The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-11

rest While acknowledging that America has no ships nj
for general service At present. he socs that shc must nave
habors are protected against possible attacks Of
foreign but he argues that real nghting SHIPS
must sooner or later be constructed ior service a.
and he speculaes in great detail on the charac
ter which should be given to such vessels, we
learn his opinions on this important subject He ap-
pears then 10 think that the most necessary condition
OF good modern Of war 10 enormous size. Such
vessel he says should not only carry machinery poa er
full enough insure great speed and ordnance heavy
enough for any assault should be able away
fuel sufficient for long cruises without the necessity OF re-
coaling This, however It will perhaps be remembered.
the very condition which produced the plan Of the
Great Eastern and from what Br. Weles adds 1t really
il he contemplated model Of nearly the same
magnitude. lie does not descend to particulars on
the point but he remarks that even In the pre-
sent crisis Of affairs, when the chief energies OF
his department have been devoted TO the satisfac
ton Of moro pressing exigencies, he did issue pro-
posas for the construction OF OF these monster
vessels The result ia most surprising 1.-The cost, he
tells US, as shown by the propositions received for
ship OF the necessary magnitude great that It
deemed advisable to into contract involving
large expenditure except by the sanction
of Congress. Now considering that the Americans
actually spending their navy about double what we
spend and that tner prodlsy IN incurrng al KINDS o.
imagine with tho amount Of the outlay upon
q single vessel which Mr.. Weles was afraid to sane
ton and docs not venture 10 state. What could
have been the proportions Of this mysterious
aud formidable tabrcY Was 1t Warrior the scale Of
that Congress be startled by the price OF the
article for be apologies beforehand for it, and argues
that be too heavy for the peace and secu
rity which squadron Of such vessels might be expected
to insure.
ii, then, we 20 measure our proceedings in
these matters by the estimate Of the formed Anne
rica, we must needs conclude that the right
tack aud that the only fault N be found with Muo
Northumberland is that though they larger
than any OF aicat, they not large enough
Mr. welles thinks nothing Of gunboats smaller
vessels model man-of-war is a ship with the biggest
engines biggest guns and biggest coal bunkers
He thinks that II must be built Of iron, though is
instructive 10 observe that his mind hardly made
this question: aud that ne balances material against
another II he scarcely knew how to decide On the
question OF guns he yery little being content 10 as
sumo, what nobody would deny, that "heavy" ord
nance is Indispensable in modern warfare But
1t is importaut to remark that whatever may be
the relative merits OF the British and American
system, the latter must necessarily be subjected to
the serious drawback OF cumbrous and unlnanage-
able pieces. We. by throwing lighter proectes with
greater velocity. OBTAIN corresponding ighness and
portability in the guns themselves. The Americans. by
relying velocity, but weight are compelled
increase proportion the caibre and weight Of their
cannon until they arrive at last at this result that such
pieces only fit for land Notifications floating bat
teries, and have not yet been mounted any vessels
competent 10 keep the When, therefore, they spccu
late, they have recently DONE the efficiency
vessel like the Wcehawlen against vessel like the War
rior they comparing dssimiar things. The Wee.
kawken little than floating battery: the War
ri0r a good seagOing ship What MIR. Weiles new
or.war may be cannot con ecture, bet own
experience has certainly suggested that the quality OF
bgness may be easily rsied Tar.