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GENERAL REPORT OF THE JUDGES OF GROUP XVI. ment in the power of attack has advanced pari passu with a compara tive increase in power of defense. The introduction of horizontal shell fire led to the use of armor on the sides of ships of war; and the memorable trial of the “Warrior” target in England, in 1862, showed that the defense had succeeded in producing a vessel that was proof against the most powerful rifled or smooth-bored guns then in Europe. This triumph, however, was but short lived. Within a few months, Sir Joseph Whitworth produced steel shells which per forated the “Warrior” target with ease; and, since that date, the ques tion of guns versus armor has been one of an oscillating character, according as thicker plates or more powerful guns have, from time to time, been produced. The “ Warrior” with 4j^-inch plates was followed by other vessels protected successively with 6-inch, 7-inch, 8-inch, 9-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, and 14-inch plates: other vessels with from 20- to 24-inch armor are now in course of construction. The 7-inch (150-pounder) rifled gun which perforated the “Warrior,” was followed by rifled guns of 8-inch (180-pounder), 9-inch (250- pounder), 10-inch (400-pounder), 11-inch (500-pounder), 12-inch (700- pounder), and I2j£-inch (8oo-pounder). A 14-inch rifled gun (1150- pounder) has been successfully constructed by Herr Krupp; and a 16-inch rifled gun (1700-pounder), manufactured in the Royal gun- factory, is now under trial at Woolwich. Seventeen-inch guns (1900- pounders) are in course of construction at Elswick by Sir William Armstrong & Co.* It is, moreover, apparent that this battle between the attack and defense has assumed the character of a gigantic inter national duel. The problem demands, and receives, the most careful consider ation of the scientific artillerist and the mechanical engineer, while some of the greatest achievements of the forge-master are required in attempting its solution. All the mystery which may have pre viously existed in matters of gunnery has now been cleared away; and the general principles upon which trustworthy guns can be con structed are perfectly well known and understood. It is, therefore, only in details that we may expect differences in the future construc tion of trustworthy ordnance. The precise pattern adopted by each country may—as Mr. Stuart Rendel very justly says—be “the result of compromise, and of a nice adjustment of the balance of advantage and disadvantage, as viewed by the respective ordnance authorities, and as well from a political and economical as from" a technical point of view.” But, however the details of metal, rifling, and method of * One of these guns has been finished and is now under trial. '-.V- man
