SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG ON NATIONAL DEFENCES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2807, 23 March 1882, Page 2

SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG ON NATIONAL DEFENCES.

The President of the Institution of Civil Engineers for this year is the celebrated inventor of hydraulic machinery, and the manufacturer of the largest and most' powerful ordnance in the world, Herr Krupp, of Essen, not excepted.' Consequently, his opinion on the above subject is most valuable, and it appears to coincide with the common sense view of most people, viz;; that to build vessels costing, more' than half a million sterling, and manned by* hundreds of men, is' too' much like putting all one's eggs in a single basket. His # advice, is to construct small and exceedingly active ships capable of turning and steaming very rapidly, and of.-immense. calibre.ln the event of war, our merchant and passenger service would run the greatest risk of being entirely cut up. Of course, ‘letters of marque would be issued here and reprisals would soon occur, but the trade of other.-countries is insignificant. and las we do the carrying' trade by sea of the whole world, more Or less, ;tbe loss to this country would be im mence.not to say vital. Of course against torpedoes nothing is safe absolutely, bnt still the danger would be less in the case of small vessels than’, large ones. In respect of this subject Sir Willian Armstrong recommends the formation of a volunteer, service to lay down- and work torpedoes for the defence of our harbors, and justly remarks that such a corps would be of inestimable value in time of war. This branch of the service is one which might well be imitated in all the colonies at vulnerable points along the coast lines. As to guns, the President thinks that all nations are bohind-hand. but he is of opinion that the time is getting on when a limit will be reached in; length and weight beyond which it will be im possible to go. As it is. engine power has to be' employed to move the ponderous weapons, and hydraulic presses employed-to take up the recoil.