The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-04-18
INTEREsTIaG FROM EUROPE.
British Opinion Of the Naval Battle In
Hampton Roads-The Revolution in xa-
rins Warfare Commsnosd.

Our extracts from English papers include
dates 40 late a. March 26th. We COPY the
comments Of the Times ON our naval victory
In Hampton Roads: iat *~ s.---,-s.
from the Londou Times, March 81. l.
The campaign In Virginia has-at last be.
gun. A naval battle and general advance OF
the Federal army on the Potomac are the
event which We record to-day. The first OF
these il one Of the most Interesting incidents
tn at have marked the war. For the first time,
the newest applications Of science have bsen
tested in fight between foes Of sqaal cour-
that after England and France had theori4sd
80 long on iron plated and irop -prowsi VI Q.
cells, the first real trial sho uld be made by the
Inhabitants OF the peaceful New World met
IN unnatural strife. and. furthermore, that
victory should rest with the party less verssd
In naval tactics aud consuuctaon9 Though
for q long time there has been men rion Of the
Merrimsc c In the Southern papers, we wsre
not prepared for the achievemeAts In the
James river. ~ {E s-s.ss szf go
The Confederate 1rigats seems to have
gained an easy victory over her peodsa eype.
nsmts. The accounts Of ths action are rather
Cumberland and the Congress In very shor.
time, fulfilling In the most complete manner.
the expectations that have been formed con-
corning iron plated vessels. She received
the braAdsides of two OF her opponents . 1T
one hundred yards without sustaining any
dsmage. She then an into the Cum b bsrland
with hsr iron Prov and laid open her sides.
Thus, both IN defence and attack, the Merri.
mac has realised the calculations Of Euro.
psan constr uc tors 1t must now be looked
upon as proved, that wooden vessels 60 to
su re and speedy defea. whenever they venture
into action agains: an iron. plated adversary.
those who ooJ,ct TO iron sides that they ara
not lnvulner able, tnasmuch as, however
strong the ship may be, cannon can be con
s.rGcted powerful enough TO pierce it. IT uss,
we think, abandon tnetr toc captious criti
cism. g. LHa
We see in the Merrimac that vessel can
be made practically invulnerable, even to
the heavy naval guns which are at present
In use. Nothing now remains foI our Ad.
miraity but to discontinue the building OF
w1cdan vessels, and TO convert all that will
Confederate frigate. The only real opponent
which the Merrimac found vas an o ther iron.
plated fr'ga.s, aud, had it not bsen for this
vessel, IL is possible that the Msrfimac
squadron. The Merrimac is described as
covered with sICping iron plates, extending
two feet below the water line, and meeting
above like the roof of = house," This pecu-
necessary TO efficiency; Dui, as q vsssal thus
built has actually made . great success, It
would be WOE th while fuzzy TO examine the
principle before constructing any more Of
our own, ON the plan already adopted, y
The equipment of the Msrrimac shows tha 1
thera are good heads in the Navy Depart.
ment OF the South, and ths gallant m AL ner
Ia which shs was handled in action Is a token
that he Confederate courage II stftl AZ high
rs ever. But it is NOT by sea Aghls thas The
fcrtunes or the new republic are to bs deter
mined.s The brilliant aRAir OF the ames
river will, no doubt, do IN ach 10 Yeanimase
the Southerners after lhstr Successive defeats,
but IN itself It is of little importance.
scIEHfIYic DEDucrIoIs EsoN Tns ma uGr or H
BAfrLs-THs RxcoH sTAucrIoa OF Iux BIsLisa
NAVY Aw31K % ascnsgIrY s.}3 f.ss
Pom tie Londoa I iaass, March .6l az
Waen President Davis. In his recent mos
ssge TO his constituents, reviewed the posi-
tloa 1f the Southern Confederacy, he ex
States would soon contribute sometAing to-
wards the success Of the eAnse, These ex'
pc ec,ations have Ger tainly heen Justi1ad ~
the naval victory WHICH We ysstsrdAy 70.
pcrtsd-A victory Saiaed over rederal force
Of great strength, and in waters where ~
Northsrners prubibfy conceived thas the a. ,
premacy was anasDatlAely their own. Ihfee
friGatss and . heavy sl0op. are msn toned 9
In the action against the small sQusdron a
the Oonfsdsrnees, and furthse aud most 81.
fsctive rstpforceaaens aftsTWAyds AxxIyoa n
the ahAps 81 . aoatlns battary.
that tie msrrlmsc. Il. "a SSs;sss 10; y ~ ~ ~
twelve aurs. It'd oteAaAlAn .. prSsee1L q
ssaxeh Of N encpuntsr with en4h : eadren
g - nsvs dsscrioed Aeovs. f1A GenePeea
ssvcnsy, fons g1na14enAs the lle1tee0A md
~ Ae-AAWroA0a AineQ nora l1he lGinneso.
- Aoysyeys l1k e1Eo.1es ed 'cosl1. tAsce-
~: nsases ecne q ANs.u ner s1 - -:
~ sateaAaaW hn1 ooaseqneet0 oalT -
aleaae ~ Aa.aa9 = Aeel ~ s1 TT
taat - tee6 - aloep = Als9ple ilel.e1l
naavnAA10shnaaz0uS a. - - ~