Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-11-28
ConpareIiVc strength Of the I nj ed
States and Spanish NayieS.

While Il minority Of them know,
from reports which for some years past
have been officially sent to the De-
pertment, the number and formidable
character of the Spanish war-ships
generally, they have 10 fear from that
fact. Even should war result it would
not be, excepting so far as the island
Of Cuha is concerned, war Of inva-
sion on our part, and tho naval war
fare would not be on the high seas,
but confined to the Cuban coast Gnd to
the ports OF the United States, which
MANY prominent officials here think
would bc thoroughly protected by
iron-rlad monitors and t"rpedoes and
Instructions. Our naval officers who
have seen active service on our iron.
clads. even before they were brought
to the present state OF efficiency. de-
clare without Lcsitatiun that one oi
our monitots could sink Spaish man
of-w&r ii a close contest III a very few
minutes. Our monitors have but little
Of the hull visihIc-only eighteen
inches above the watrr-uu"-arC prac.
ticallv inyul1erablo. and even the part
exposed could be still further protect
cd, II deemed necessary, ny means oi
Tenders. \ SpaniaTd could ri coursc
DECLINE :. TIGHT
by running away from the monitor
and the latter, not being constructed
for speed, could not make successful
pursuit. but after action should be
commenced, aud the two vessels be il
close quarters, our mentors wouid
soon disable their opponents. The
SpnnIs,h steamers, represented tn ps
of such Formidable character, ar.
plated with iron four inches thi,.k, but
within one thorsan> IS yards of q moni
,,or this would be ronsidercd OF little
importance il the face of one of oul
powerful tifteen-inch guns, i'll which
are used from eighty to one hundred
pounds of powder at a single disnnage
TEE s,.AN,sE N.CIADs,
ordinary vessels, present large hull
above the waterlinc, affortling tine tar
gets for our gunners. The most vul
nerable part about a monitoris the tur
ret, which may be prevented from re
| care has been taken to perfect them il
| be disabled, the guns could be direct
/ -
/ this latter course would occasion some
Inconvenience it would not destroy the
! effectiveness of the monitor.
/ Again. it has hean said thaE
! 4MGRlr.sN sH1fs
ere deficient in heavy rifled ordnance
and that every foreign fighting ship il
! armed with guns Of that class ; but of
fcers Of experience express the opin
ion that the employment of rified ord
nance on armed ships in preference te
smootil hara@ - 81 anomaly Ii not
grave errQr. i vessel-of-war shoult
/ be constructed to resist shot and shell
at the shortest distance and they
nrgue that q ritied piece is inferior TO
sInoothbore at very short range-sa,
+ 800 or 1000 yards. Generally thl
! smooth bore ia as effective at .iistan
/ ces from l, 900 to ] 1000 yards, or, as al
! old naval officer who commanded
| monitor during the wa:, expressed it
| when J. havegct the work to do with
in 1000 yards T don't want any riaet
! ordnance.
! The question as 10 the sea-goinE
! qualities of tue monitors being mex
! referred TO, it vas stated by one of tn,
/ most prominent officers of the nav,
| that they can go to sea with perfec
! safety, but they should always Aav,
another vessel with than TOR the rea
son that the compasses on n monitor
! on ACCOUNT of the great mass of sur
rounding iron. work sluggishly and in
accurately, and another vessel Ia almos
indispensable for them to steer by, es
/ pecially at night. Otherwise they ar
perfectly safe at sea.
Key West is to lie made :ho grant
depot Of supplies for the North Allan
! tic fleet, anda fullpaymaster, Ambros
j. Clark, has been ordered to dut,
there with an assistant psymaste<.