Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-02

observe no precautions and when those
who do ask them why monitors are not bet
ing provided, they practically answer, Wal
until we are driven from the sea-until our
vast commerce is destroyed, until we are
boarded on our shores-and then we will
think about taking some step. 1t is mon
strous and objectionable mistake to suppose
that great monitor vessels can be improvsed
at the moment they are wanted; and none
but great vessels are of any use. However
brave our sailors, they cannot fight without
tools, and it is too late to begin to construct
tool at the moment you want to use it.
Besides, monitors are }psiruments of offence
new to our sailors and mechanics, and it is in
time of peace that their qualities should be
tried, that our naval officers should become
familiar with those qualities, that any neces-
sary improvements should be introduced,
and that confidence in the craft which an of
ficer carries into action should he nursed up
None OF these things can be the growth of ..
day. They are all important conditions OF
success in a naval war, and, therefore, il is
quite inexcusable in the Admiralty 10 neglect
the paramount and indispensable duty of
providing, while it is yet time, a class of
vessels which will render our success posi-
BILE. To what end is money spent in more
broadside ships, with the immateral addi-
tion OF bow windows on their sides; or of
what avail can small gunboats be- if our main
fleet is captured or destroyed? Such ad-
juncts as twin or hydraulic gunboats may no
doubt be very useful so long as our main de-
fences are unforced But alone they would
be of as much use as Mrs. Partington's mop
in keeping out the Atlantic Ocean and un-
less our main buwards are looked to in time,
we must necessarily in any serious convul-
sion be overwhelmed This is a catastrophe
which it requires no prescience TO predict
1t is the inevitable sequence of the operation
of natural laws, which are the same all the
world over, and which it is the primary
function of an engineer distinctly to appre-
hend. And just as surely as boiler will
burst if overloaded, or an embankment give
way if made porous or to weak, SO also will
a thinly plated ship be broken into and de-
stroyed by the force OF such great artillery
as it is unable to repel; while the small mis-
siles which such vessel discharges will be
powerless against the low and thick sides of
monitor possessed of the necessary strength
to resist even the heaviest guns. Whatever
else monitors may be unable to do, we at
least know this, that they are able to come
across the ocean, and that, in the case ofvcs-
sells of equal size, monitor would be able
to sink a broadside ship while remaining her
self unframed. And this fundamental dis
tinction settles the whole question. For
why do we keep up men of war? Is it not
for purposes of protection And what pro-
lection could we receive from vessels which
would be unable in the event of war to pro
tect themselves? Ask the question, We ma
val retormers. Be not led aside by inmate
ria issues. But ask Lord Lennox, or other
ol the Admiralty wiseacres, on what plea our
sailors are to be sent 10 sea in ships which
t,s1 1nf. Aatv
still adhere to the hypothesis that monitors
can be constructed so much more rapidly
than other ships of the same size, as to make
1t superiiuous to construct them before they
are wanted and ask them what they sup
pose the nation must think of an Admiralty
,ilat adopts so preposterous plan for its
misdirections. There are thousands of men
in this great mechanical society who are able
to form judgment sounder than that of an
Admiralty official on such an question as
this. 1t may require an ex-lord of the Ad-
miralty to convict his successors of keeping
up needless tlotillas in all parts of the world.
| Tne plea may be urged with convenient OBJ
| scurity that piracy must be suppressed in
Chinese waters, that the slave trade must he
extinguished and that our numerous colo
nies must lie protected; and what unofficial
person has the means of justly estimaii g
this! But the futility of the plea for neg
lecting to construct monitors, we can all dis
| cern; and il, in SO vital an affair. so hollow
Il pretext can be put forward, is not there
reasonable ground given for the presumption
that in other points the policy of the Admi-
rally is equally indefensible? The conviction
IS last gaining ground that the department
is hopelessly eiiete and rotten throughout,
and that either a Lord High Admiral should
be created in the person of Prince Alfred, or
that we should have responsible minister
OF marine. Abovc all, however, tn. exist
ing mystery should be terminated, and the
existing jobs exposed, and adequate expla-
nation should be given, not merely TO satisfy
Parliament, but the country at large as TO
the soundness of the policy adopted. Ifsuch
explanation cannot be afforded, then the po-
licy must be changed, so as to be in harmony
with the country's convictions and we,
standing here, as representing enlightened
upon this engineering subject require an en-
PLANTATION that shall not be insincere or alb
surd. Let Lord Lennox be again coached
up, and try what he can do; but we fore
warn him that he will only make matters
worse unless he either produces reason Of
manifest cogency for the course the Admi-
rally has pursued, or frankly admits that lie
has been mistaken.