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

ocean, and the object OF the parties respectively,
70 destroy the commerce Of the other. Cruisers
would meet like stout knight errants OF Old,
and contend for supremacy but the vital blows would be
given through the capture destruction OF commercial
vessels The enormous injury which navy amt poi
vae armed vessels inflicted upon Great Britain in the last
war suggests 10 US the means which we will possess IA
any future contest, and will not be tardy IN ayatng
ourselves OF them and instead OF laying our vessel up
in harbor proposed by cautious statesmen 10 ST.
will send them forth boldly to csnrpre with their
equals with the proud consciousness that Ia times past
they will render good account OF themselves ami that
when they cannot be more chivarously employed they
will be dealing deadly blows by attacks upon the com
Of the enemy.
With naval force which, for the first twelve eight
teen months must remain vastly inferior 10 that ofonr 81
gantc adversares organizing ships into fleets would be
than madness and the question arises a to the class
OF vessels best adapted to predatory war and to contests
between single ships, which must invariably ensue. Two
primary considerations requred-Speed that they
may oyerake or escape from enemy at pleasure and
the ability keep the long periods The first
duoE ostcnsibly desirable that requires arga-
not be so generally spprected England or France n
the event Of war with this country would blockade
all our naval ports and make egress and ngress matter
OF extreme difficulty They would also station raj force
the vicinity OF important foreign commercial ports winch
would prevent or render il difficult 10 obtain the
sary supplies N one fact may be assured that every
coal depot IN the world would be closed against until
We had constructed sufficient number Of ships to force
depots closed against what then, would be the utility
and condition OF our sidewheel steamers whether orgi
nay constructed for Of war mongrel attempts to
ansoIm our steamlacket for that purposes They are
not adapted for sailing and their coal would carry
them clear Of a force blockadng own coasts When
their coal Is consumed, they would resemble
whale gigantic in proportions, but without nukea and
an easy prey 10 any adversary however contemplate.
That such would be the natural consequence requires
no proof TO man OF ordinary perception. and We GER
tainy do not write for the utterly ignorant the
cavillcr who requires demonstration for every pro-
position which, once stated, is self evident We con
denim therefore, side wheel for the purposes Of
and most Internationally condemn the system OF sub
sition that such vessels can be made avaiiabis in
war; except as despatch vessels and transports Tor
available in war and especially in such tost
most likely 10 be engaged in are St am propelers
mounting from forty 10 sixty guns on two decks, con
sructed al spared with especial reference to sailing
qualities, and with the disposed in such As
TO elevate above the surface OF the water that may
offer impeachment to the ship when under sail. The
Merrnac, Wabash, Minnesota, Roanoke and Colorado
i've OF our new steam irsates are Of this class and are
among the most effective vessels in the world
In such vessels the propeller Is purely auxiliary and
only intended TO be used in cases OF emergency where
may be made emirenty useful They are masted and
rugged intended exclusively for sailing and neither
their machinery their screws will interfere in the
slightest cegree with their sailing qualities The consump
knots, being the rate which have every
10 expect, and which VIII be quite sufficient speed 20
answer all The coalitions required Of vessels Of this class
In action they would enjoy al the advantages OF steamers
and sailing vessel, having the mobility Of the first with
the comparative invulnerabilty OF the second. The
ianne! and false stern post the only vital
point in addition 10 tho-c OF sailing vessel and they
infinitely small in proportion to the hull OF the vessel
;hs, the chances hitting them exceedingly
These points too only vital so far mobility under
strtam y concerned their disability VIII not affect
their qualities under sail They have the scanting aud
metal equal 70 ship or that class. and ample space
deck to develop rs greatest effect No frgae however
modern in her construction could cope with them; while
line Of battle ship even OF the hrs class, woua scarce
overmatch them especially il heavy weather should de
prve her OF her lower deck battery which would ams-t
invariably occur, except in the mdcst weather 6nd the
snoohc-t SEA. Everything l. in their hver-weisht Of
metal ability to Ere up al all times endurance and ability
OF movement whether under sail steam They possess.
