Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1895 — STEAMBOAT IN SECTIONS. [ARTICLE]

STEAMBOAT IN SECTIONS.

Naval Craft of the French Army In Madagascar. The capital of Madagascar, Tananarive, is situated among the mountains of the interior, and is inaccessible, except by footpaths, the government having always prohibited the construction of roads by which artillery could be brought against the city. French armies are, however, not deterred by such trifling difficulties, and a campaign against Tananarive has been carefully plan ned. As there are no roads, a river, the Ikonpa, which extends from tho sea to the foot of the mountains, just below Tananarive, is to be used as a road. This river is very shallow and obstructed by sand bars, and the problem is to construct vessels capable of navigating it. This problem has been solved, so far as the gunboats are concerned, by building eight compound boats, or rather rafts. Each of these eight boats is divided longitudinally into six compartments, each compartment being watertight and independent, so that it can float alone, while, in case of need, any number of them can be bolted together, side by side. These separate compartments, or shells, are of galvanized steel and very light, so that they can be easily transported overland, thrown into the water, and bolted together as they float. When in place, a deck is put over them, on which is placed, near the front, a small boiler of the locomotive type . To balance the weight of this, the engine is set near the rear end of the deck, and is connected directly to a light stern wheel, which serves for propulsion. An upper deck, on which are the pilot house, shields of steel plates for riflemen, and a light cannon, covers the whole extent of the lower deck. All the vulnerable parts of the craft are protected from musketry by steel shields. The whole affair, with stores, crew, and armament, draws less than fifteen inches of water. To provide for passing sand bars, a powerful turbine pump is placed at the very front of the vessel, with a suction pipe which can be lowered as required to any distance less than one meter from the surface of the water. On reaching a sand bar this suction pump is run out, and the turbine set at work. The sand, mixed with water, is sucked out with great rapidity from in front of the craft,and thrown by a discharge pipe, to one side, and a passage through the bar is in this way soon made.