Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-05-03
The U. s. Navy in View Of a War.

The U. S. Navy in View Of a War.
The possibility Of a rupture with |
Spain and those great naval powers
of Europe, England and France, whose
protectorate is believed to be thrown
over the island Of Gnba, renders the
condition Of our Navy one Of the
most interesting Of all subjects to the
American people. For such var
must be conducted principally on the ;
arena Of the great deep. or at all
events it may be confiued to that
arena, and not permitted to disturb
The quiet of our own soil, if the Navy
Of the country is properly prepared
for the gigantic contest
The Navy is justly dear, to our
countrymen for its achievements in
the hast war with England, and had /
there been no improvements in naval
warfare, we could aguin behold with |
hope and confidence our few ships
going forth to contend against the
most tremendous odds. We have sea-
men as brave and skillfnl as those !
who once humbled the pride Of the
mistress of the sens upon her favorite
element, and tired of long inaction
and eager for an opportunity of dis
tinction, they are painting for the
hour when they shall be able to show
the world that the trace of noble
blood" in the American naval service
has not deteriorated, and that they
are quite as capable Of deeds Of lofty
daring as the world renowned heroes
of 1912. But in view of the improve
ments which have been adopted in
} the naval service Of other countries,
and which have changed the whole
character of naval warfare, it would be
: absolute cruelty to our gallant tars,
: and inevitable dishonor to the nation,
/, TO send our ships in their present con-
: dition to contend for the mastery OF
! the seas. England, France, and even
r Spain, have adopted steam in their
: service, the former to such an extent
C that we scarcely hear of such thing
: jas sailing vessel in any of their
: magnificent squadrons on the Baltic
: or Black Seas. Heavy line of battle
y ships, frigates, sloops, and gun boats
! all moved by steam. constitute the
working naval forces of France ant
j. England. Their line of battle ship.
II thus propelled, carry 100 guns, 1lO(
e .and move at the rate of Ii mile!
e an hour. What have We to oppose Il
J. such odds? Nothing! Tie grea1
y bulk of our Navy is composed o
T. sailing vessels, and the largest sailing
s vessel we have would, in a nava
e contest, be at the mercy of the small.
S est steam vessel of the enemy! 1t is
; a fact which The government of the
e United States ought to bear in mind
e and for which a proud and jealous
d people will hold it to strict account
: if it forgets, that little gun boat
I carrying but one gun IA 100 pound
cry moved by steam, could utterly
Iannihilate a line of battle ship as
immense as the Pennsylvania, if she
were without steam. The gun-boat
could choose her distance, and keeping
out of range of the guns employed
on our line of battle ships could, with
a gun which throws nearly a mile
beyond those Of the three decker,
sink her in half an hour after an en-
gagement commenced.
Happily the remedy is obvious
and within the reach of our Navy
Department, lift possesses ordinary
sagacity and enterprise. Let steam
be at once and universally adopted in
our service. Propellers can Re added
to our existing ships, with but tri-
fling alteration. The expense for
fuel will be light, it being only nee
essary to use the machinery in case
of actual emergency. We trust the
press will everywhere invoke the
attention Of the Government to this
subject. 1t b due to the Navy, whose
high reputation ought not TO be
sacrificed by being compelled to sail
against steam;and it is due to the hon.
or, interest,a safety of the country,
for without an efficient Navy, our I
commerce will be swept from the
seas, our ships of war captured
wherever they are met, and the
ocean, thus cleared of all obstacles.
present highway by which England
and France can transport hostile ar
mics to our own shores as easily, and
in as immense numbers, as they now
send them to the Crimea.