The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-11-22
HEAVY ARMOR AND BIG GINS.

ssere's:TS. n: S.... Idea; About Them.
From the orthcoming Report of In" secretar,
| OF the Navy.
Your attention IL again respectfully
and earnestly called TO the importance
OF building more vessels Of medium size
that the proper number OF vessels NAV
be kept in our squadrons on foreign sta
tons. New and improved vessels are
required TO take the place of those worn
out. The protection of our commerce
and our citizens abroad and the main.
.tenance of our friendly relations with
other nations require more vessels.
As it is not probable that our navy
will ever engage foreign foe in line OF
battle in mid ocean, it will not be the
interest OF our Government to follow too
closely the policy of other nations in
building large and costly iron.clad
vessels Of war neither is it advisable to
follow the exact form Of vessels armor.
built, or the ideas OF persons of doubt
ful authority in naval architecture: but
with well.established general principles
we should strike for an advance in the
mechanical parts and take the lead in
a new tyre of vessels, as has been done
In times past, keeping in view the all.
important points of speed under steam,
hardness, heavy and effective battery
and steady platform, the indispensable
qualities OF a good lighting ship.
The salvation OF our country does not
depend upon having the largest and
most powerful navy in the world, for
our geographical position or natural re.
sources does not require it. We are not
located within short and easy sail of
any powerful nation, and we have with.
In our own territory abundant supplies
OF food and clothing, with the luxuries
OF lie OF our people, conse quentlv we
can live within ourselves. But having
commercial and social relations abroad.
we are morally bound to protect them.
While England is expending enor.
NOUS SANS of money in building large
and powerful iron .clads for the purpose
OF maintaining the supremacy of the
high seas, which seems to be her only
protection to life as a nation. we have
not so much as collected the materials
for building one for number of wears
past. Until circumstances change, we
can allow other nations to experiment
ut great cost in building these large
lron'armed vessels, and fully investigate
the subject OF iron-clads versus artillery.
80 as TO determine which have the ad.
before we need to spend m ,nev
IN the matter ourselves. The discussion
of the subject by scientific and able
some OF whom recommend
nat no more irOn.armed vessels be built
u the future, for the reason that ord.
lance can be made which will penetrate
my thickness of plate that can be float.
a., while Others of great authority
maintain with more truth that vessels
an De designed which will carry armor
4 much greater thickness than mas eve
zen penetrated, has shown that we
ave not lost much by delay in building
.on'clads, and also that most of those
iready built are Of very little service TO
ny nation against a more modern
avy.
. Another very important implement
naval warfare is attracting the atteu.
on OF naval architects and scientific
entlemen OF high authority. viz. the
lbaqueous torpedo. Experiments seem
warrant the belief that the torpedo
to become a terrible engine of naval q
ariare In the future, aud much has "
zen given to the subject Of warding off q
tacks with this powerful means. Thai b
topedo can be put under a vessel Of
50 speed than a torpedo boat and there y
Ipioded admits Of little doubt, as the h
echanical genius of our country has -
lar progressed in the propulsion and a.
over the torpedo rs to war. i
mt its success and when the fact ia 81
taolished beyond a doubt, and the -,
rribIe effect becomes well known, the =;
estion OF building iron.clads for sea =
rvice will be easily solved.
But whether the torpedo is or is not a Jt
ccessful agent does not affect the all. ly
portant subject of building cruising yc
ssels, so much needed for the navy of tn
IS country. The class Of vessels want. pa
most are those of medium size. cor. pl
ties, with full steam power, carving III
tteries OF from eight to twelve Guns sti
n, Of large caliber, and having ali the u,
'dern improvements. The steam
wer should be sufficient to propel the
'sel, under favorable circumstances, o.
the rate of fifteen knots an hour. ha
npromising, if necessary, in the mum. n
OF guns, sail power and other minor ~
nts OF less consequence for speed. fv
led under steam, .handiness and a 80;
verlul battery are the important est
lting properties Of succe ssiul naval no,
rine. r"
an,
A Sensible Second Thought. les
he Countess Dash, whose death has 70
n recently announced, has sheen clio
ough a good DEAL" and at times str
nd herself in very sorry circum. box
ices. On one occasion the gathering of
ads seemed so gloomy, and the sel