H.M.S. TARTAR.

FASTEST VESSEL IN THE WORLD. THE OFFICIAL TRIALS. [FKOM OUR OWN" CORUESi'ONDKNT.] , London, December 20. So far as mere speed goes the new turbine Cunarders have already had their "noses put out of joint." Even the marvellous 27§ knots .of the Mauretania has been "wiped out." I have received from Messrs. John I. Thornycroft and Co. the interesting information that H.M.s. Tartar, the new 33-knot British destroyer, which has already in its preliminary trials broken*the world's record for speed by attaining 35.952 knots per hour on an Admiralty course, carried out her final speed trials on Monday in the presence of the Admiralty officials, with complete success. The vessel maintained the unprecedented speed of almost 36 knots throughout a continuous run of six hours' duration, thus covering a total distance of nearly 233 miles during this period. On six runs over the measured Admiralty kn«t during the six hours run the average speed proved to be 35.672 knots, and the best speed attained on any one run was 37.037 knots, thus creating still another record. The Tartar was built throughout by Messrs. John I. Thdrnycroft and Co. at their works opposite Southampton Docks, and is one of the first five high-speed ocean-going destroyers now being completed _ for the - Admiralty. So far, her speed is very considerably in excess of that of any of her sister vessels, the fastest of which has attained only 34J knots. Her turbines are of the Parsons type, and these, as well as the Thornycroft boilers using oil fuel, were constructed by Messrs. Thornycroft. The whole of the machinery worked excellently throughout the very severe trials, and' the boilers provided an ample head of steam at all times. The oil fuel consumed was considerably within the guaranteed limit. Some comparative figures relating to the Tartar and other vessels of the 33knot class have been furnished to me as follows:— ' a .' . Speed on best Speed on Speed. rim over measured throughout measured . . course. 6 hours'run. course Cossack ... 33,15 33.1 33.65 Ghurka ... 34.00 33.91 — Mohawk... 34.51 34.245 35 294 Tartar ... 35.678 35.363 37.037 It is interesting to recall that Messrs. Thornycroft built the first torpedo-boat for the British navy, and have always been in the forefront in the matter of speed of boats of this class. They created, among others, • new world's records with the Spanish destroyer Ariele in 1886, with the Daring in 1894, with the Desperate in 1896—this was the first boat to do over 30 knotsand with the Albatross in 1899, the last-named vessel, with reciprocating engines, attaining over 32 knots.