t~o paramount advantage in such contest rs that in
which country most likely to be engaged VIZ the
ability keep the for long periods. Not depending
a general rule upon them a Of propulsion their
CONSUMPTION of coal would be small while their immense
capacity and limited crew would enable them 10 carry
provisions and for several months. Their spacious
gun decks give facilities for berthng their men IN an airy
ana beautiful situation, and would enable tae when
sailing a cruise, ~ carry two or three additional
months provisions on the berth deck, with tritng in
convenience. vessel Of this class has another ad
vantage, upon which. however, we attach less
importance Il contingent and nigh. not be rcai zed
II, AFTER . long cruise, she should have expended her
c.a she might thro~ herself ths track OF transports
and coal vessels bound a. encny's depot and supply
her without the risk % encounterng overfower
ing protective or blocksng force. may perhaps be
Ssnisge The Argument though speccas, s failscious
Coal Il TIE life blood Of side wheel steamer, without
which she c~nno, exist efficient vessel Want OF
coal destroys her ability 10 progress or 10 hight and no
prudent commander would risk the safety Of hts ship
the conrgcnc Of meeting NJ sea the means "a secure
propulsion and efficiency. Even Ia sight ~, aud close 10
collier, side wheel stesfner without coal could not
ovcrtake her a. however sow those vessels may be
a lass they will ouissil any sic wheel steamer.
c propeller fxae, the other hand, H. nicI riently
&" steam magnificent sailing vessel and though the coal
which shc ght meet on the big would III much
" her efficiency, would not De essential and there
fore consider ourselves justified IN ba.ing calculations
upsn the contingency. A. may be inferred from h fore
going opinion u, that tic mot cicseGi vessels Of
war are frga,e built propeacrs, such A. those aresdy
10 ,ho probable necessities az our country
There l., however, one drawback 70 tho founding OF
eur bopes and Yns uIen The employ rcn o. these highly
eijcirli yrsse objection by no means inherent 10
them class, but 10 tho peculiar constitution and or
gaaraon Of our government and the vs-sous motives
by ~hicn the many Finds which assist n governing our
country are swsyed Tie representatives of people
viii rot credn the probability q wa unit Il IS nj our
advance. This tie experience of the world-hislory
having taught even n most arden, yotrcs that no re-
pibhC-nc, even ~arlke Rome, white she retained her
LIBERAL nsutu'onS-~1a evcr prepared tor war when II
BURT upon her. The vitality OF srepubne At the s4fne
time r. little less than miraculous, and once eng sd %
war, resources developed which i-touBd even Ia
most ssnguine. The money necessarily diverted from
c0nmerc al pursuits thrown into the lap q til nation,
while men spring up o. her call IKE the harvest ~ ser
Icnis teeth when By the rfTui0ian Cainu4. Ord
nance and munitions ar already on band or may be
spccili! supplied money and hordcs a aborcrs viii
sret1ty throw VI such works vii make fort tn
Iftgnasla extensive inland comuu atio4ls vii az
FORD speedy ucans 81 concentrating large armies u
any msnaced pant, and CONVEY the shun.
can't supple. which We rossess for our Con
r s-ariai BIT heavy rropcuers, guch - have had the
ias'irton y commcrdng calaCt b. cgnsi1cfN N less
isn several mouths, and meanwhile, should posses
othcr means Of deicuce AID tgsfessi9n, our com.
mercc you'd suffer, AMI srfcr unavcng"d uTon the
y
opcu both ~ which x0ud dgubtfs - be made
,gaib,e CgfeI aud other merchant ships, though MT
ssTte8 Or q war, vogf make Efficient P.iyatccrs,
arr would inurc nc~t seriously The sUmerC@ q any
nation -iis -hch might ~ at With a fe~
heavy guAs % their main decks, wAerc they mglt be
earned With safety aud Gc male ebcient, they wo.e
prove terIbie sto8rge " tie enea Us commerce cout
contend with similar vessels With fair pr01abi ~ n
succcs. and tn most s not ovcrbarde .eG W Their
b4uery--tscap froi "a Users which they GIT eHcoHn.
died a s-esased Il svas those Who are chgag n
uscIn. - standard q national morality. The inter-
ets 81 The owners must constantly remind the mot
chyarUus thar duly consists noe IN ccnteudinr manfy
wh eqas brit n rrcyinH Gpdn Tic weak, Hnd that tot
much viii Ne patriotic object o. weakening me che
ny Tor peCuriAry gam.
The advent ~ ptsf', AFTER predatory war On thc
ocean throws uron TIE community large nuiAber Of
nlen who have fought only or gam exe,eUsnt
without y = nceLuve of Iatriotsm. and Who vii rctIrn
ufwiln0,y NJ az ali ~ peaceful pursuts Fcr these snd
C0Rlato reasoug whrt will really suggest uenseives
X those who strs thought y the uhjcct W conceive
Tat. although situated as our own should care
mllr aad scruTui retain the right T. employ priva
teerspi slth tna EurOpcas nations have attempted
10 DEPRIVE - ~ Gun a devised stiruatonst should