The New York herald., 1862-04-12

The Merrimac and Monitor Battle I'm
ParlSament-The Naval Revolution
Buu Run Russell In McCleuan's Adj
THE BATTLE BETWEEN TIE MERRrsAc AND MONITOR
THE VALUE OF IRoN-cLAD VESSELS.
In the House Of Commons the 9th of March Sir f.
Smith gave notice that he should call the
atenon Of the Secretary OF State for War report
the engagement between the iron cased vessel Morrac
belonging to the Confederate Saes and the gunboa
Monitor belonging to the federal States and whether
On consequence OF tho results of that action, 1t would
nott prstnt TO suspend he construction Of for.ifcaon,
at Sfiedd ul Tie question Of the construction u iron.
ro,fed glsnboats had been fully considered.
From the London Times, March 20.
II is impossbse TO oyerrate the importance OF the
lesson conaircd In the incidents Of tho late sea aght
between the federal and the Confederate squadrons in
this unexpected and unparalleled engagement we get
tho rst real glimpse OF system Of naval warfare
and il will be our own fault II we do not profit by the
The Merinac though an old vessel patched for new
purpose was large powerful, and comparatively swift.
must therefore have been as big as somo or the
heavy two.deekers which arc new plating with
iron. Her armament does not seem TO have been
accurately ascertaincd, but she probably carried ten
or twelve guns Tho Monitor In a new vessel
only just launched. and she has had tho advantage
therefore or simple and consistent construction from
nrst TO last She is scarcely however, third Of the
herrmacs size, ana she carries IL seems but two guns
though these OF the very largest size known throw
ing shot Of one hundred and eighty pounds weight Her
speed said TO be good three knots hour below
~ her antagonist On comparison Of these conditions
we should naturally expect that unless all ironsicos
were proof against all other ironsides the Merrmso
would beat tho Monitor. Yet II was not The Moni.
Tor had, at any rate not the or Of the fight, aud she
certainly brought the Merrimacs of victory
20 close. Now, II wo entitled 20 assume
that these vessels were pretty well matched, 1t must
follow that the Monitor is more desirable model
than the KTinoc, for she has yielded equal results at
far less cost. She actually launched within three
months OF the day when hor keel laid and she was
built for less than 100000. II VIC compare such work
with the time and money devoted to our own Achilles
the contrast viii be not little surprising.
Hts clear, ,hotorer thai nsir the AeTinac he Mont.
TOR
does not appear for instance that other OF those yes
sc could put 70 sea- Or venture far from land whereas
our own Warrior, as Will have boon from Cap
tain Cochrane's report ia our impression Of yes.
terday, is nt for active service in any part of
yoycd in the comparison Both tho American vessels
have sloping rides, II the sides arc not rot
shot Tho Americans therefore seem 20 rsIv uron ibe
protecioa obtained by This sxpedont whereas we have
not yet adopted W and indeed the "Iron Plate Commit
tee OF the Institution or Naval Architects havo iu.l 40
carod thor conclusion that "anguated sdoa uoss,ss no
real advantage as compared with tho usual upright
stdes." YET oce objection which was urged arasst
sopng sides has not beon supported by the
OF the late action. II was plausipy said that a shin
acting like might over ono Of these low vessels
with the greatest cast but tho Mcrrmac did strike
Monitor without any such results. Another notah IN
point suggested ny tho armaments OF tho two vessels
The Monitor had two guns only but each of these guns
was nearly twice largo Of the Merr and
they worked from "turretn II, therefore two
guns proved match Tor twslye.t mst have been owing
either 10 their cabre, or 10 the new method OF work ny
thcm. Ono conclusion, however, admits OF no doubt
whatever and bappens TO bo tho most important OF ALL
fhrs Is end cf ,oooden ships for su, aud tho Ame.
rcans are now recognizing the fact to purpose In
addition to what they have avshcd on iron clad vessels
during tho last twelve months they preparing TO
vote 600 0Oo upwards ef &c 900 0C0, more for
structures OF the same class and will probably spend
THIS object without stint scruplo tho couse of
year or two, sum which no British minister would ven
turc TO demand Let us hope that wo may turn their
teaohlng TO good account aud match them in tho en
oency u not IN the oSpcnsycncss Of cur proceedings.
BULL RUN RESELL ON THE ADVANCE FROM MA.
NAssAs, AND SCARCITY OF FORAGE
lfrom the London Times, March 271
Up 70 this tyno thoro symptom that tho Conreao
''s paF0 h'd enough " tho light Our special cores