The New York herald., 1862-07-26

Il
New Naval Tactics Of America.
The exploits of the rebel steam ram Arkan-
sas, which recently descended the YaKoo river
and assailei our whole feet above Vicksburg,
!, and escaped with comparative impanity to the
shelter of the guns Of the fort, while she inlet
ed considerable damage upon our vessels, iur
nish a new lesson in the art of naval w>s4sfe, In
which America has takea the ieid among the
nations of the world.
| The Arkansas is an improvement upon the
Merrlmac, the latter having had no protection
for her portfolios, while the Arkansas, like the
IRON battery In the attack on Fort Sum-
ter, has hinged door which falls down when
the gun recoils after each discharge 1t
appears, too, that her iron mail is of immense
thickness over her most vulnerable parts solid
shot flying off it like hail, and shells being shat
tered to atoms without producing any effect So
strong Is she that the ram Sumter ran into Ter
with az little injury as if rock had been struck.
Her great breadth Of beam enables her to carry
an enormous weight of iron plating. In an
other point of view she is an Improvement on
the Merrimac. She has steam hose apparatus,
by which she repels boarders-a novelty first
introduced in the present war. She has besides
numerous loopholes for musketry and pistols.
That she did not inhct greater damage is owing
to want of skill or lack of courage in her COM
mander.
1t appears that similar vessel is now
being finished at Richmond, and is expected to
make descent very soon; and csher iron-clad
ships-ofwar are in preparation in Southern
ports and rivers not yet in the possession Of the
federal government.
This is what the South has dons with its
limised means and without mechanics. What
is it compared with what the North can do
with It's iron and steam power, its boundless
resources, its numerous artisans and manufac-
tories Of machinery We have vessels now on
the stocks, and some in process of completion,
which will make short work Of all the rebel
craft in the James river, the Mississippi, the
Yazoo or elsewhere. We have vessels which
will ascend to Richmond, and take it in despite
Of ell the forts and batteries on its banks aud
all the rams and iron-clad steamers on its wa
ters. That they will do so before long there
can be very little doubt We are only begin
ming to develop our strength. In the present
age we have given the first lesson to Europe in
naval warfare by the battle of Hampton Roads.
We taught them there the practical value of
iron-clad vessels-of-war. We have given them
a second lesson at Vicksburg; and~it will not
be long till we astenish the world with another
lesson, and show the maritime nations Of Eu-
rope that the American republic is as uncon-
querable by sea as it is by land, and that no
earthly Power can assail it on eth er element
with impunity.
NEWSPAPER SwINDIIEG.-Almost invariably
with the return Of the summer season we are
called upon to notice swindling vagabond,
here and there, in the assumed character Of an
agent or correspondent of the HERALD, collect
ing subscriptions and fleeing credulous hotel
keepers. The latest Of these impudent vagrants
is thus brought to our notice by q. facetious
postmaster among the woods Of Pennsyl-
vania:---
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY HERALD.
BRADFORD, Mexican County, Pa, July n, 1852.
DEAR SR-I enclose you receipt given for your paper
By chap representing himself 70 be an agent OF the
HERALD Hs obtained about sixty subscribers in this
place and the money in advaacs, with few exceptions.
As he evidently swndlsr. it would be well 70 give
coat and shoulder straps; is . slim man. with light,
curly hair and has brass enough 10 belong the ERArp
Respectfully, A. w. NEWELL, 2. NJ.
Accompanying this note we find specimen
Of this newspapers impoetor's ''recepts in full"
from which it appears he carries these receipts
in printed form, with blanks left open for the
name Of the paper, date, amount Of subserip-
tion and signature. Here is copy of the
specimen before u.s.
81 Nsw YoRK CrrY, July 5, 1852.
= WEEKLY HERALD, from July II, 1882, 70