The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-24
PRICE-FIVE CENTS.
NECESSITY OF ADOPTING
The Latest Improvements In Naval Con.
StructiOn.
Heaviest Guns Will Win.
Forts and TOrpedOes are Not Enough for
HarbOr Defence.
Comparison With Other Nayies.

Comparison With Other Navies.
Admiral Porter has transmitted to the Secre-
tary of the Navy his annual report of the condi-
ton of the National navy and its history during
the last year. 1t is dated November 6, 1874, and
commences with narrative of the assembling
OF the several squadrOns last winter, when fleet
evolutions were conducted under the command
of Rear Admiral Case, affording opportunity to
improve the discipline and efficiency in ma
neuvering both on shore and afoat. But at the
same time the unusual assembling of naval YES
fects OF our naval service. The report proceeds:
INFERIoRTTY OF OUR NAVAL VESSELS.
took great pains to keep fully informed Of
everything that related to the West India fleet,
and, while well impressed with its persOnne,
regret to say that the fleet showed itself very
unsuitable Tor war purposes; either to contend
against the improved class Of vessels now being
built by foreign powers or to cut up an enemy's
commerce.
In the first place, nearly all of our ships were
OF wood, unprov1ded with improved ordnance
and only or two Of them having a speed of ten
knots. Now, even the heaviest war vessels built
sea.
need scarcely say that officers of the navy
who expect to take part in any conflict that may
arise between our country and . foreign power,
ships, more particularly since the West India
drill made it apparent TO the youngest Of them
that our combined force Of vessels was in.
capable Of successful encounter with feet Of
one-fOurth its size built on modern principles.
Indeed, one such ship as the British irOn-cad In
vincible ought to 60 through feet like ours and
put the vessels hOrs d,l combat in short time.
for che could either run them down or cut them
to piooes at long range with her heavy rihed
guns.
We have no ordnance that would make any
impre ssion on such q ship at distance Of over
800 yards and no vessel Of equal speed in our
navy would be placed under her fire by prudent
commander. I state facts that are not only
known to our own officers, but to those of foreign
nations who are visiting among us, and who in
the performance Of their duties transmit such
information to their governments. do not,
therefore, consider that I am betraying our
every nation but ourselves.
Our people are under the impression that We
have formidable ships, and are mourning large
expenditures to maintain "a navy, while, in fact,
We have none Of the former, and our expendi-
lures are small when compared with those Of
other nations who have less extensive coasts and
fewer interests at stake, for we are the second
commercial country in the world, with principles
tainly Of more Importance than few million Of
dollars.
WOODEN WAR VESSELS USELESS.
An exhaustive discussion then follows, in which
built the first monitor the days of wooden and
half-armored fighting ships passed away. He
discusses exhaustively the whole wide field Of
iron-clads and improved projectiles and COM
pares our 6oet left after our civil war, vessels
built n hastS Of unseasoned and perishing ma
terials, with the recent naval constructions Of
other countries. He says our navy in the COM
parison is like foot soldier armed with pistol
q mounted man in armor armed
with breech-loading rifle. He adds:
OUR MUSTER.
We have now but six monitors fit for service
out Of the forty-eight which appear on the navy
register. Twenty were long ago condemned az
unfit for service.
The available monitors formed part Of our
West India fleet, which lately assembled; but
they would have been Of little use in fleet fight
on account of their wont of speed. Their tur-
rets and hulls could not resist the heavy rified
proiectiles now in use, and they cannot raise
their turrets from their seats in . sea way, for
the water would1rush in and deluge their hold.
These monitors were built during the late war
for specific purpose, which they amply fuldlled
viz: to operate in smooth water against fort-
fications and for the defense Of harbors. For
such service they proved themselves admirably
adapted, and their turIets and bulls we'll marked
with heavy shot, which did no harm, showed that
they were practically invulnerable ct that time.
the heaviest ordnance then known,
they were match for any single ship afoat; but
since they we're built ten and eleven inch plates
have been easily perforated by the eleven-inch
riff
EFFICIENCY Of HEAVY RIFLED GUNS.
Either Of the abQ(D mentioned1guns could per-
forate the turrets OF any OF ourmonitors, while
The vessels from which they were fred could re-
Main at . distance where our smooth bore guns
could do them no harm.
II such guns could so easily demolish the
turrets Of our monitors, what chance would the
latter have against ship like the lnfexible, now
building in England she is Of II .Os5 tons dis
driven 1T speed of fourteen knots by twin
screws. and it Is understood she is to mount four
81 ton guns, throwing shot Of about 1000 pounds
weight: It is very evident that such = chip with
her 24-inch plates would receive no damage from
one Of our monitors, except at very close quar-
terS.
AMONG THE MONITORS.
Results of an examination OF the monitors are
then given, with reference to furnishing them
With defensive armor Of iron plating, which might
protect them to extent from the effect OF heavy
projectiles. This he esteems impracticable ON
account Of the greater weight than the ships are
intended to bear. which would bring them too
harbOrs.
BEHIND OTHER NATIONS.
Thus Won will see that these monitors, with
their present batteries, speed and armor, are in
dads, With their powerful rifed guns and it WAS
ebpaxel1t to myself and to every officer OF the
West India fleet who had studded the subject,
that the monitors would havebeen OF little avail
Cuban waters.
These are matters that can be thoroughly ap-
preciated only by professional men, and, although
there is not an officer in our navywho would
hesitate to command such vessels % We have in
lime Of war; yet naval men feEl that they win
be compelled u sacrifice life and reputation If
aver thy go inb acton with our monitors outside
harbor.
To the younger officers, who have not expo
FENCED the inconvenience Of war. and look upon
Z a9 merely q pleasant episode. it matters little
u what sort OF vessel they go to sea. They ac-
sept any situation, and delude themselves with
'heh ope thai, mo matter what the odds against
hem, victory will perch upon the banners OF the