The New Ironclad.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 208, 25 June 1887, Page 7

The New Ironclad.

Tnr. launch of the new ironclad Victoria from the Elswick shipbuilding yard was made the occasion of a very interesting speech by Sir William Armstrong, the builder, who drew a comparison between the fighting capacity of the Victoria and of the Victory, Nelson's old flagship, the memory of which is so tenderly cherished by the Britiah nation. In every way the comparison was, of course, in favour of the modem vessel, and there is no doubt that were the Victory manned, as was the custom, with cannon of the maximum weight of three tons, opposed to the Victoria, whose largest guns are one hundred and ten tons, the latter would make short work of her. Still, however, it is impossible to avoid feeling a preference for the old style of fighting, for it is more in consonance with our old traditions of the sea than the present. The picture of a British captain of the old school running his vessel alongside of the enemy, locking the yards together and then carrying her with a rush of boarders, is much more stirring than the contemplation of two floating iron castles at a distance of some half-a-dozen miles or so apart taking pop shots at each other and exchanging compliments in the shape of 1,800 pounds weight of iron or steel shot. One valuable feature of the old-world navy was that it really could go anywhere (short of terra ftrma, of course) and do anything, which is much more than could be said of our present navy. It really seems to us that in the present fashion of building warships there is a parallel between the ancient style of armour and the modern idea of military dress. The warriors of old went on increasing the thickness of their armour until at length they sank beneath the weight of it and were robbed by it alike of force and agility. As time went on it was found necessary to discard portion after portion of the armour, until at present all that remains of it are the cuirasses and the helmets which are worn for ornamental purposes by certain corps of Guards. The gain has been immense to the soldier, and the loss of life has not sensibly increased thereby. The same thing will have to be done in the navy with our warships ; we shall have to trust less to armour and more speed and skilful seamanship on the part of the commanders ; and we aro glad to think that this fact is at length being recognised at the Admiralty.