New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-03

t;on known AZ " PaSlans," but cGpable of greater
range and accuracy, as well as OF dischareing solid
shot il the emergency bould arlse.
The advantage Of which is now apparent from the
fac, that our 9isch and linch guns found 10 be,
in measure available against iron plating, because
thew viii endure solid SHOT fired with one half
greater aud even double, the original charges.
SO that We have the leisure to consider aud devise
any other species OF ordnance that may be better
adapted 70 the pnrpose, and not yreopitated into
hasty or questionable measures.
! The Elgl.sh, Ere pch, AID Russian ships having
been, therefore, onlg provided partially with Sill
guns, there was 10 illnsration Of the full effect Of
SHELLS in any Of the operations during The Crmean
war, though there was quite enough 1T Sinope 10 Ia
dic2,e uumisiakaby waat might be expected from
the general nse, ains ships, OF explosive poJeces
of large caliber.
And this led promptly to the first practical 1eve-
cpment Of tie measures that the defense wcnid De
likely to ADOPT in order TO keep ont such dertruct
i've means of oeDse; and hch have since 60 largely
exercised the ingenuity and the tnanees OF 6rea'
Britain.
A, Kinburn oct. 1853 the French brought into
action three vessels that had TO preienslOn to Do
termed more than floating batter"s for their power
of locomotop was very inconsiierabie; but they
were cased with lion aud bad powerful guns. The
Russian shot did not penetrate the plating bu' few
OF them entered the ports and did some mischief.
The English had prepared some vessels OF Ike
description but they nd not arrive in season, and
tie kinbuyn forts.
Peace was soon after declared between tie belig-
eronts, and very ittls attention seems 20 have been
gwen for two three years, to The suJIec OF IRON
clad shps: until the French produced the first sea-
going I'll ale of that kind--the Gloi-e-which was
followed by a sensation and action IN Eugland III III
Nv apprcc,'ive of the possible consequences OF being
allow III acting on the hint.
OF course there variety OF opinion expressed
bv public writers 20 the capacity OF this formula
be craft, mos, OF whom inclined to depreciation OF
her nvuluerah.i,y and sea.gong qualities.
u The British Government very wisely, however
decided not 10 lose time in constructing similar ves
sels; and has since followed tie decision with "a re-
uarkable CELEBRITY, quite regardless Of expenditure.
On the 2jih OF February, 1859. the First Lord Of
the Admiralty Pakingtouj announced to Parliament
the policy of the Government IN IBIS respect; ard
the construction was begun OF an iron-elad irisatc
that was TO surpass the Gloire.
! This ship has been completed and IL well known
as the " Warrior Others soon followed IN France
and England, snd srmored shiqs are, by common
consent, for the time at least, TO constitute the main
force OF all Davies.
o. course there ia every variety of opinion ex-
pressed to the proper material and construction
Of such vessels; aud tie British Government, not
Zee ing at liberty 10 wait uAul results have
decided, are compelled 10 make ufe OF what
ever may seem most Ilausible for The WHILE and
thus we are astOnished o. the most gigantic and
costly EXPERIMENTS at the world has fcen.
/ For it 20 happens that circumstances impose on
Eng and ami France the necessity Of graphing with
tie most difficult solution Of tle problem, their
shores being washed by he deep waters Of the
ocean; therefore their iIon-cads mus, be more than
mere floating batteries, aud be possessed OF the best
nautical qualities
With the United States the case is, happily, differ
ent-the cepth Of water the coast being generally
adapted to vessels Of light moderate draft, aud
oily few " oar ports are at III accessible TO heavy
iron-cads ike those Of France or England.
lie solution OF the question is, therefore, in It's
immediate require meDts, comparatively easy and In
expensive for u.
/ Vessels Of the Monitor and Ironiles class are
likely 20 serve present purposes sufficiently wei.
and 70 give time 10 obtain from oar own aud the
Terence Of others better data titan car now be nad
! Tor advancing 10 more perfect order OF vessels
Notwithstanding the earnest aud lOng-cor inned
course of iuyesig ton which has teen carried ~
the Governments interested 40 little is yet positively
known Of the effect Of ordnance ard the stance
Of iron plates in different iorms that the GUlest and
most experienced Cauno. agree IL regard 70 the amor
best calculated 20 oppose tie most eGestual resis'anc'
or upon tie that ehall be employed to over
come that resistance.
! la both cases there are conditions which impose
limits to the weight OF gun and OF the plating.
At the very outset the latter presents itseli and
the shipbulder finds hiinssf compelled 10 changes
Of the most radical nature in order that the clip
NAV carry tie poncerOus arInor intended !cr H. and
Which in some cases amounts 20 900 tuns
Some Of the dimensOus have 10 Do reduced, 20
thai vessel with ono-balf greater capacity In b
s'yO or threelecEer is 70 igI snJrn IN h,lt - 10
leave but one aou-deoa, thus becoming IT. &c BY
/ tns general definition. OF cCuIsg The o-dl nee -
reduced pIopCrtionally, in number and weight.
Bnt there j. cAeok even to THIS reduction Of d.
meusions and the thickness Of ron must 40. exceed
d certain extent. ~ lis date, common practice
does not 20 teyond 4. 10 inches.
I When lLs difficulty Las been disposed Of, the
mode of arraoring neat dcmancs attention. AL il
be sot1 piate, or macs Of p'any plates Of L..
thickness7 But most Troublesome OF all Low i4sieD
il secur ly TO the sids FOR IL i PROVED 10 10 the
weaker, point Of ths deieJse, aud remedy has
yet beeu devised TO prevent The fracture g bolts
and nuts even lhOugh tic integrity Of tAe p!-c ia
NOT materially Injured.
IT. to AVOID this, recOurse he Lad TO a structure
entirely OF iron, IT appears, IRON present. data, That
the resistance IS TOO Hlcn reduced thereby IL III
preferred Therefore, 10 adhere 10 amor cked ~
TIE wooden lab-c.
IL the wake OF these almost iusOlvabe ouestions
iosw others, which, thOGgn ROT ss-eLt.ai - hat.
beeonio % e,enIu4liy by Time eud ser,ice-sucl ~
tb0 probability ilat tie Incidents Vi SOD service Will
WEAKEN The cOnneC ions " me afuOr Win ito own
lAIs sld win tie snip, and II at The Liihcuity Of
calkiug viii allow Of more leakage than 10 con
veuLent
Tie ordnance expert can By 10 means rejoice in
be ~. Tree from OicuI les that puzzle hls i1geLuiy
lnc nga Der Of cannon being reduced 10 a Ghrd oil
the number lie Is accustomed ~ rely upon, how shall
he supply the Tors Of oTce by TIE weight and kind
q those which remain
lie acquires power by greater weight, he loses
by loss OF lime IN manipulation 81 gun and prCJec
te-he.ce some reduction by Glow nees of repetition.
then, again, shall be use rlei or snOo,h-bOrc--
bleech mazze iOadeTsl ShGl. he pierce, or crush
ind break bolts and strip or the arrlOr1 Or siall
he artemp: 70 enter The interior with shols7
How ecoGo!nlze the open space OF The ports when
the gun Is out, or close II when IN
The steam engineer Eas aso his Demands for
great speed IA Indispensable, and he thus adds
other trouble 10 'hose OF tie already bewilder,d chip
wright.
Leaving these queries 70 be answered by the par
ties no,t con. err.d IL viii sH.e here IL a. that