Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-01-02
Why England Need not be Dreaded on
the Sea. f


the Sea.
The n. Y. World insists that there is no
difficulty in the way of peaceable and
honorable adjustment of our dispute with
England. but if she insists on a war in
spite Of law and reason, she won't be so
dangerous as many think. As for an in,
vasion Of this country. that is out of the
question. The English army will have
enough to do to keep us ont of Canada
She can do nothing. therefore, except by
sea. And what she can and cannot
do there. is thus succinctly. set forth:
A parade is male of great number of
fearful steamships with frowning batteries
and terrible names. and we a'e expected 10
tremble. We do not tremble in the least.
The ships are there, to be sure. but it hap
pens that the most important part of all
is overlooked. These terrible steamships
cannot more wifhom fuel-anl fuel. when
operating against our seaboard, they CAN
not adequately get. The most of them
cannot carry coal enough to ou,last ten
days. the largest not to outlast twenty. aud
this period, when dating from departure
from Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. is
very muchtoo brief for continued operations
upon our Northern coasts. protected as
they are by Notifications at all important
points. The steamships would hardly ar
rive out before they would be compelled to
put back for supply of fuel. If it be
said they might be supplied by transports.
we answer that it would be a very unccr-
tai dependence. liable as such transports
would he to interception by vessels OF war.
and by privateers. with which the whole
western Atlantic would swarm. No steam
feet could safely rely upon such precarious
supplies.
Englishmen ought by this time to know
better than to measure the real naval
strength of this country by the list Of gov
ernment vessels figuring on its peace es-
tahlishment. Ouce engaged in conflict
with any of the great powers. this estab-
lishment can be enlarged to any magnitude
adequate TO protect the interests and sus-
tain the honor of the country. We have
internal resources equal to those of any
power on the face of the globe; we have
/ unsurpassed skill in naval architecture; we
have any number Of seamen, ever really to
rally 10 the flag of their country in the
day Of need; and in the ability to produce
the best class of artillery and artillerists
we will yield to none.i Undoubtedly our
/ peace establishment is such as would ne
cessitate our conducting the war in some
what different style from that in which we
shonld end it. We should begin by COM
missioning privateers to prey upon the
four hundred millions worth OF British
merchandise now afoat. There is no
doubt that these privateers would be good
at their business. We have the swifesi
clipper ships in the world. and a multi
tnde of them. These ships would require
but trihing alienation to be converted
into war vessels, equal in strength to these
which England can testify did considerable
lexecution in 1914. ard far exceeding them
of course in speed and manageableness.--
These clippers. with all other vessels which
now make mp the largest commercial ma.
rine in the world. would costituto priva-
teering force. which. in less than twelve
month, would sweep every commercial
keel Of England from tho two oceans
That done. we shouIdtur our attention tG
the British navy. We should by thai
time have q Navy that England could not
AS she now threatens. blow out of the wa
ter at one broadside. 5aeU 1s.-ieflt
We hear much about the iron clad ships
Of England. She has but two finished
the Warrior and Black Prince-and the,
being the largest ships aAoat. save thu
Great Eastern, with the immense weigh
of their metal casing. have too deep draf
to enter any Of onr harbors. even, if they
could carry coal enough to cross the ocean
They were designed for narrow seas. and
especially to protect the channel. 1t is in
deed yet a problem whether any iron pla
tel vessel Of large size can answer ocean
service. Sir Howard Douglas, the fore
most English authority on naval matters
stakes his reputation on the assertion thai
mo ship has yet been produced capable o
resisting the penetrations and impacts Of
; heavy shot. fulfilling at the same time al
the requirements which sea going vesse
must possess.' Our own naval commits
sion. appointed by the Secetary Of the Ma
| Wy TO investigate the snl,ject. consisting o.
three of our most experienced officers. af
ter thorough examination. reported. three
months ago. that ''the enormous load o.
iron. as SO much additional weight to the
vessel. the great breadth Of beam necessary
to give her stability. the short supply o.
coal she will be able to stow in her bun
kers. the greater power required to propel
her. and the largely increased cost Of con
stfuction. are objections to this claas ol
vessels. as cruisers. which we believe Il is
lifIicult successfully to overcome" They
als.. reported as their confident belief that
mo ship OF floatiug battery. however heav-
lily she may be plated. can cope successful.
\ ~ with = properly conseshcted fortification
Of mssonry.' However serviccable these
iron monsters may pfove At homc we need
borrow iittle trouble about their operations
this eide. of'the water. bill ht9Nm lIh
- In dwelling upon the superiority Of the
English nevyto that Of France OF Russis ol
the United States. wsitsrs are apt to over.
took'the faet thar not more than halfofit il
svailabls fot tpF puvpos6s. The vast ex.
= she oolosisl:sm pire. the nultipIicity
.o1 comlnetcist lutevests, which olnbrscs