Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-03-16

states and French naval officers, and the
builders were most obliging TO their visitors,
and freely exhibited and explained the ar
raneements of the vessels The opinions
about the iron ciRds were singularly una u
imous. 1t was agreed that more formidable
vessels could not be designed, that as rams
| they could run down almost any vessel, that
th,ey we're shot proof and that they were
designed to carry very powerful ordnance.
| A well informed Dane said 10 me; "lf we
fthe Dnncs) get these vessels we shall be,
nntil similar vessels are built, n first class
armed power. If Prussia get these iron
clads, she will at once be in possession of n
powerful navy My Danish friend retlec-
ted the opinions of United States officers,
and presume that Mr.. Wells has in his
office some reports of the strength Of these
vessels.
At last the vessels are ready for their tri-
al trip, and the Sphynx, which the Conied-
crates we're to call the Stonewall, proceeds
to Copenhagen. 1t is, perhaps, not true,
but am told that the builders OF the YES
sells would not allow the trial trip until the
heavy guns were on board and in position.
! Remember at this point that the iron clads
continued to be the property of Nj. Armand
on the register, though il is quite possible
that at one time there mi ght have been ne
4 gotations and even n sale to Denmark,
| And now come to the concluding incidents
that convince me that the Confederates have
two iron clads on the sea.
Two days ago | am informed (net on
doubtful authority that the Sphynx LEFT
! Copenhagen, and that ihc Danish Govern
ment was off its bargain. The Sphynx was
| under the command of Henry de Riviere--
the De Rivicre of Elnmo Blount notoricty.
She was in perfect working order had II
good crew on board, and was it is said,
| first bound for Bordeaux. Simultaneously
it is reported that Cleops is leaving Bor-
deaux for Hamburg. Depend upon it the
| Sphynx will not go TO bordeaux, nor Will
| the Cleops go to Hamburg. No no. These
/ Southerners are to keen 10 allow two such
pretty iron clads o be,wanIerpg about the
seas without an owner. They will be in
tercepted NJ Armand will be easy. Do
you think Henry de Riviele will be an OBJ
stacle to transfer to the Confederate flag?
No, the Sphynx will not go to Bordeaux,
nor will the Cleops 60 to Hamburg; they
have rendezvous, and, depend upon it, at
| that rendezvous the -SphynS mud the Clcops
were transformed into the Stonewall and
the Rapidan, and forthwith there were the
two most formidableiroh clads ever design
ed at sea, under the Confederate flag.
About the immediate destination Of the
iron -clads, can, of course, give no infor-
nation. 1t is possible that the captains
| sail under sealed orders. But there are
many points of attack for the Confederate
iron -clads. They are almost nvunerable
and to them almost all ports and seacoast
cities are vulnerable. My first thought is
turned to the Empire City. What is to pre-
vent the Confederate iron-clads from en-
tering the harbor of New York? The forts
would be useless, for the iron-clads can
pass them with impunity. When in the
harber the shipping would be at the mercy
of the Confederate rams. Nay, the mighty
city itself would be under the control Of the
iron-clads. lmmagne these iron-clads in
your harbor and demanding twenty million
of dollars in 20 in three hours, or else the
city to be fired by shells and rockets But,
perhaps, the Confederates would rather
strike at Boston, and may enter and des-
troy that city. Perhaps the ironclnds may
hug the New England coast, only stopping
from time to time to fire towns and cities
within reach of their rockets. Or why
should the Confederate iron-clads not go up
the Potomac? Why should they not set fire
to Washington? Or, it may be, the Con-
federate iron clads will be employed in 9TH
err service. They might go up the James
river, and by so doing greatly weaken
Grants position. They might go to Beau
fort. They might go TO Mobile. Depend
upon it am not drawing upon my imagi-
nation, and that the Confederates will do
faa rft,l amount of damage.
So much for the sailing of the iron-clads.
Permit, me now to make few observations
on matter of not less importance-the
means by which the Confederates have been
able to procure these ironclads. Were they
procured in spite of the vigilance of the
French Government We're they procured
by the friendship and connivance of the
French Government?
do not suppose that it is necessary to
ssy much about the question. We cannot
conceive that the most vigilant Government
in Europe-a Government which employs
a whole army of secret police agents-was
egregiously deceived. Do you think the
Confederates, even for the sake Of two iron
clads, would incur the enmity of the Empe-
ror Napoleon? Do you think that NJ. Ar
mand, the protege of the Emperor, would
dare to consent to such transfer unless he
knew that it would be pleasing to his Impe-
rial master? Do you think the police Of
Bordeaux and the naval officials of Bordeaux
are so blind that they see nothing suspicious
II l. -