Page:Unarmoured ships.djvu/31

 a pressure of not less than 60 lbs., would cause a most destructive explosion. The importance of giving to machinery as much protection as possible was illustrated in the recent action between the French cruiser the 'Bouvet' and the Prussian despatch boat 'Meteor,' in the West Indies. Having rammed the 'Meteor,' and inflicted considerable injury on his antagonist, the captain of the 'Bouvet' was unable to follow up the advantage he had gained; because his machinery had been disabled by a shot, and he was accordingly compelled to return into port under sail.

The most recent programme of the English Admiralty embraces three classes of unarmoured cruisers. At the head of the list, in the first class, are the 'Inconstant' and the 'Shah,' of 5,700 tons and 1,000 horse-power, and the 'Raleigh,' of 4,700 tons and 800 horse-power.

The French, not without regret, are slowly following us in the construction of large unarmoured ships. In 1871 the designs of M. Lebelin de Dionne were approved for the 'Duquesne,' of 5,400 tons and—as it was stated by M. Dislère—of 1,800 horse-power. This ship was to have an estimated speed of 17 knots. The vessel is now being built, though very slowly, at L'Orient. A sister ship, the 'Tourville,' has also been projected. The armament proposed for the 'Duquesne' is composed of twenty 14 c/m. guns and seven 16 c/m. guns. The latter, which are the largest guns admitted into the French unarmoured cruisers, weigh