ENGINEERING FEAT

Waipukurau Press, Issue 303, 3 September 1908, Page 2

ENGINEERING FEAT

One of the biggest engineering feats of the age is to be attempted almost immediately in connection ■with the salvage of H. M.S. Gladiator, 'which sank in the Solent after colliding with the American liner St. Paul. Salvage operations have been proceeding night and day for over two months, and now an attempt is to be made to tow the wreck bodily nearer the shore, so that when she is placed in an upright position again her decks will only have a small depth of water over them. Steel cylinders capable of lifting from 100 to 200 tons each have been constructed at Portsmouth dockfl ard ; these are being sunk alongside the ship and fastened to her by means of wire cables secured round the vessel. The water in these cylinders will be expelled by compressed aii, and a number of powerful air-compressors have been placed in position for that purpose. Machinery powerful enough to haul loads up to 200 tons has been attached to the ship. In readiness for the attempt to move the Gladiator, all her guns have been removed, as well as funnels, ventilators, and plating. The work, which has been planned and carried out under the directions of Captain Young, of the Liverpool Salvage Association, has been rendered difficult owing to the strong tides, which run at the spot at over six knots, and have only permitted the divers to work for a few hours daily.