The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-04


been spoken with relative to the COM
parative strength of the Spanish and
American navies. While majority of
them know, from reports which for
some years past have been officially
sent to the department, the formidable
character of the Spanish war-ships gen.
orally, they have no fear from that fact.
Even should war result, it would not be
excepting so far as the Island of Cuba
is concerned, war of invasion on our
part, and the naval warfare would not
be on the high seas, but confined to the
Cuban coast and the ports of the United
States, which many prominent officials
here think would be thoroughly
protected by iron-clad monitors and
torpedo obstructions. Old navy off.
GERS who have seen active service on our
iron-clads, even before they were
brought to the present state of efficiency
declare, without hesitation, that one OF
our monitors could sink Spanish man.
of-war in q close contest IN n few min
utes. Our monitors having but little
hull visible, only eighteen inches above
the water-line, are practically invulner.
able, and even the part exposed could
be still further protected if deemed
necessary by means of tenders. A
Spaniard could, of course, decline a
fight by running away from the moni-
tor, and the latter, not being construct
ed for speed, could not make success
ful pursuit, but after the action should
be commenced, and the vessels be in
close quarters, our monitor would soon
disable its opponent. The Spanish wal
Ct tao in1, N b., h. ~
such a formidable character, are plated
with iron to the extent of four inches
thick, but within l, 900 yards of moni-
tor this would be considered of little
Importance in the face of one of our
powerful 15-inch guns, in which are
used from 80 to 100 pounds of powder
at single discharge.
The Spanish iron-clads being con-
structed after the model of ordinary
vessels, present large hull above the
water-line, affording fine marks for our
gunners. The most vulnerable point
about monitor is the turret, which
may be prevented from revolving by an
enemy's shot but great care has been
exercised 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
rifled ordnance, and that every foreign
fighting ship is armed with guns of that
class but officers of experience express
the opinion that the employment of
rifled ordnance on armed ships in pref
erence to smooth bores is an anomaly,
if not a grave error. A vessel of war
should be constructed to resist shot
and shell at the shortest distance, and
they argue that rifled piece is inferior
to smooth bore at very short range,
say 500 or 1000 yards. Generally the
smooth bore is just as effective at dis
tances from 1000 to l, 200 yards, or, as
an old naval officer who commanded a
monitor during the war expressed it,
"When 1 have got the work to do
within 1000 yards, don't want any
rifled ordnance" The question as to
tie sea-going qualities of monitors
b ing next referred to, it was stated by
one of the most prominent officers OF
the navy that they can go to sea with
perfect safety, but they should always
have another vessel with them for the
reason that the compasses on a monitor,
on account of the great mass of sur.
rounding iron, work sluggishly and in
accurately.