The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-20
Comparative Strength of the Spanish
and United States NaVtCS.

w bile Il majority OF them know, from re-
ports which for some years past have been
officially sent to the Department. the num-
Der and formidable character of the Spanish
war-Ships generally, they have no fear from
that fact. Even should war result it would
not be, excepting so far rs the island of
Cuba is concerned, a war Of invasion on our
part, and the naval warfare would not be on
the high seas, but confined to the Cuban
coast and to the ports of the United States,
which many prominent officials here think
would be thoroughly protected by iron-clad
monitors and torpcdoeS and distractions.
Old naval officers who have seen active SER
vice on our iron.clads even before they were
brought to the present state OF efficiency dc.
clare without hesitation that one OF our
monitors could sink Il Spanish man-ot-War
in a close contest in few minutes. Our
monitors having but little of the hull visi-
lle-only eighteen inches above the water
lne-are practically inyulnerable, and even
the part exposed could be still further pro-
tectcd if deemed necessary by means OF
lenders. \ Spaniard could of course
DECLINE A FIGHT
by running away from the monitor. and the
latter, moi being constructed for speed, could
not make successful pursuit, but after action
should be commenced, and the two vessels
be in close quarters, our monitors would
soon disable their opponents. The Spanish
steamers. represented to be OF such formula.
ble character, are plated with iron four inches
thick, but within one thousand yards Of
monitor this would be considered of little
importance in the face Of one OF our power
full tifteen-inch guns, in which are used from
eighty to one hundred pounds Of powder at
q single discharge. The
SPANISH IROE-CLADS,
being constructed after the model of ordi-
nary vessels, present a large hull above the
line, a1ording fine targets for our gun.
ners The most Vulnerable part about Il
monitor is the turret, which may be pre-
vented from revolving by al enemy's shot,
but great care has been taken to perfect them
in this respect Even should the turret be
disabled, the guns could be directed by
means of the helm. Though this latter
course would occasion some inconvenience
it would not destroy the effectiveness OF
the monitor.
Again, it has been said that
AMERICAN SHIPS
are deficient in heavy ri1ed ordnance, and
that every foreign fighting ship is armed
with guns of that class; but officers OF eX-
perience express the opinion that the en-
plovment Of rifled ordnance on armed ships
in preference to smooth-bores is an anomaly
if not grave error. A vessel-ofwar should
be constructed 10 resist shot and shell at the
shortest distance; and they argue that a
rihcd piece is inferior to smooth-bore at
very short range-Say 500 or 1000 yards.
Generally the smooth-bore is as effective at
distances from 1000 to 1000 yards, or, rs an
old naval officer who commanded monitor
during the war expressed it, When have
got tue work to do within 1000 yards don't
want any rif1ed ordnance"
The question as to the sea-golng QUALITIES
of the monitors being next referred to, 1t
was stated by one of tue most prominent
officers of the navy that they can SO to sea
with perfect safety. but that they should
always have another vessel with them for
the reason that the compasses on monitor,
Oh account of the great mass of surround
ing iron, work sluggishly and inaccurately,
and another vessel is almost Indispensable
for them to steer by, especially at night.
otherwise they are perfectly safe at sea-,
Key West is to be made the grand depot
of supplies for the North Atlantic fleet, ana
a full paymaster, Ambrose j. Clark, has been
ordered to duty there with an assistant pay
master.