Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/276

 24O GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

elevation. Lowered down to the next position, or ' step,' as it is technically termed, they have half a degree of depression, and nine degrees of elevation. Lowered still further, and into the deepest position in the turrets, the guns have sixteen degrees of elevation, so as to be able to throw shells into a loftily -planted fortress. The guns are raised and lowered in the turrets by hydraulic power. The most notable turret-ships, next to the Monarch, are the Glatton, the Devastation, and the Thunderer, the two last in process of con- struction end of September, 1870. The Glatton has only one turret, with two 25-ton guns, cased in armour, varying in thickness from 10 to 14 inches, and with a breastwork all around. Designed to lie low, the Glatton has a flying deck, high out of the water, for stowing boats, and for resort in rough weather. The Devastation and the Thunderer, twin-ships, commenced in November, 1869, have two turrets, like the Monarch, and an armoured- breastwork and high flying deck, like the Glatton, with a ram-bow. The Devastation and the Thunderer stand alone among the ironclads for being without mast or sail, and dependent, therefore, solely upon steam.

The naval force in commission varied considerably at different periods of the year 1870. In the middle of August there were 213 ships in commission, exclusive of the coastguard and drill ships, with a collective power of 57,205 horses, armed with 1,984 guns, and manned by 35,720 men. Twenty-six of these men- of-war were armour-plated. Of the 213 vessels above mentioned 102, mounting 758 guns and manned by 15,991 men, were employed on foreign stations. The total strength of the British Navy at the end of September, 1870, consisted of 556 vessels, of all classes, in- cluding ships in course of construction.

The classification of men-of-war is called ' rating,' and the vessels registered on the list of the Royal Navy are known as rated ships. There are six standards of rate, the first comprising ships carrying 110 "-uns and upwards; the second, ships carrying from 80 to 110 "•uns ; the third, ships carrying from 60 to 80 guns ; the fourth, ships carrying less than 60 guns ; and the fifth and sixth, all lesser ships of the Royal Navy.

The naval force, like the army of the United Kingdom, is recruited by voluntary enlistment. The men are divided into two classes, made up of those who ergage in the navy for ten years, which is called ' continuous service,' and of those who volunteer for shorter periods, the former having a higher rate of pay. Any person may enter the navy as a common seaman, on application to the command- ing officer of one of Her Majesty's ships in commission, provided he is approved by the examining surgeon, and has not previously been ' discharged from the service with disgraee.'