The management of the Navy proceeds on the same lines.
Mr. Trevelyan, in moving the Estimates on Thursday, after showing how the Admiralty had improved the position both of the marines and of the engineers until the Navy has "the pick of the best men," stated that the Board pursued its policy of reproducing in sufficient number types of vessels of admitted excellence, avoiding wild or costly experiments. All such vessels already laid down will be vigorously pushed on. Four of the first class will be finished this year, and three more advanced nearly to completion. They will be " moderately sized and moderately priced ships," able "to carry guns which will do all that guns can be wanted to do." The new 43-ton gun, which will be generally used, with Pal- liser's chilled shot, "will pierce anything that floats, except a narrow belt on the water-line of a very few ships which it is fifty to one if anything ever hits in battle." The Admiralty, in fact, doubt if it will ever be necessary to go beyond a 60-ton gun of the new type. Five ships will carry -this gnu, and the Admiralty have 174 18-ton guns, 504 Nor- denfeldt guns, which will discharge 500 shots in two minutes at advancing torpedo-boats, and 550 torpedo-boats afloat and in store. The Admiralty are also building an ironclad cruiser, able to carry coal sufficient to keep up eight knots for a month, and to work up to 16 knots an hour. All this is effective pre- paration, subject only to the remark that we still have scarcely any evidence as to the working of these terrible machines in war. The first general engagement will probably teach the Admiralties of the world many secrets.
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