The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-07-30
NEW YORK HERALD. MONDAY, JULY, 80 1876,

"Mouitorsn say these ofncen, "are uncomfortable
vessels 10 sail In" The criticism is absurd They are
not built 10 afford splendd-sate for admirals;
they are built damage and destroy the enemy. In
thai tAey have succeeded In almost every case whore
been kent thoroughly informed BY It's ofcsr in the
United States Of everything done In the navy yards
there and Il is dine 70 the american naval authorities %
undertakngs but throw their yards open freely to the
stranger and explain minutey every detail OF new ships
by this Information The is that flagship In
the Mediterranean is still wooden three decker, which,
with her ono thousand men, could be sunk or burnt BY
long range shot or shell from gunboat, and that the
ironcads building are still built on the old pat
We trust Sir John Pakington is prepared to make
resolute effort to reform these abuses for no does not
like some of his subordnaas pronounce iron clad yes.
ses IN be n failure and declare that had better wait
for some more perfect invention before taking steps 10
make our feet a solid protection TO Us. The whole
American naval service cannot be wrong in the estimate
they Mace upon their monitors They have them
tried In action; never have; they know what our
feet Is and from the rear admiral downwards there Is
that weaker than ever we were because they are
SO much stronger than we are Let us allow for exag-
geraion In these pretensions and then are they not
worthy OF being carefully considered and sftedP Our
fleet can only be considered strong until II Is brought
into comparison with upon which every effort Of
naval ana mechanical science has been lavshed every
now and proved principle adopted and every ippor-
tant discovery applied Already tho Americans have
eighteen monitors carrying four guns and when others
actually under construction completed they will have
sssenty five of various tonnages. Their irociad eS
{
Our system is TO neglect the discoveries IN
ventions Of our own officers. and underrate
those Of other nations. The Americans have
gone upon the principle OF sacrificing personal
interests without scnpe, in order to the most
powerful fleet in the world. That is distinctly their
aim and they spare labor expense to achieve
It. They think they have succeeded already; but,
although this may bs matter Of doubt, II Is not In
the least matter OF doubt that II do not initiate
their energy, and -ndeavor to improve our navy,
we shall some day have cause to ruc our obstnacy
The mos defectipe reech- loader knoun o the Aplc-
ricans IL an immeasiTaiiy serocedbLs arm, than
the need,s gun ~hich has snrttd Me War Depdr.
nent into spasm of actiutv, totile SINE Of the best
of their yiAs hare scarcely been in This crnnty
II is exactly the with their navy; while we are
hesiating and delaying The americans are 'oorArng and
fnishina Sir John Pakiugtnn has great opportunity
before him; he may eniitle himself and the adminstra
ton which he belongs 10 the lasting gratitude OF his
coun.rymen. Bat w lcarn slowly In England. We are
slow to form IDEAS and what Is far worse, we are
slower still in abandoning old ones Yet something may
be done-nay be DONE for waste OF time s peril
ous The Ministry might do worse than rely for its sue
upon good administration Of the army arr navy