The New York herald., 1862-04-23
Opinions Of the French Press.

HONOR OF THE MONITOR INVENTION ACCORDED TO
MR. ERlCssON-TuE CUPoLA GUN SYSTEM TO
sIEGEs ON LAND.
Paris april o. correspondence Of London POST
The French journals now in full cry about plated
vessels. The Paris journals generally express their
satisfaction that France had the prudence trying
experiments in plated vessels smaler model than
has been selected In England hrs because the
infinitely less and next because the large sized YES
scls are found TO have answered badly.
The Pays instances The Defence and the Warrior as
eomI failures n England, principally from tho
fact that thoy do not the helm freely whereas
the Fren ironcssed yessels the Goire, the Norman
die the nviBcibic tho onne although large In
size move, it afirms, with facility. The same journal
then inquiries whether the English vessels just
be considered formidable machines Of war and ex.
presses doubt on the point
From tie Paris Pays, April g..
Let us suppose case OF war. One of those English
frgaes perceves enomy's irOn.cased vessel gives
chase and comes up with her. The latter, smaller and
less heavily armed, but perfectly under command mo-
derates her speed and resolutey prepares for action
The English vessel unless she past her
action at distance which would be disavantageous
obliged to regulate her steerageway by that OF her ad
versary, and whilst the hitter can command her move
ments AZ will the former, which is not acted by
bem has no other than to her large
at such rare moments AS the enemys vessel shall be
unsklul enough TO expose herself 10 their bite. Tho
ISSUE OF tho struggle probably would not be doubtCL
Sach IS no0 tie ae Of The best and finest iron cIdt English
oesses. The Admiralty endeavoring to lind reuody
for those defects VIII IL succeed? We are therefore
right in saying that Engand pursued by the IN portu
nate phantom Of an invasion, mposs in day,
propous to treaties of commerce. formed an cxag
geratcd idea TO herself q the Of defence she
has only under stood part OF the problem which
solved. Why, therefore, has she not endeayurod 20
build men -ofwar uniting the sea going qualities which
render them tit for navgatonr WhyY We do not know
but IL is well known that she will nd II out and public
opinion has already comprohendod this truth that whoa
seagong qualities cannot be united 10 those
1t IS Ear preferable to hold TO the former. Combat
accidental; navigation is the normal state. Amor was
thrown aside because in overoadug the soldier 1t pre-
vented that activity Of movement which the FIRST
his conditions. We shall in the same come to
the system OF overlooking little possible
that is 10 say not TO cucumber them with heavy
casngs, and conine ourselves to merely applying them
Go the water line, in order shelter them lr m the
effect OF shot in that part and preserve them from fire
We think that up TO the present time nothing more than
that has been done IN France and experienced
whcse opinion IS entitled u respect consider that our
system OF naval constructions rs fully On par with
the progress Of the age Al all events do spend
enormous sums of money, and defence is secured.
From the Paris TeinIs. April 81
II does not the less ablished that the age OF
wooden vessels 10 passed. The federal vessel the Cum
berland, cut open by the spur OF the Merrmac aud
going TO the bottom with all her crew courageously
firing her last broadsde, cannot be remembered without
pain. II tho Monitor had not arrived the same fate
awaited, perhaps the Minnesota, which had not less
than seven hundred men on bard Naval warfare in
future will probably only admit OF two of ships
peciaiy 10 opae the coasts and dga, fortsseg and
steam vessels Of great spee capable Of esdpirs IN fig
from The Formidable artillery Of the frs, AMI employed for
distant expeditions. Ordinary steamships will perha
Que day servo as simple tugs to the oating batteries
which in this master might serve in the attack OF the
enemies coasts and cover invasions. In the English
the forthcations IN order TO place thom in
condition to resist the new vessels Who
knows, II in ordinary seges the system Of at
tack Of Vanban will not be rcnounced ard If n.eats
mil not found 10 push torioard rdicays rerouina
touers armed uth heduy gun, 7hs dull has eOmmenei
bsoen iron and cannon; and II naval battles we arc
brought back 10 the spurs Of the Punc wars
wars will perhaps restore to US something like those
strous machines which were made OF in the eges Of
antiquity. II important to nations which care TO pre-
serve their position not TO allow themselves TO be dis
tanced in the suueglo. The engineer Ericsan in can
srUctfn1 The Moalor has had the merit Of creating H. first
ces 81 Witch nay Be really called role Tie Enc isl,
ron-pot Il figdtes cannot pretend to ht tile they are
not entirely covered with iron, and secondly ss their
deck ls opon the samo In the French vessels 50 that
the Glore as well as the Warrior liable be boarded
France has reason 10 congratulate herself having
adopted Tor hor iron cased vessels smaller model
that used in England but sho turn to account
the important lessons which the Americans have given
us he must, at Me same ss continue The p,oteiae,
artillery that she has commenced The subsitton o
cylindrical for cylindricaconca shots IT, We know one
OF tho questions on which scientific officers are nov
occupied II will perhaps, furnish means Of Gus
ly resisting tho armor- covered ships.