "Rule Br:tannm.'' With the addition of two ironclads to the British fleet of ">6 years ago it was thought that the "means of offence and defence may now, perchance, be considered to have arrived at tlie:r maximum," and that the money spent on the enmtruciion o/' the -In),; may /'<> ron;v tiered " part of the amount o,i \\vvta'n's insurance policy lor pe.ice." There i,s no need to enlarge upon these ([notations from the musty pnges of the old newspaper, for in tne present days wo know too well the amount that is being paid towards the " insurnii'-c policy for pence." But, in connection with tbesold ironclads. it is s'girt'en.nt that neither thosh'p«of Frame nor those belonging to the Rrifsli Fleet took nart ie the early sea lights in wh h -hips of their eoiwtruction were ongn^/d.