Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-28
NAVAL ART IN 1869

Admiral de Paris has. recently published work en-
titled NAVAL Al in 1861" in which the comparative
merits OF different classes of armed vessels are con,
sidersd Toe following synopsis Of it Is from foreign
paper:
az processes to give account Of the progress Of
nautical art n France from the introduction of paddle
wheel steamers to the completion of the iron-cased
iFgAs Gloire The most interesting part Of the work
is the comparison the Admiral makes between the
Glore and the Warrior. He first describes the differ
enoe between the two ships Toe Gloire is built Of
wood, and the Warrior OF iron. The frat is cAssd
with iron plates twelve centmetres thick her
iBe and len centimetres above, fastened by wooden
screws, which do not pass through the ships sides
The Warriors plates are fixed on sheeting
Of timber twelve inches thick. There Is still greater
difference between the two ships. The Glolre is COM
petey covered with IRON and leaves place exposed
except the portfolios. The Warrior has her two ex-
tremities completely exposed; aud all the vulnerable
parts Of her stern such her rudder sern.post and
screw open 70 the effect Of cannon shot. Admiral
Paris is Of opinion that If these two champions of mod
ern ideas came into collision, there be no doubt 40
to tbs result The 6loe, being every where nvunera
be- might approach and In q thort time destroy the
stern of the Warrior a. to render her moIionless
Half gunners moreover, would be exposed 10 GER
tain destruction Placed behind thin plates Of irou the
Warriors gunners would be much exposed 90 those Of
her opponent would be well protected ia their 'quad-
rangls" Of thick plates Of iron The Admiral AIDA that
speed Il Il an obstacle to the celebrity of her 0uvfes.
He assers that for battle and for smooth water the
Glore pereo. ship and fast need be desired
She has served almost the only model for the mon
eAsed ships Of the French navy with the exception Of
some formidable fngstes and two ships of the line
with double tier OF guis but Of which the eItFem-
ties are uncovered and they consequently a:e e1poted
TO as many una yorGble chances as the Wprrior.-
Alter a VsIy minute description Of these two
floating fortresses, Admiral De Parls polDis
out to the reader the merits and defecs Of each
ship and describes at length al the ironcAsed 81 i2s
built up to the date OF this book In the Unieed khg
dom and in America. One Of the 'estons the Aani-
raj examines with great Is the material OF whoh an
toncased ship ought TO be construeed and ne seems
to decide in favor OF timber. though the question: no
says, Is not settled. The advantage oil timber sihas
the French dockyards better supplied WITH tnst ma
teria the bottom Of timber snip e less liable 10 De
come foul than that of iron shf she Is more easily
repaired cannon shot makes smaller holes in the wood
under iron pse than in iron 'and she better
calculated to bear the attack Of steam ram The de-
fects Of timber ship that the hull Ia heavier than
that of an iIon ship, she decays more rapid tie
timber has not been we'll seasoned the dura ion OF the
iron plates is diminished BY the gayanic effect Of the
copper sheathing on the bottom abe is more exposed
TO leakage after storm, and more dangerous than an