Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 58.djvu/40

32 vessel was laid down on May 1, 1897, and although the engineers' strike resulted in a delay of more than six months in the delivery of armor, armament and engines, the trials of the vessel were completed to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, and the 'Shikishima' was turned over to her owners in less than twenty-nine months from the date above given for the commencement of the work. In its way this achievement also constitutes a record which has had no parallel, and certainly the fact that despite detrimental circumstances a vessel of 15,000 tons displacement and 19 knots speed can be built, equipped, armored, engined and

tested under actual service conditions, all in little more than two years' time, speaks well for modern engineering methods.

The loss of the Russian contracts previously referred to—and other circumstances—have seemingly made some impression on French shipbuilders, and a shortening of the time consumed in some of the principal yards has already been made. For instance, it is announced that should nothing unforeseen intervene, the first-class battleship 'Suffren’ which