THE MARITIME POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3017, 16 October 1878, Page 1

THE MARITIME POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN.

At the meeting on Friday of the Bdyal United Service Institution, Lord Hampton presiding, the discussion was upon..the naval prize essay, written by Captain H. Colomb, 8.N., on thVfollowing important points :—" Great Britain's Maritime Power: how best developed as regards—l, fighting ships;; 2, protection of commerce; 3, Naval Volunteer or supplemental force; 4, colonial and home defence, the classes, armament, and description of the vessels needed, and the organization required to secure.a powerful and economic imperial naval ' force." There were ..four essays presented~>the prize- one, by, Captain Colomb, one by Commander - Noel,< one by Lieutenant James B. Haye, aad one by Lieutenant Sydney" M. Eardley Wilmot. There were seven other essays written by Naval officers sent in competition for the'gold medal of the institution. - Captain Colomb .said he was opposed to the building of powerful vessels not fully seagoing, those classed as for."coast defence" being thus indicated; and he urged that'our naval policy should rest- upon the geographical cpndition of our naval empire, our actual peace, navy, and the geographical condition of a possible navarcombination against .us,, and, the nature and distribution of neighbouring naval forceß. Passing to. the ship construction necessary to satisfy these conditions,, he asked for moderate speed, twin screws, coal capacity to steam 4,000 miles in five knots, and an auxiliary sail power; every.other quantity to give way to the provision of the coal supply named. He-laid great stress on the establishment of a definite classification of ships, recommending four classes. He contended that the one great principle of. " quality " should pervade all ships. Each should bo able in all causes to stand one blow, or one accident, without being totally disabled. Everything, in fact, should be double—two engines, two sets of boilers, two bottoms and sides; compartments so multiplied that no two when filled would disable the ship ; two sets of pumps and fire-engines, two sets of steering gear, double armament, and, where possible, two separate batteries. As to the construction of each class, and taking first 'the " fleetship," he abandoned the turret system and upheld the broadisde. The debate on the paper was opened, but was adjourned until Wednesday. .