Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-09
TIE PIRATES.

his mas been the only Ialf ana open sea
fight which our naval men have been able
to secure, as yet, during the war and it
occurred in tho English Channel, in sight
If the two great maritime powers Of Eu-
rope. In size, armament and complement
of mon, the combatants were as near equal,
perhaps as could have been arranged.
Most Of the crew of the Alabama were
Englishmen, and the gunners admitted to
have been picked men of tcr msjesiy's
gunnery chip the Excellent
Some latent remains of pride which be-
long TO the profession, and which aDima-
ted his earlier Rad moro honorable life |
while sailing uEder the American flag, IN
doubtedly had an influence in inducing !
the pirate commander to meet naval an /
tsgonist q ter his long career Of robbery /
snd plunder Of unarmed vessels, in the
vain hope that it might, if successful, re- /
store him some portion Of the respect he
had forfeited, and at the same time relieve
bin of some Of the debsssment he has
never ceased to feel, even when applauded
BY those foreign partisans who hated the
country he had deserted. But the same
dishonor marked bis conduct on this coca
sion as during his whole iguoble career
Before leaving Cherbourg he Deposited tho
chronometers and other trophies Of his
robberies on shore. When beaten ard
compelled to surrender, he threw oyer
board the sword that was nc longer his
Own, and abusing tho generous confidence
Of his brave sntsgonist, he stole himself
away in the English tender, whose owner
proved himself, by his conduct, q 1T COM
RAMON for the dishonored and beaten cor
sair.
Having surrendered, he cannot relieve
himself of his obligations as a prisoner Of
war until he shall be regularly exchanged.
He, snd each of his surviving officers an1
crew, whether received upon the Kcar-
sarge or Deerhouad, are, and viii 5o held
TO be prisoners of war and amenable TO the
laws Sshiah 0nuarn niuilisa rnr11-,s,,-,it;sra
A predatory rover may set the laws Of nS-
tions, as well as those of his own country,
at defiance, bat in doing so must abide the
consequences.
No explanation of the sinking Of the
Florida is given in the report.
The Tallahassee, at last accounts, was at
Wilmington.
TIE MONITORS.
Mr. Welles expresses no decided convic-
tions upon the subject of the Monitors.
"This entire class of vessels" he ssys,
"has been brought into existence during
this war, and the coast and harboC ipen-
clads have been serviceable ia James
river, at Charleston, and at Mobilo;" but
notifications and improvements have
been found necessary.
LIGHT DRAFT IRoN CLADs.
The light draft iron c!ads are thus refer
red to-:
The pressure for iron clads Of light
drsught, which could ascend the rivers and
penetrate the sounds and bays along our
cosst was felt to be NECESSITY, The opera
tions of our armies in the vicinity of the
inland water and adjacent to the rivers re-
CURED the constant presence of gunboats.
But the men thus employed, as well sc the
magazines and machinery OF the vessels
are exposed, especially in narrow streams
with nigh and wooded banks. Some YES
sells and not few valuable lives have been
lost by these exposures, and in order to af-
ford all possible protection to the gallant
men VINO encounter these dangers, the De-.
paItment considered it g duty TO provide
armored vessels Of light draught for their
security. Contracts were entered into for
the construction Of twenty vessels on the
mentor principle each to carry two elev-
en-ilCh Guns, in order to be ell ,ient, and
TO draw but seven feet Of water.
OTHER IRON CLADs.
-Four turreted vessels havo been built in
the navy yards Of wood and cased with
iron, differing therein from The original
Monitors, which are exclusively of iron.
One of them, the Monadnock, now in CON-
mission. has performed her trips frnna Ras-
ton to Hampton Roads with entire sstisfac-
tion, giving assurance that this experiment,
deviating in essential respects from others,
is likely 10 be successful: The draught of
water Of the Monadnock istwelve feet, and
with two independent screws she has g
speed Of ten knots Four other similar
vessels Of Still moro formidable and in
vulnerable character are building.
The only sea. going iron-clad ships, be-
sides the two turreted vessels already men
toned, are the New Ironsides, built In 1872;
the Roanoke, one of the old frigstes which
has been armored, and the Dunder6erg, a
essemats vessel. For this vessel the con-
tractor has promised speed of fifteen
knots at sea-
"The Department has, on several oeca-
sions, invited propositions for iron, sea-
going, armored ships, but Congress having
| declined to make the necessary appropris-
tions, no measures have been taken for
their construction.
"The vessels TeeeIt tly built, and at pres
ent constructing in the navy yards, are of
wood, the smaller class of them being
gunbosts, eight of which are of the Glass
of the Nipsic, Of GOO tons, mounting one
heavy pivot and four broadside guns.
There are four OF the class of the Nantuck-
ct of 300 tons, mounting one heavy pivot
| and four broadside guns. in addition to
these there are four vessels of the class Of
the Algons, with tonnage of 1850 tons,
and proportionate armsment. All of these
vessels have very considerable steam
power, AMI will, as soma of them have al
ready proved, be efficient cruisers at ses."
STEAM MACHINERY IMPORTANT ExPERI-
MEETs.
As our navy has become not only ex-
clusivelp steam navy, but very large
one, with an enormous consumption Of
coal ard great expenditure for the con-
s!ruction and, repair Of machinery, it Be-
comes matter of the first consequence
that only the best machinery be obtained
for it. This problem is one of very diff
cult, costly and slow solution;
Mindful of the importance Of this mat
ter, the Department. notwithstanding the
great pressure upon its resources by the
war, has kept it in view and promoted by
every means the acquisition of the neces-
ssry Information. The proportions of bOlls
have been varied with view to determine
the relative developement Of speed in pro-