Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-24

not be too saBguine, for that glorious event,
which 3 but question Of time, may be de-
iurred yet a litik longer.
TFon-CIRd Vessels Of War.
Ths reosnt naval action in Hampton
Roads, between the Merrimac and the Union
asst inangurated as great a revolution in the
soisnos Of naval warfare, as did the inven-
ton Of CUR. powder in the ancient mode Of
sighting. It has demonstrated clearly the
superiority Of iron, as compared with wood,
to resist the heaviest projscHles used on
water. That little fight Insignificant appa-
Eently ss 1t was, when compared with the
Battle Of Trafalgar Tor instance, was really
the most important the world ever saw. It
has had the effect Of sweeping away and
making useless over J, 800 vessels of war be-
longing ts the civilized world, and destroy.
ing the efficiency Of seaport fOrtifcstions
costing in the neighborhoOd Of over thou
Gand millions Of dollars. This, added to the
value Of the combined navies Of Europe and
America, which probably cost another thou
and millions, Will make over two thousand
millions worth Of vessels Of war and fOrtif-
cations that have been rendered useless for
the original purposes for which they were
constructed. Besides, it has placed the two
crest naval powers, Great Britain and France,
On level with the United States, as far as
the control Of the sea is concerned, for the
reason that all three win start about even In
the work Of re- building their navies with
iron, whereas before, the wooden navy Of the
United States was only about one-sevsnth
the Siss Of that Of either Of the above
powers.
Naval Aghis hereafter win be carried on
simply By machinery, instead Of BY human
muscle and gunpoHdsr. The fastest and
strongest boat Is destined to win. Instead
Of ihips taking position aud fighting 3 tre.
msndous duel with artillery, each aide trust
ing to the weight Of he metal, and skin IN
managing his guns for success, iron clad ves-
BslB win be % constructed as to be perfectly
invulnerabls to shot, and made to sink their
antagonists BY running into them in the
same way that the Cumberland and Con-
gress were sunk BY the Merrimae.
France has constructed and in process of
construction ffteeu iron clad vessels Of var.
England has the same number building, and
VII have eleven ahoat the coming yssr.
TIE United States have two small iron clad
vessels fnished-the Monitor and Eaugutuck
and three building-ons at Phladelphis,
large vessel Of some Z, 800 tons burthen
one ct Mystic Conneetiout, a small affair Of
about 1900 tons and the famous Stevens
ship which Is of about 5000 tons,
and which, undoubtedly, when finish.
ed wiz be the most powerful and
kstess iron-clad ship aRoat-far superior to
The Wsuior or La Gloire. It Is calculated
% make speed Of 10 knots an hour, which
s three knots an hour faster than either the
Warrior or La Gloirs can make. The Ste
veu1Ghip wiz carry only six 15-inch guns,
but Being placed on q pivot they viii be
sgual 70 battery of IL guns, and the weight
of each broadside viii be over 1900 pounds,
while that Of the Warrior, which has 40
gunB-2O on each side-the largest carrying
onlya 100 pound ball, viii throw about 1900
pounds to each broadsids.
I The ship building at Philadelphia Is about
the sane size as the French irOn-clAd Ls
eloire, and undoubtedly viii be more than
match for that ship.
Thslecent act Of Congress sppfoPriating
5000, 600 for the purpose Of building iron
clad ships Of war; also appropriating $780,
600 for the purpose Of finishing the Stevens
ship together with making an appropriation
for building Immediately two more ships
like the Monitor, but on a larger scale-30O
feet long instead Of l75 feet the length Of
the NonitOr-will soon put our Government
in possession Of navy as formidable, If not
more %, Is that Of Great Britain.
The desire Of our people is universal for
having navy that viii be able to cope with
that Of any other power. The recent at
tempt Of that coWardly bully, Palmerston,
to take advantage Of the deisneelsss cOndi-
ton Of our country and our having great
rebellion on hand, to involve England in g
war with uH, has produced feeling in favor
Of having a first class navy which is ire.
Sistible and which win impel our Govern
ment to act accordingly. It is far better
that we should e1psnd $lOO,OOO,O 900 a year
on our navy, than to be subjected TO the
Bullying spisit Of John Boil