The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-06

erroneous theories have been based. That D
steamer has respect TO mobility, great advantage
over sailing vessel, IN all the varying circumstances
Of wind and weather is an ,ncontroverabc fact but by
follows that, owing 10 this quality, she enjoys
the ady antages in attack which many persons attr
butte to her.
his than the rhinoccros, bat In many cases
the result OF contest is IN favor Of the latter The
STRONG and active tiger creeps around bis adversary,
careful 10 avoid his tremendous power and aware oil
lis iAyulnerabiity, but his slow and thckskinned
antagonist keeps towards BIN steady front, and
STANDS prepared 10 meet his assaults. The COM
parison OF th-ee animals will illustrate the offensive
ana defensive relations between steamer armed
with lexhaus ana few heavy guns for long ranges
the moet favorable conditions for h.rand sailing fri
gate. The weight Of the engine and coal oil steamer
necessarily decreases her capacity for supporting bat
try, and consequently the prconderanse II force IS tn
favor Of the sailing ship Of the same or much less ton
mage. The object OF the steamer, especially side
wheel would be TO choose her position at distance in
order to avail herself OF the long range of her heavy
shot guns, and. If possible TO take raking position
when but few guns be brought 10 bear upon her.
should the steamer only mount shell guns a. long dis
ances the superior range OF the thirtytwo FOUNDER
would give a sailing frga,e decided advantage. The
ability to assume and retain such position it has long
the believe When there Is good breeze
no one doubts that the sailing ship can be so maneuvred
all times 70 her bfoadside TO her more mo-
bile enemy. The advantages which steamer Is sup
posed TO have in action is in calm yet few seaiarng
men, with the longest experience have often seen so
calm that, by proper management, q ships head can
not be brought round and her broadside brought to
bear
Undue importance has also been attributed to the sup
posed ability Of steamer to place herself under the
OF sailing without considering that the
cci presented being smaller, Is much more difficult TO
hit ard that line Of battle ships, figates, and even
sioops can bring heavy guns to bear out Of
naval combat be duly considered, the difficulty which
steamer would meet in attempting to select position will
become apparent. The sailing vessel, with her hume
guns occupies the of circle Of which the
extreme Iarge OF the steamers longest gns-admittng
that she has marked superiority respects
radius Eliminating this at and half miles, we have.
the diameter OF the circle upon which the steamer ope
rates, the distance of i've miles, and consequently
irl mi eTp ncA n mi III
stood that the steamer, side wheel or propeller armed
with but few guns compared with her antagonist must
lot fall within the effective range OF her battery her
object being to select some point Of mpunity any can
be found, and avail herself Of her superior range and
The steamer being on the beam and under the dis
tant fire OF her antagonist may wish 10 change her
obliged TO steam abou, three and a half miles or one
fourth the circumference Of the circle and while accom-
the sailing vessel tow her head round twice, If
ccsssry, with her quarter and stern boats.
proper understanding Of this subject viii convince
even the most ardent advocates OF an exclusively steam
marine OF the utter aosurdity OF steamer '.playng
around' sailing vessel ano cutting her 10 pieces
with impunty. Classes Of ships, Of pro-
pulsion. and gunnery are intimately connected and
1t Is not little remarkable that while we devote
so much attention to the discussion OF the former
little is given TO the improvement of the which
We have at disposal by organizing corps Of pract
cal gunncrs II is matter OF little importance whether
guns OF certain calibre have greater range than
enemies. if gunners have not the ability, from
want Of natural adaptation or practice to give TO them
be imperfect and unsatisfactory. When ship is
put into commission her quota of seamen, ordinary
men andsmen and marines Is sent 10 her, but no pro-
vision made for gunncrs and might occur that not
man Of her crew bad ever pointed or fired gun. This
would not probably occur in pelceable times, when We
obtain many VIII, have served in other vessels OF
but might during when there would be large
influx OF merchant seamen. 1t becomes the duty Of the
officers 10 train these men in gunncry, and ortn-
circumstance ship ready in all respects for
battle within three months after receiving her
This fact will be appreciated when the difficulty Of hitting
object at duly considered. The deck OF ship
upon which the placed is in constant motion-nos
a regular notion the estimation of which would be sim
plcbut complex motion, combining the roll and pitch.
The object fred NJ Is also In motion aud In heavy weather
the intervening SWELL which conceaIs at times enters
into the combination the difficulty All per-
sons who have used the rifle muskct aware
Of the variation which a Sigh, detection make:
can realize what would be extending the
distance to one two miles We can only compare the
practice Of naval gunnery in seaway 10 shooting the
wing with rife from the back Of q gsloping horse
Without instruction and practice, therefore, however
brave and skilful our seanen may be, they would be
nearly useless in modern naval action; and ships
for the first three months after being commissioned must
risk Of dredng the country BY engaging an enemy
who has acorps OF practsed gunners Owing TO our i'm
o sno aa se s SS ws e
cheney Of seamcn- AT the same time that introduced
into our service corps OF gunners We might do much
10 supply this deficiency To make good gunner II Is
BY 10 means necessary that should be .
and class Of men would learn the OF gun with
more facility than those who had been accustomed 70
the Of the rife.
II a corps OF gunners were authorized by law, and
sesgeing chip detailed for practice could enlist
good class young men from the Interior OF tho coun
try, who, In short time would make skilfu marksmcn,
and hose especial would be fire tho
guns, but who like marines and the English marine
sIilerymcn, would pull aud haul with the
men IN working the chip As an encouragement
for of good habits 10 enter this corps the
ray ought 70 be respectable from the commence
melt OF service, and increase At each successive
enlistment Alter having been sufficiently drilled In the
surnery ship artillery infantry dri and practice
We! a. with the pistol and broedsword they could be
sert board cruisers whore they would form q semi.
military corps upcL which the officers could depend in
any emergency which night occur, AMI would, besides,
on become thorough scsncn, n which they ought to be
encouraged by holding out the Hducemcnt 81 Increased
10y. such ar organization would speedily do away with
the cssity employing "tan4sncn" who, for the
Grst months necessarily inc c.ent understand.
Ing ucthr military duties or those required in the ma
nagcmC Il of a ship.
W have already much rarsccn..d tho limits W. had
pgncd ourselves Tor this article and not a present
attempt 10 g,ea fun deyelopcment " this idea hcb
deem of vital importance e. the navy.
III conclusion, We would only say that while We depre
W mo- ,frLcstly hope that some efficient preparation
nay be rnado before II bnlsts upon Owing 10 The
fe.iai circumstances Of Political constitution and
200. saIhlsai position We Table at any moment
% collision with 'hc most iormidsb Al power
a. he world sud although bitter spondcnce Is inter
changed, and warkc speeches are made in Congress-
no preparation Is made 10 meet the contingency which
tht.e may assist in bringing about Three times
thin the last lev years have been the brink Of
public confidence has boon for the time saspand
- Vet Effort appeared n hc made by Congress TO
uati TIE caianiiy. ID = true that there war,
$50 That preparation for 'hc uc'urc would have been
MS rors but those who responsible i1r the ess
q 3sutc ioT which W are uYroparcd. cannot claim
tai tsir clitcs saclsy Lad .cpacd such peace
it Termination
m. yv-ar I'm. Aldermen src Treated In