Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-11-20

Comparative Strength of the Ttoo Napfes
Naval Offices have been approached relative
to The comparative strength of thelSpanish and
American navies While majority of them
knew from reports which for some years past
have been officially sent TO the depa rtment of
the formidable character of the Spanish war
ships generally, they have no fear from that
fact. Even should war result, IL would not
be, excepting so far Us Tuba Is concerned, a
war OF INVASION on our part, AMI the naval war
fire would not he on the high seas, but con-
ilued to the Cuban coast ami the ports of the
nited States. winch many prominent officials
lhlnk would be thoroughly protected by the
iroIl-clad monitors and torpedo distractions.
VIA naval oihcers who nave seen active ser
vice In our MEDALS even beio they were
brought 10 the present state of elh Cheney de.
clare, without hesitation, that one of our mon
TORS could sink Spanish man-of- war In A
close contest III few minutes. Our monitors
having but little hull visible, only eighteen in
.'bes above the waterline, are practically lnyul.
nerable, and even the part exposed could be
sill further protected if deemed necessary, by
means Of Tenders. Spaniard could of course
decline fight by running away from the mon
itor, and tue latter, not hring built for speed
rolld not make successful pursuit.
But after action should t,t commenced and
lhe t"o vessels are in close quarters our monL
! u woild soon disable it, opponent. The SpaI.-
i'l war steamers, which are represented To be
~ sliN'i u character, are plated ill
iron tn the extent of four inches thick hut W ith
in one thousand yards Of monitor this would
he considered Of little importance IN the face OF
nne OF our powerful fifteen Inch guns, In which
are used from eighty TO one hundred pounds OF
powder at a single discharge.
The Spanish iron-clats, being constructed after
the model Of ordinary vessels, present a larpe
hdll above the waterline, afiordinR targets f6r
our gnnners. The most vulnerable point oout
monitor is The turrrt, which may be prevent
ID i'om revolving from an enemy s shot, but
srra' rare has heen exercised 20 perfect them In
this respect. Even should the tnrret be disa-
l,ed the guns could be directed by means of
the helm; though this latter course would oc-
sasion ZONE inconvenience, It would not de-
S'roy the effectiveness Of the monitor.
Again, it has been said that the American
oliipS are deficient in heavy rfed ordnance and
That every foreign fighting ships armed W it'll
ilihs OF thai class, but officers express the
"p'hion that the employment Of rifled ordnance
an armed ships IN preference to smooth
bores is an anomaly, il 10, grave error. A
vessel OF war should be constructed to resist
shot ami shell al the shortest distance and thew
Argue that rifed piece Is inferior to smooth
bore. Al very short range, say 500 or 1000
yards, generally, the smooth bore is just as
,etteciire; al distances from 1000 TO 200 Yards.
or, as an old naval officer who commanded a
mon.' or during the war expressed It, "When |
have cot the work to do Within 1000 yards, |
don't wait Iiaed ordnance.
The question of The seagoina qualities Of
monitors being next referred, il was stated by
one ol the most prominent officers OF the navy
that they can 70 10 SEA with perfect safety, but
they should always have another vessel with
them, for the reasonthat the eoinpasses on
monitor, oa Account OF the great mass of iron,
work badly, aud another vessel Is almost indis.
pensable for them to steer by, especially at
night. Otherwise they are Perfectly safe at