The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-29
IMPROyING Tmr scIENCE OF WAN

IMPROVING THE SCIENCE OF WAR.
1t is very common thing TO abuse the
Governments of the civilized world for making
improvements in the art Of war. BUTT should
be remembered that in proportion as the means
of carrying on war are rendered more efloent,
or more destructive If you please. wars arc
sooner brought to an end and peace re-estab-
lshed. If q certain amount of life and pro-
perty has got to be expended in q military
strife, II is certainly better to have the sacri-
fees made In one year Of conflict than In
three, or FIVE, or ten years Because, while
the loss to be incurred in either case is the
same, the sooner the nation or nations whicA
suffer 1t can resume peaceful pursuits, and
begin TO repair the destructive effects OF the
struggle, the better.
In this view OF the subject, all the great
leading Powers of Christendom will owe to
this civil war of ours an incalculable obliga.
tion for important progress in the science of
warfare, both on land and sea. Never before
in the worlds history have such armies as we
have brought into the field been known, or
such battles been fought. On both sides our
military movements have been directed With
remarkable skill, while uustinted wealth aud
eXhaustless mechanical talent have been lio-
orally employed in inventing new and inn
proving old methods of defensive and offensive
operations.
The European Governments, especially
France and England have been watching oar
contest with keen optics ever since it began,
with a view to adopt into their own naval and
military service such improvements In fire.
arms, war vessels and their armament, elyi-
neering, cavalry and infantry tactics, AMI all
other matters pertaining to belligerent re-
sources and policy. A correspondent, writing
from Paris, says:-
During the fight between the RearSarge and
dktOdmG the Emperor received dispatches
"evCry hiteen minutes, ut the PLlasu Ut FJu-
' tan eUeau, OF the progress OF the ign, Il, Il
had been arranged beforehand. III NJ jySy
" ever since has aken the keeuest iateresl IN
every hing relating TO tue VIC OflOus suiy And
especially III her artillery, of whicl ne has
| made II lhurOus IA eXamina ion. lt Is generally
| admit Ell that this light demonstrates that { Ie
| artillery uf the Fce ,ch aud English niyie5 is
" defective, If no altogether worthless, dul th 1t
"a total r,vO uuOn must he the resul'. Fac
large rliied guns mus be replaced With IN Jn-
ster smouth-bJre guns, and the lighting a5 close
quarters maintained. The excitement on tue
| " kui j. CT III utNh quarters Is luICuSS, unl tue
| decks OF the Sacramento aud KearSarye q
| Z" crowded wi n army and naval Otii GERS whenever
| "they are in port"
Thus France and the rest of Elropo NrO
gaining the benefits Of our costly experimo ats
and experience; and they show their wislo n
in turning to immediate account all tlIt
valuable knowledge with Which tle eVelsj
and practical scientific discoveries of tia war
have furnished them.
1t is not TO be wondered at, however, if we
have made some blunders, and We fear it m l5t
be confessed that our light-draught monitors
have disappointed the great expectltonI
lcrmed of them. The eminent ship-bIiller
DONALD MCKAY, says that they may b.
so altered as to render them available loi
coast and harbor defense, and the Navy Do
uartment has ordered the work to be done
The same high authority in naval architecture
has recommended the construction of a nun
Der OF sea-going wooden ships, heavily iron
clad, and OF high speed, ald armed with t;o1
iwenty-four to thirty-six guns.
We feel quite satisfied that this class o
military vessels is the one that will bs foam
most effective in all kinds Of service, eithe
On the coast, in ha bors, or out upon the ops
ocean; and that the great Naval Powers vii
make them henceiorth constitute the chie
part of their yet to be constructed war mIrinC
We see that the French Admiralty hIV
already ordered the building OF two steI
a, coivettes on the model OF the Rear3drge, an
Ell gland viii no doubt follow suit. OJ
Government also will, probably, reach IL
4 conclusion that wooden iron-slad steamer
!, OF high speed and few but powerful guns, Al
!, at once the most useful and economical W
ships, and multiply them accordingly in o.
= navy.