Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-01
InferI0rity OF the Brlti.h TO the
American Navy

From the London Army andNavy Gazette, Dec
We are told that the Americans are
building very long and very fast ships;
while, on the other band, the French /
are Building them comparatively short
With present experience, we know that
thu speed Of short vessels cannot be
great Itmust, however, not be forgot
tan that the French, in the construction
Of their recent additions to the Imperial
navy, have had in view the rapid hand /
ling Of ships of war when in action,
rather than swiftness Of speed for chas-
ing or running away. Oar allies on the
other side Of the channel have never
failed to bestow their admiration upon
our Warrior ella SIS of vessels; but they
have recoiled from following the exam
pie we have set them The paramount
reason which had weight with them is
the great space which such long vessels
require to turn. II would, therefore,
be implied that the French do not
contemplate q feet of ironclad yes
sells to scour the seas, as they must
well know that they would be unfit
for the purpose. The Americans have
very large, and perhaps we may
add very heterogeneous collection of
iron clads, which may serve in the way
of coast defenses; but they resolved to
possess themselves of squadron, If not
Of whole feet of rapid, improved
"Alabamas the precise sort of vessels
which our own Admiralty promised the
House OF Commons last session we
should be provided with. Tt 10 far too
early to decide upon the sea-going quail
ties of Mr.. Reds vessels, but we know
we'll enough that they were never intend 1
ed to act as sea police. We have
nothing of the sort-our harbors are de-
nuded OF all ships having any preten-
sion to cope with those which, according
to well-founded rumor, are. now being
bnilt across the Atlantic. We cannot
afford to stand still; the Americans have
taken one step--we must again advance. 4
Most persons entitled to any authority
ON the matter are agreed that our navy
Of the future must beaof iron. and not
of wood and they seem agreed that
there shall be no difficulty in building
vessels of iron of the necessary length
to insure something not much under Is
knots an hour. The Agincou.t, after
being covered with some composition,
was at the expiration Of six weeks OK
amined, and she was found to be2covered
with grass six inches long. Wood over
copper offers chance of getting rid of
this evil, The armament should be
powerful, say TWO or more six hundred
FOUNDERS to be replaced by enc thousand
two hundred pounders- we can
get them Foreigners are already in
our markets, seeking after enormous or
diuance; aud if the statements which !
have reached us can be relied upon,
they are not likely to be disappointed
in getting the guns to order Probably
they have found race of Anakins to
work them At all events the Ameri
cans have actually large guns on iron
carriages, which can throw shells six
miles, and they have ships which can
carry such at fourteen knots an hour.
Ifthe Admiralty dol not believe these
statements, there is no reason why they
shout not be prepared aginst the prob
able truth. In spite Of Sir Morton ,Peto,
we believe a quarrel not ont of the ques-
tion. Perhaps bis influence may induce
bis American friends to desist in the
building of their new cruisers, which
mean notwithstanding else.
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