New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-04
HAWAI- AR0HI1BO1u B

Since tho day when AoE1eo COuntou ~
ships BY thousands, from the ROCKY brow
Of stsea-born Salamis, T" naval architecture
has been constantly changing and con.
stantly advancing. From the oar-urged
barge TO the tall admiral, was mighty
stride, but from the wooden-walled three
decker to the ironclad of to-day, the
stride is even greater. Indeed, maritime
warfare has been revolutionized within
the last fifteen years, and even yet We
have no assurance that perfection has
been reached. The experimental and
transitional stage is not yet passed, and
the probabilities are that the ironclad
warships of the future will be very differ
emit from their sisters of to-day
The first ironclad vessel ever construct
ed was made in this city during the year
1861, and met her fate at the time when
Admiral Farragut passed the forts. She
was defective in many of the essentials of
an effective warship, but, nevertheless,
did considerable execution before she
sank into the muddy depths of the Missis-
sippi-the unconscious progenitor of an
immense family of ironclads.
The idea of iron plating war vessels
and arming them in front with a project
ing weapon, like the spear of sword
fish, originated with Charles Diamond, an
old citizen of New Orleans, who was still
alive when the first Confederate ram or
turtle was completed. The Manassas, as
she was called, was but q rude copy of
Mr.. Diamonds original design. Full
fifteen years before the war between the
North and South was set down as an as
sured probability, Mr.. Diamond sent his
drawings and model to Washington,
with view of calling the attention of
the naval authorities to his then novel
project. His plan was, however, en-
phatically condemned by the humani-
tartan warriors of the day. 1t was too
barbarous, too murderous. to be availed of
in Christian warfare. So Charley re-
turned to this city with his model, and
the matter of ironclads slept till the Con-
federates set an example which has since
been followed throughout the civilized
and Christian world.
The first experiments both in this
country and Europe were seriously VIOLA
tive of the conditions under which vessels
of all kinds float in safety. They were
too much hampered with top weight, were
in speed, and in the matter of
were anything but comforta-
bic. The unfortunate loss of the English
Captain" proved sadly instruc-
live on the question OF superintendent
weight to the naval architects of Great
Britain. In sea by no means remarka-
bic for height and violence she illustrated
The laws of gravitation by overturning in
The twinkling of an eye. The bearings
Ind baoyancy Of the bottom were wholly
insufficient to sustain the immense weight
piled, regardless of conditions, above the
water line, and in movement of the
waves by which an ordinary vessel would
lot be disturbed, she became the iron
omb of those who had been intrusted
With her management. The unaccounta-
lie disaster which but few days since
,efell another English ironciad, the
is attributable to carelessness
ather than to defective structure; but
both Captain and Thunderer furnish val
liable suggestions which should not in the
uture be overlooked.
As to our own navy, but little can be
,aid in the way of commentator. The
atest official report on the subject tells
anything but aattering tale. But if we
have not an efficient war fleet at command,
We are in position to profit by the ex-
periments and experiences of other ma
ions when we require one.
The rapid growth of the German navy
is regarded as surprise, if not menace
20 other naval powers. In l848 Prussia
had but single sailing corvette; but at
present the German empire has an IRON
,lad feet as effective as any in the world,
together with large number of unar-
mored vessels. They are all constructed
IN the latest style, with all modern i'm
and are not, as many of the
English and French war vessels are, mere
compromises between diff
Eerent styles of ships, adapted to war pur-
poses. The Kaiser and the Deutschland,
which were built in England, are said to
equal the very best vessels in the British
navy, and they are all armed with the
finest of steel breech-loading rifled can
non.
Indeed, the rapid growth of the German
leet is subject of quite serious concern
IN England, for, as the London Spectator
observes, "the ambition which made Ger
many the first military power in Europe
will hardly rest content with q low place
IN the list of marine powers. There lisa
suspicion of Dorking in this German
1eet.
MASS MEETING.