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 quick-firing guns. Her sea speed is to be 20 knots, and she will carry sufficient coal to steam 13,000 miles at 10 knots. Though terming this vessel an armoured cruiser, she may be equally considered a second-class battle ship capable of engaging with many ironclads of foreign powers or vessels of similar design, such as the 'Warspite' in our own and the 'Admiral Nachimoff' in the Russian navy.

Perhaps it is the fact that in America there are few large merchant steamers of great speed—such as we possess in the 'Teutonic' and others capable of being converted into commerce protectors—which has led that country to design a warship, at present known as 'No. 12,' of equal speed and greater offensive power than any merchant vessel, to specially act against the commerce of a hostile state. Her principal characteristics are to be: great length, 410 ft, which is 35 ft. more than the 'Blake' and 'Blenheim;' a speed of 22 knots; great coal capacity, 1500 tons; and a protective deck with 4 in. armour on slopes and 2½ in. on the horizontal portion. Her armament will be composed of one 8-in., two 6-in., and twelve 4-in. guns, in addition to a number of small rapid fire guns. The design appears to me well conceived for the object in view, especially as regards the armament, and restricting the heaviest gun to a calibre of 8 in. Her success or failure will depend on whether the expectations as to speed are realised. A special point in connection with the machinery is that she is to have three screws. It is considered that with such a displacement, 7500 tons,