A SUSPECTED ALABAMA.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXI, Issue 3268, 22 May 1895, Page 6

A SUSPECTED ALABAMA.

Speed Tbial of the Diogenes. For some time past the Foreign Offioe have been uneasy about th© destination ofa certain ship named the Diogenes, which the Thames Shipbuilding and Ironworks company have Iteen fitting out at Blackwall as a cruiser for war service. The Thames Ironworks protested tbat no mischief was intended, and offered assurances that they were not fitting the vessel out with any sinister design ; but the authorities were not satisfied. They saw a possibility of a second Alabama case if the Diogenes got clear to sea, aod some little time ago bouod over the Thames Ironworks company not to let her go out of their dock without three daye' notice to the Admiralty. As a fact, for weeks past, as tbe vessel approached completion, the Diogenes has been watched day and night by Customs officials, who duly reported her rate of advancement to head qua tera week by w*pk. Then, three days ago, a» the *hip was in a sufficiently forward state for her speed trials, tbe shipbuilding company proposed to send the Diogenes to test her engines at the mouth of the Thames. The Foreign Office, on being informed of this, at once moved tbe Admiralty to act, with the result tbat when the Diogenes moved out of dock on a recent Tuesday afternoon a detachment of 30 bluejackets and marines, with two petty officers, under Lieutenant Bowles, R.N., of the School Gunnery at Sheerness, were sent up the river to take charge of the ahip. The naval party came on board fully armed and equipped, and with a supply of rifle and revolver ammunition, and duty took possession. Ur»der these unusual conditions the Diogenes, in charge of Mr G. W. 0. Mackrow and Mr George Young natal architect and chief engineer to the company, on Wednesday made steam trials, worked by her own men, with an armed naval party as friendly custodians watching orer tbem. These trials proved satisfactory, and the vessel returned to Graveseod. The Diogenes is a grey brig-rigged craft of 1,700 ;ton* (,2,200 horsepower), with two very large red- brown funnels and piojecting sponsons ; externally a vessel tbat might pass for a ship of the Btissian Volunteer fleet. Within the ship a close inspection showed her to be of a decidedly warlike character. She bas mountings already set up for six 4.7 quick firing guns, two 3-pounder, and six Impounder quick-firers — not yet, however, on board — admirably piauned magazines, arm racks, ammunition heists, and steel-armoured conniug tower, and allotted spaces for two torpedo launching tubes ; has ber engines below the water-line, and is protected by a continuous iron deck, also below the water-line.