National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-03

Offence, called tOrpedDes by Fulton, who In
vented them, were at nrst little regarded, but
thelr use Is now established ~ necessity Oinaya
warfare. England, Germany, Austria, and even
China are devOtlng much attention to their prep
nation and employment. This weapon seems 70
have an especial value 10 the United States.
orr separation from the political complications
Of Europe produces a security which has resulted
IN notorious unreadiness 10 meet any sudden
hestile emergency, which can come only from
The sea, by an armed navy In proportion 70 our
strength or 10 the extent Of our coasts. we'll
developed system Of torpedo warfare would, to
some extent possibly TO large extent meet thls
condition Of unreadlness, Naval construction
has not vet even remotely indicated any floating
structure which can withstand the destructive
power " the modern illuminate, skllfully applied.
While tOrpcdOes arc the cheapest Of naval wea-
nons, and within Tue means o. INC poorest na;
hest prepared, The idea, even, Ot their employ.
ment appeals 10 strongly to the Imagination, That
powerful 1cetg have been kept al0ot simply by
their supposed presence. During the war OF our
rebellion means had 10 be constantly used Tot
wardlng OF or catching seating torpedOes, and the
bottoms Of Southern hafbOrB were dragged lot ata-
tlJnary ones, which were pulled from thelr places
70 the shore, or exploded from safe distance.
This earlier use, both for attack and defence, OF
those means, devised under the pressure Of I'M
mediate necessity, aud employed ~ the monent
has already been largely improved upon, and
needs still further elaboration, Further expert
ment4 are requisite, and the use OF methOls OF
attack and defence IN thc same hahus' III oruef
that each may perfect the other.
Torpedo warfare is still In its infancy; but II Is
the infancy Of a most powerful development, ana
u Is especially the policy OF the United htalcS 10
foster It's growth a. weapon anapteh 10 our
situation,
The attention bestowed upon this subject by
our service has not been without much trult,
tOrpedo-boat for instance, Just tested at New
port, almost submerged, Is controlled by human
will acting at safe distance. u advances,
turns, or stops at the touching Of an electric key
connected from the OPERATOR hand hyawiIe 9 IN
pounds Of explosive material, which eau he nred
on contact with an enemy. 49, -
This subject Is In Its nature not a mater lot
much public illustration, and viii az ms Time
only point IN the many instances In when tOrpe.
does have played an important part ~ recent
wars, and add, that the judgment OF the most
careful and experienced Officers In our service u
unanimous and strong In favor OF the use OF
every means Of cnlarglng and Improving our
knowledge Of tOrpedOes and Of providing Iher'
ally for their investigation and use.
IL would he a grave error, however, Whhe al
Vocatlng the importance OF tOrpedOeB as one
means Of attack and defense, TO forget that these
will not alone sufiiCe for naval purposes.
The history Of our own recent war shows some
OF the uses for naval vessels, In which tOrpedocs
eau take no part.
Men-of-war add TO the security OF our citizens
In foreign countries, often semi-baTbarouH; theJ
Riye protection 10 our commerce against illega
violence; they strengthen the hands OF dlplO
natlsts 1T hostile or half-clvllzed courts. sitna
tlOns are frequent In which the wOrls OF pcac,
aud reason will only be heard when supported by
the argument Of the presence Of a man-oi-wart
battery.
These considerations have already been fire.
uucntly presented at length, and II In hardly ne
cessary that should pause to do more than cal
attention to them again,
| refer TO the reports Of the various Bureaus
and the reports In the appendix, for more lie
tailed and comprehensive Information on mani
Of the subjects mentioned, aud others OF int
rest to the service and the country; and, In con
clusiOn, | again express my obligations to thu
able ofiiCers, chief clerks, and assistants OF TIT
Department, aud Of all It's branches, for tn
| great and unrcmtting attention and assistance
which have received at their hands.
| GEO NJ. ROBEsOS,
Secretary Of the Navy.