THE SERVIA AND THE NAVAL RESERVE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1511, 11 March 1882, Page 2

THE SERVIA AND THE NAVAL RESERVE.

Thb new Cunard liner, the Servia, arrived in the Mersey on the 17th November, pre\ious to her being 1 placed on the route between Liverpool and New Yoik. She is the largest and latest addition to the line, and one of the finest specimens of marine architecture in the world. She was launched last March from Messrs J- -wd G. Thompson's yard on the Clyde, and would have been at work earlier but for the discovery of a. flaw in her crank-shaft. This has been remedied by the removal ot two ot the cranks and the substitution of two others made of Vickcr's steel, and built on to the sterntnost crank, which was proved to be sound. On her trials before leaving the Clyde it was shown that her engines indicated 10,385-horse power, lhey are composed of three cylinders, one high-pressure ot 72111 diameter, and two low-pressure of loom, with a stroke, of 6ft 6in. Ihe trials were numeious, and four of them ut the measured mile gave a mean of 17.629 knots per hour. The time occupied for each mile was 3min 29set,3min 23sec, 3mm 23SCC, and 3mm 22SCC. 'Ihe speed 111 eacli case respectively was, therefore, 17,225 knots per hour, 17.734. 17.7.3J, and 17,823 In a run ot i\ miles, from the Clock Light to the Cumbrae she ran at a speed of 1708 knots, or about 20 st.itutc miles per hour. Ihe highest speed at the measured mile reached a rate of 20^ statute miles per hour. The propeller made 53 revolutions with steam at Bolb pressure out of an available golb. 'lhc trials were made in the presence of Mr John Hums, the chairman ot the Cunard Company, who also made the journey round to the Mersey to note her behaviour at sc.i. He was accompanied by the Marquis of Ailsa, Mr James Dunn, of the Admiralty, and Mr Thomas Gray, of the Board of Trade. The weather was unpleasantly rough, but the waves had comparatively little effect upon the vessel when in motion. Her great length of 530 ft, with a breadth of 52ft, gave her unusual steadiness, and presage a smooth journey across the Atlantic, flip presence ot Air Dunn at the trials naturally directs attention to the qualities of the .Servia as a vessel foi puri>oscs ot war ; supplemented to the regiil.ll navj. t has been found by experiment that Blt of coal will stop a shot from a 6|-pounder, and that a shell will explode harmlessly 111 i.ir less. Ihe engines and boilers of the Sen i.l are surrounded by water-tight compartments available for the reception ot coal 10ft in thickness ilus would give complete protection to the vital parts ol the ship. Besides this, the whole length ot the \cssel is divided by nine vv.tteitiglit bulkheads, each of which is to all intents and purposes a scpciate ship, provided the doors are closed at the time of danger. Contiary to the usual practice, the doors can in this case be closed by a lever on the main deLk ihe ship itself is built of steel, and his a double skin, so that were tho_ outer plates bioken the ship would still be safe. '1 he upper, mam, and lower decks are also of stei I covered with pine on the upper deck and teak below. It is held that both for 01 din.iry safety, .is well as for war purposes steel will give gi eater resistance by reason of its elasticity than 11 on in the event of concussion. It offers one chance more than iron, because it will rebound where iron will crack. For tiansport service the Servia would offer exceptional advantages. She has capacity for storing coal enabling her to steam 22,290 knots wtihout entering a port at a late of 12 knots per hour) or 17,000 knots at .1 rate of 1 } per hour ; or, in ether words ; she could cruise for two or three months at a fair speed all the tune. It is satisiactory to know that the Admiralty has at present a list of upwards ot 200 ships, all of which have complied with the condition* ot the department, so tar as construction is concerned, though they may not all be as efficient tor war purposes as the S'crvia. A large number of others are building at the pi csent time in .u Lord.mcc with the same rules, and it is anticipated that the Admnalty will at an early date secure the use ol the majority of them in case ol necessity. There is, we believe, at present armament for thirty vessels ready for shipment at 24 hours' notice — an armament consisting, so far as ships ot the character of the Servia are concci nod, of si\ expounders and four 40's, or ten gum with men to work them. The British mercantile marine consists now of 10,250,000 tons, 1,500,000 being steam and 5,750,000 sailing. Ihe whole of the foreign tonnage amounts to 11,^00,000 tons, of which 2,500,000 are steam and 9,0110,000 sailing. These figures show very clcarlj the necessity, as well as the opportunity, for proi 11 ing fast-going cruisers for the defence of our meruantilc marine, and the necessity will be emphasized by the fact that the agents of French, Gorman, and Russian Governments arc following in the footsteps of the Admiralty and collecting information as to where shipi are to be bought in this country that may be turned to account as fast-going cruisers, armoured with coal in watertight compartments, and armed with long-range guns. It is fortunate that the requirements of the Admiralty do not interfere with the comfort or safety of the ordinary passenger nor with the cargo-carrjing capacity of the vessel. The safety of the ship is indeed materially increased by compliance with these conditions, and the watertight compartments which the Admiralty design for the storing of coal for defensive purposes are available for cargo or accommodation for the crew. The comfort of the passenger is consulted in the Servia by a variety of contrivances, including berths of unusual width, and by the adoption of the electric light in the saloons and smoking-room, as well as tho engine-room and stokehold. The electricity is generated by one ot Brotherhood's threcfyfinder engines, directly acting on an electro ynamic machine, and producing 640 revolutions per minute. Tho electricity generated is sufficient for 117 of Swan's incandescent lights, and two are lights on deck forloadingpurposes.— The Times.