The New York herald., 1862-10-05
The IrOn-Clad Navies Of the World and
NnXY Of the United Statca.

The IrOn-Clad Navtcs OF the World and
Navy OF the United statcs.
The contest between the great naval Powers
Of the world, as to who shall have the greatest
number and most efficient invulnerable mail
clad steamships, has fairly commenced. The
action in Hampton Roads between the Monitor
and Merrimsc destroyed forever all wooden
ships sweeping away hundreds of millions in
vessels-of-war, and new navies have now to
be constructed. France, England aud the
United States are entered for the race as to
who shall have the first, and have started.
France takes the lead, with the United States
next. How long this position will be maintain
ed remains to be seen. We hear Of the French
iron-clad frigate Normandie having arrived in
the Gulf of Mexico from France, and thai her
performances have been satisfactory. A few
weeks since we published the account Of the first
passage between Philadelphia and Hampton
Roads Of the United States iron-clad frigate
New Ironsides. and also Of the launching of
the iron-clad steamer Passaic. second Monitor,
an Improvement on the first. and in future but
little time will intervene between the launching
Of iron-clad ships for the navy of the United
States until number sufficient will be bad
TO win the race by at least length.
On another page will he found a complete
list Of the prescn. Navy Of the United States:
also a summary Of the Navy OF England TO
the present time, and OF France aud other na-
tons TO April, 1859. The navy of the United
States has accomplished so much since the
commencement Of the war that al, eyes are
upon II constantly, expecting every day - hear
Of some new operatonofa battery sicnced or
stormed. a vessel cut out, orauother Angio-FebeI
steamer saptured and when these little sfsirs
do not occ0F, eyes capable OF seeing, and
minds given 70 forming opinions, are turned TO
The vessels a. home ond to the operations at cur
different navy yarda, and suggestions for making
our glorious navy still more effective are the
natural results OF such observations.
The following recapitulation Of the iron-clad
vessels Of the United States. England aud
France; will show how the attention Of the
important naval Powers OF the world 10 now
given TO that class OF vesscls:--
Iron. clads Of the United States. ............ 40
Iron clads OF England ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 20
ron.clads Of France OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ~
Should war take place between the United
States and Great Britain or France, or with
both, we should be in great measure depend
ent spon onr navy for the defence Of our sea
ports. Hence the necessity that every vessel
hereafter constructed, and every one capable
.of being made so, shoald at once be put in
condition that would render her invulnerable,
mud with power TO crush ON enemy's ship whom
ever tic opportunity offered Of doing so.
The superb steam frigate Franklin now on
the stocks, where sbo has 80 long been waiting
an appropriation by Congress for her machine
ry, could now with advantage be altered to
an iron-clad, and would make one Of the most
formidable ships in the world. The Wabash,
Minnesota and Colorado could and should be
altered In the same manner ct once without
waiting for the expiration Of their cruises.
They are class Of vessels that will never bs
used In future except for the purpose Of show
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