Inspection of The Victorian Navy, UNKNOWN

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 2

Inspection of The Victorian Navy, UNKNOWN

The annual inspection of the ships, workshops and drill sheds belonging to the Victorian navy, as well as of the officers and men of the naval brigade drilled with the permanent force, took place on Saturday, in a quiet and unpretending but thorough way. Capt. Thomas, naval commandant, accompanied by Mr Lorimer, Minister of Defence, and Mr. W. Steel, InspectorGeneral of Public Works, arrived at Port Melbourne at 11.30, and after viewing the recently constructed drill shed for the sub. marine torpedo corps, and the proposed site hard by of theshed about to be erected forthe recent Melbourne detachment of the Naval Brigade? proceeded across Hobson's Bay to Williamßtown to see the torpedo stores, the engines and charging apparatus just erected by the Public Works Department, and the torpedo boats themselves now lying on the slips. Commander Collins, Lieutenant HelyHutchineon, and Chief Engineer Haysmans accompanied the party. The new Fiume torpedoes, are lying here, together with the stores appertaining to the branch. The recent rough weather was found to huve seriously tested the new galvanised iron store 100 feet x 90 feet, as well as the adjoining annexes ,each 50 feat x 90, feet the one intended for a the other for a boat store. The roof is at present rather leaky, and probably some defective construotion in the window fittings will require to be remedied. A drill shed for the WilHamBtown detachment of the brigade remains to be constructed. The engines and air pumps for charging the Whiteheads up to a pressure of 2,0001b to the square inch are in position, the former being erected on a bed of masonry of great solidity. The Childers, Nepean and Lonsdale appeared in capital order after their recent service at Geelong, and were clean and shipshape, although their repainting had been interrupted by the late wet weather ; their engines were as clean as friction could make them, the steel parts shining like burnished silver. Mr C. A. Darin, torpedo warrant officer, was in attendance to accompany the party over this portion" of the inspection. The occupants of the launch then went on board the Kelson for lunch, shortly after which the steamer conveying the Naval brigade, commanded by Captain Fullarton arrived alongside, and after putting on the Nelson the men told off as her crew, proceeded to the other vessels. The following is the muster of the Naval Brigade on the various cthips : —Nelson, 80 petty officers and men ; Cerberus, 50 ; Victoria and Albert, each 15. Captain Fullarton took command of the Cerberus party, and Lieutenant Robertson, Sub-Lieutenant Smith andSubLieuteuant Donni? of those on board the Nelson, Victoria and Albert. Staff Surgeon Stewart was told off to the iS'elaon, and Surgeon Cheetham to the Cerberus. The commandant then, commencing with the Nelson, whose crew ac a rule consists of those most recently joined, put each division through a serere course oi drill, the men being told off to their quarters and exercised in gunnery, attack and defence at distance and elope quarters, fire quarters, manoing armed boats, manning an armed vessel and prepariag for torpedo attack. Manual exercise was performed, semaphore and more signalling wad practised, and such officers as were conversant with the alphabet of flags, were tested as to their knowledge of the same. Captain Thomas's launch, when nearins; the Cerberus, represented n torpedo boat, and steamed rapidly round the ironclad, whose revolving turrets followed her course, the muzzles of the two 10 inch guns, which coveied her hull, appearing to glare like the wrathful eyes of a wild buasfc, while the Nordenfeldts on the beam of the Cerbei'us played on the exposed parts of the torpedo launch. This part of the inspection was particularly interesting, reminding the visitor or. Lord Cochrane'n famous exploit on 28 th February, 1801, when with the little top Speedy, carrying a few 4 pounders, he captured the Spanish frigate El Gamo, of 32 ton", pimply by running alongside and firing into her, his antagonist being unable to depose her guns and blow him out oi the water. His success was materially enhanced by the employment of the ingenious device of blackening the faces of the boarding party, who on appearing over I tho bulwarks were mistaken for devils by the affrighted Spaniards who fled below and surrendered. Captain Thomas's manoiuvre might, with tt>e aid of a little imagination, be supposed to occur at night, the darkness rendered visible by the electric light shed from the Cerberus, j searching for and pos*ibly discovering the intruder. After boarding the Cerberus the commandant caused turret and other drill to be gone through, the officers taking their turn to replace those supposed to be killed in action, and the inspection terminated with manning boats,, pulling past and saluting. The commandant will probably shortly publish a general order, with observations on the drill, condition of the engines, guns, &c, and appearance of the men. » During the afternoon a lecture was delivored by Lieut. Hely-ETutchinson to the squad of torpedo men in the newly fitted in struction theatre on board the Nelson. Thia room contaius an, interesting collection of sectional modeld of all the shot and shell used in the colony, electrical appliances and pplioas for wire cables, two Gatling guns and a great collection °* objects, some knowledge of which is indispensable to naval proficiency. Any man nofc on duty may come in and study in the room during daylight.