Jasper Republican, Volume 2, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1875 — The First Chinese Iron-clad. [ARTICLE]

The First Chinese Iron-clad.

The first Chinese iron-clad has been just completed; I cannot say launched cause die stopped half-way down the ways,, and refused to be persuaded further. I suppose, however, that the Hitch is only temporary. She is a small vessel of only 105 tons measurement, 104 feet length on load line, and 20 feet 4 inches extreme breadth. Her armor is 2% inches thick amidships, tapering to 1% inches at the extremities, and having 4% inches oV. tack backing. She is armed with a &%- inch Krupp gun, and has a ram bow. Her offensive power has been much diminished by the Chinese insisting on having the gun fixed. Nothing could persuade them that if me gun were brought over to fire from either side the vessel would not inevitably heel over and capsize; so the gun had to be placed permanently in the middle of the bow, and only one porthole exists for firing forward. Of course it will be understood that she was designed by an English architect and built under English supervision. The Chinese can do nothing for themselves yet, with all their appliances. The workmen are intelligent and apt enough, but the knowledge necessary for designing is completely wanting. I am almost inclined to doubt whether they are capable of acquiring, or rather applying, it, Very certainly—what is more to the purpose now—they are thoroughly in competent to handle or fight an ironclad effectively. In the event of a war all these ships, on which China is wasting money that would be far better laid out on railroads, would be captured in a fortnight.—Chinese Cor. London Times.