New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-19

GORDON OF LIGHT AROUND lEONtiADS
The British ironclad Inlexible has cost
about - 600. III Whitehead torpedo were pinned
to her bottom what would become Of the British interest
il, the Iunexibeq This Is a question which sagicIOus
Englshmcu arc now anxiOusiy discussing Mr. B1ssey
as soon he shore after his yachting cruise
around the world, bmtly suggested that the artillery OF
tie should he mounted ou tighter hpotins carages
HIS argum Mt was thai acet OF guuboats like those
which were recently built Tor China could be provided at
the cost of single large vessel. It would $4,000
900 bud 10 IuneXibes, carrying 10 guns altogether
the ships having special defense against tOpedoes,
aud incascd i'm pcncrabie amor while for the same sum
the Government could have 80 aimored steam rams OF
1000 without guns G0-gun vessels OF The Gamma
typc ana o number Of Thoncycroft launches. These
smaller vessels would be avail able for service all along
the line OF communication To the East they would b.
far more handy than the larger ships and far less liable
to destruction because of their number than few mas
sve roncads ike the Thundertr, Devastation Dread
naught, and lnncXible.
But the British public does not Ike 20 admit that it has
been wasting money irnclads which have to be de
Tended by gunboas and launches. The crinolne shield
has been condemned already as, at BEST only
"A partial defense. What then, is TO be douei " More
light" says the leading urnal Light OF sum
Gordon of illumination round ship, tHc snip Itself re-
naro i'm d3r.n.s. il regards rs al once the simplest
and most effective preciuUOu tt can be det scd against
night attack. the employment OF the electric hgnt or
al f,e oT,linarv modes Tor TINS purpose npOss bic
Vel If "A sufficient and persistent illumination be
maintained ut gwen disuInc" from ship no torpedo
launch boat would venture to approach IT, Tie launch
would doomed for destruction being mark for the
gunner, ana II IT can be prevented from approaching
within the necessary FOR the launching and effect
i've impact of the Whitehead or any similar torpedo
those missiles would become 0npdldtivcly yaluelcss.
4 very important advance has recently been made
toward NJ this problem Of illumination at sea by
adaptation OF what is known as the Holmes distress
signal the form of shot, for Illuminating PURPOSES,
be fired rom mon tars at ranges varying from 800 30
. 800 yards Upon striking the watcr at tsc required
range shoe. floating upon the surface, immediately
bursts bill lant flame and burns for 30 or 10
minutes Some halidOzcns OF these shOls fired from
rOucad or gunbOat would eectuay surround her with
an impossible Gordon OF light 81 required range and
by such device while the vessel herself would remain
in darkness. the eucnys movements Of attack would be-
come plainly disccrnibie and attempt TO break
through hight be at once detected, however
dark the night
The Lay turpcdObOat which has been tested In Ameri
can waters under water seiprOpccd but guided
from shore, and while it nearing the vessel which is TO
be attacked the only parts that visible the small
rods which tine steeIsnian Lands watches through his
telescope Sucn torpedo boat, operating ut distance
OF Us miles, could easily traverse unseen the Gordon OF
hight"