The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-20

the result is that the blockade of the Prussian
coast is about to be raised, and the feet to
return ingloriously to Cherbourg for the pur-
pose of aiding in the defense of that place.
Some of the circumstances to which the non-
success of the French navy in the present
contest is due are vel worthy of the con-
sideration Of the people of the United States
who, in case of foreign war, will look to our
navy as the principal protection against in
vasion.
The situation of the French blockading
fleet on the Prussian coast is described in
the cable despatch announcing its probable
return to Cherbourg as being in dangerous
water abounding in hidden reefs and shall
lows. There are no friendly lights to give
warning in the night; no buoys to serve as
marks for guidance by day, while the fleet is
compelled constantly to guard against sur
prises by the enemy, while it is supplied with
small means for retaliation in open ports
Fortresses could be attacked with but small
prospect of success, as the heaviest iIon-clads
draw twenty. three feet to twenty eight feet of
water with the exception of the Rocham-
beau (the American built Dunderberg), which
combines formidable armament with COM
paratively little draught. There are no light
dlaught gunboats for operation in the rivers,
and no transports by which troops can be
landed.
In addition to the disabilities of the feet
itself, the forts commanding the entrance to
the harbor are placed SO high that it would be
almost impossible to elevate the guns so as to
effect anything, while the ships would be ex-
posed to a destructive downward fire. Even
if they could escape this, they would encoun-
ter torpedoes and other distinctions which
would prove serious embarrassments, at least.
1t will thus be seen that the Prussians have
been able to effectually protect their coast
from attack, although their navy is insignif-
cant beside that of the French, and their sue
cess in doing this has not been altogether
due to the weakness of the enemy.
This statement of the naval situation is
particularly interesting to us, as our coast for
the greater part of its extent is not greatly
dissimilar from that of Prussia. From New
York to Texas our coast line is shallow, with
comparatively few harbors, and these diff
cult of access in case the lights and buoys
should be removed The manner in which
the Rebels bafled all attempts to reach
Charleston by the sea, and the desperate re-
sistance they were able to make at New Or
leans and Mobile, demonstrated how our ports
can be defended with comparatively small
naval force, and such successes as the Gov
ernment forces did gain were largely due to
our facilities for building and equippine
vessels adapted for peculiar kind OF
service upon our own ground, and to
the fact that we had large force of skilfu
pilots who were able to show the way into
the harbors of the Southern coast in spite oi
the removal of buoys and the obstructions
placed in the channels by the Rebels. Wha
we therefore need for defensive purposes is q
small but efficient fleet of iron-clads in eacl
of our harhors, with forts and batteries suffi
cienty strong to hold an enemy in check
even if they are not able to repulse him. The
French and English have both boasted greatly
of the strength of their navies, and appre
tensions have been manifested lest We
should not be able to make any effective re
sistance to them in case of war, but the
former of these powers has seen its fleet com
pletely baffied by the natural defenses of thu
Prussian coast, and it is manifested that il
operating upon our more extended coast lin,
it would have even greater difficulties to con
tend with. Such a naval force, therefore, a
we ought to maintain for defensive purposes
need not entail any very heavy expense, bu
it ought to be kept at the highest state O
efficiency, and with a reasonable degree O
skill and prudence in the management of tn,
Navy Department we may consider ourselve
as absolutely relieved from any fears o
foreign invasion.