DEFECTS OF THE NAVY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3803, 15 June 1885, Page 3

DEFECTS OF THE NAVY.

One of the points, says the “ Pall Mall Gazette,” roost insisted upon by “ One who Knows the Facts ” was the scandalous lack of dock accommodation in our naval stations abroad. Between Malta and Melbourne there is not a dock large enough to take in a first-class man-of-war, and what is tjie result 2 (Something has gone wrong with the machinery of the Euryalus, onr flagship on the East Indian station, and although she is by no means one of our largest abips, not even being armour-clad, she has to bo towed all the way from Bombay to Malta in order to be repaired I Just think what that would mean in war time. That is by no means the only unpleasant reminder afforded us of the state of our navy. The ironclad Monarch, one of our Mediterranean fleet, left Port Said with the Admiral on board on March 28, for Malta. Sho could not go more than eight knots, and the second day her shaft bearings began to show signs of stress. Her speed was reduced but on the third day pulverised brass began to wash into the ship, tho end of the shafting began to droop, and her engines had to be stopped 250 miles off Malta. There she lay to, sending up signals of distress, and it was not till nest day that she sighted a friendly steamer which undertook to tow her to Malto. After going 220 miles the steamer’s bunkers were empty, and the Monarch wan again left liko a log in the water, until another steamer took her into port. The report concludes thus :—“ It is stated that the chief engineer bad already reported to the Admiralty that tho condensers of tho ship bad boon very troublesome for the past two years ; indeed, the fact was very well known; but no effect resulted from the engineer’s report.”