THE GERMAN SQUADRON IN THE PACIFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7593, 24 March 1886, Page 5

THE GERMAN SQUADRON IN THE PACIFIC.

Thk, German squadron, which left Sydney for this port yesterday, comprises the following worships:— The Bismarck, cruising frigate, 2900 tons, 20 gune, Admiral Knorr ; the Gneieenau, cruising frigate, 2500 tons, 16 guns, Commander Valoia ; and the Olga, corvette, 2100 tons, 10 guns, Commander F. Bendemann. The squadron arrived at Sydney from Zanzibar. The Admiral's ship, the Bismarck, to all intents and purposes, is an ironclad, although the officwrs call her a cruising frigate. She is constructed wholly and solely of iron, the plates being of great thickness. She was built at Keil in July, 187S, and is a sister ship of the Stock, Moltke, and Blucher. Her keel was laid down in October, 1875. In length the ship measures 74£ metres, her beam is 13} metres, and her draught when loaded 6 metres. The vessel is ship-rigged, and consequently has a grand spread of canvas. This in anything like favourable weather is most invaluable, as a speed of seven or eight knots can be attained without the use of steam. The ongiuee, by F. A. Egells, of Berlin, are 2500 h.p. They are protected from shot and shell by coal bunkers, which extend along either side of the midships. The hull ia divided by light bulkheads into watertight compartments. The Bismarck is a four-decked ship. The battery is on the 'tween decks, but there are several small guns on deck, The latter are generally used for saluting purposes.