Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-17
CONFEDERATE STATES NAVY.

From the London Indsxl
That the ConfedefscY needs a navy is indis-
pUtable. Besides having q large sss-coast to
protect, her inland waters ere accessible 10 an
enemy's war craft, and therefore require the
ggis of Confederate gunboatI. The present
blockade, aud the few successes attained By the
Federals further testify to this urgent want. Il
Is however far easier to get together an army
than to create navy; with all the means and
appliances, the latter operation must be a work
OF time The southern States do not lack the
raw material they have abundance Of timber,
and have for many years been large exporters Of
naval stores. Moreover. they have the men
They are not dependent upon foreign sailors, or
if they had the ships, would not be-csmpellsd to
press reluctant Germans and anti-nautical Irish
men into the service. Like ourselves, the South
erEers are people who take kindly to the sea ;
aud their c0asting trade Is an excellent nursery
for seAmen. Among the maritime powers of the
new world the Confederate States will occupy
foremost position and indeed, seeing the man
ner IN which her ports can be shut up by an
enemy, a strong navy is indispensable to her IN
dependence.
The ingenuity displayed in the construction
Of the Virginia and the Arkansas gives the
premise Of brilliant future showing, as it
does, a rare fertility of invention and resource,
it is curious, but true, that the newborn navy
Of the South brought about a revolution in
naval warfare, by solving the problem Of iron
versus wood. Be it remembered, too, that the
Virginia and the Arkansas were pu! into iron
amor while there was not a single rolling mil
in the country. The achievements Of these two
yessels read more ike romsncs than reality, and
certify to the daring and seamanship Of the
S5utherners. Thus encouraged by the past,
and stimulated by necessity, the COnfedorates
seem to be making great exertions to get q
navy to cope with their Northern antagonist
There are difficulties in the way, but apparently
not so formidable as those on land whicB have
been overcome by the devotion Of the army and
the genius Of its commanders. About the pos
sibility Of utterly crippling the navy Of the
United States with the immediate and prospec-
tive naval resources Of the Confederate States,
there may be a diversity of opinion; bat that
moderate force would suffice to raise the block
sde. is unduestionsbls. We are not surprised
At the runors Of European nations being anx-
ions to aid as far as they legally can do so, the
creation Of Confederate navy for the break
ing of the blockade means ready market for
European manufactures, supply of cotton for
European looms, and revival OF trade On the
other hand, we perfectly understand why the
North breads a c8nsummatiOn that viii be Of
such immense advantage to the South. The
opening Of the Southern pUrts would do much
toward convincing the North Of the folly Of con-
tinuing the war.
II is not our inieatiOn to speculate on the YES
sels-of-war that are in course Of construction in
the Southern States, except that we take this
opportunity Of assuring our readers that the
Federal reports about naval preparations and
movements Of the COnfederates are not more
reliable and accurate than those which refer to
the movements of the Confederats land forces.
Nor are we in position to give statement o
the present strength Of the COnfederats navy
but it is well known that it has been consider
ably augmented during the last few months.
We wish, rather, 70 notice an Important propO-
sitiou that has been brought before the Confel-
erato Congress, and which, if it becomes a law,
will tend to the rapid development of the South