The New York herald., 1878-11-03
NAVAL WARFARE.
HOBART PAcHA ON SYSTEMS OF OFFENCE AND
DEFENCE.

the November December number OF tho North Amert-
can Reueic is one on systems OF offence and defence
IN naval warfare, by Hobart Pacha commander OF
tho Turkish navy. This writer modestly claims to
give only hts own opinions and observations this
subject, which is one that he has wide knowledge
OF by experience. In answer to the question,
.What Kina Of ron-clad Is best adapted for naval
wariaref' he thinks tho first point to be arrived
at is speed; the second, hardness In mannuvring;
third seagong qualities and iourth that tho vessel
should show small n mark as possible 10 the
encmy's heavy guns TO torpedoes aud to his rams.
He takes America tor example and asks what sort OF
navy she requires protect her honor and fame as
a naval Power. ''In the event of war Americas drst
thougnt would naturally be tho safety OF her magnin-
ports and II adventurous prvateers are they
certainly would boz fitted out Tor the destruction OF
her enemy's commerce, they would not be In
the category Of mon-oLwar. What seems to
be the requirement OF America Is small, swim,
heavily armed iron-class, 10 dart out at all
hours and seasons and harass enemy's
biocgading squadron. To these should bs added the
new, fearful aud dcmoralzing weapon. the torpedo,
OF which more anon, ana l can but think that no
oiocksding force could ever hold It's own on an
American port which contained small, efficient
squadron, consisting OF such vessels as refer TO, in
It's waters. II must be borne In mind that The block
aiding squadron must be always the qui uiue while
tunity in making their attacks There must be many
persons who will remember how, when torpedoes
were quite their infancy and when ships OF any
sort existed in Charleston the Confederate side
the frequent night attacks Of the enemy harassed
American blockading fleets cruising on that port ana
how much damage was done by the yet undeyeloped
torpedo.
las regards America, II might venture to give
opiu ION, would say that II IN each Of her fortified
seaports, such New York Boston, three or four
small monitors ana dozen or two Of torpedo boats
were stationed, tho innaOtants might sleep quietly
their beds; more 50, indeed. Than the crews of tho
enem ys suips outside tho port Wnen say monitors
refer 70 vessels with nigh ireeooards mounting four
guns liked batteries Qonnage about twelve hundred
Lobsl Tne reason say high freeboards Is that such
vessels might be able TO 60 70 sea at any moment, re.
gardless OF the weather. thus dcprivng the enemy OF
mat rspose which bad weather so oIton brings in
naval operations.
Tho English government, he says, as wel as other
arc beginning 10 open their eyes 10 the
tact tnat small heavily armed iron-ciads Will be me
while commanding the Turkish 1eei) as TO what
sneuld 40 we're l 10 meet an enemy's feei, and
have come to the conclusion that mucn must depond
on tho cnapter OF accidants Ia those days there
too nucn theory-still don't see what else
have-too m uch calculation perhaps much SCIENCE
in naval meu's brains. For my parI am convinced
that the first thing TO do is to be most careful IN
your choice OF captains 70 have confluence IN theni
and to tneir discretion during naval
engagement do not say dsapprove OF WELL
digested plan being iaia down 10 start with, but
carried out with success, as IN Inc old
days OF sailing vessels, when weather gauges were
pron,ed by and wnen seamansnip was halt Tue bat
clad will have TO light his own ship, irrespective OF
The commandments. Above ALL the commander
inchief uf heet should AVOID placing MS SHIPS In
TOO close order" +"
| He has a few words to say tho torpedo ques-
tlon Are these fearful ana already demoraiIzing
weapons OF modern warfare 10 play the destructive
| part expected OF them, or are they to be met by
| their action Ny experience tells me that they
not 70 be despiscd, as have seen the Oldest ana
bravsst sailors trembs at the very thought Of them.
Will give your readers some OF my experience in
Them, whlcn II not large Is perhaps more than that
OF most persons AS said IN tue beginning Of this
article the kussians dtd not count II wiso TO send
their agnidcent fleet into tue Mediterranean 10 Try
| issues with The Turkish naval squadr ms. In the
Black Sea tboy certainly sufficient orce TO
venture Of tner ports, 50 there tney decided 10
take the offensive with torpedoes, and during the
whole OF the war tney constantly making a,laoks
with every description OF torpedo on the Turkish
fcetx In the Danube they succeeded In destroying
Through, II must be admitted, bad lookout having
oeen keri QUE small gunboat with The spar torpeuo
and Suna mouth similar vessel Was destroyed
bv me oil her captain VINO folio cd
Russian 1otila over water where the enemy had been
mAnDuvrng Tor several days anu had laid dowa many
contact torpedoes lhis vessel was naturally blown
up bv the trap laid for her. But the Danube
failure alter iaiure occurred during The Russian tor
| pedo attacks, and IN The Black Sea, though many
and carefully organized attacks were made
Turkish vessel was Injured in any way wnat.
ever " them
~ am, like many others, much puzzled to say what
will be enoct OF tue torpedo In The next naval
lights so arranged that the whole mot u portion-
that dangcrou us) OF the horizon Is made clear
dhy-A0d ~
IN tho present system OF ght, this may be arrived
at-a torpedo attack, or rather successful one
against snips lying AZ anchor. mny be prevented.
Nets round tae sui ps Will doubtless be most eicacous
also again speak Of vessels at ancnor But your
reader wni ask, "How about vessels under way2"
On this point venture TO think that u blockading
squadron may be dreadiully narasscd by large
bUrs Of torpedo vessels, choosing their own time and
weather, making dashes out OF the blockaded port
"rhel, again, how about torpedoes IN naval on
gagementf In The present day many ships are SO
ntted they can pretend they can, nre torpe-
pose that thls system mas been brought To periec-
i,on; but even should II be, there viii always the
danger oi hitting ir,ena cad OF an enemy as in
"a luture naval combat II hsets are engaged ships
will be passing and repassine, anu much confusion
| will be ITO result.
II snail be told that this applicable to shot and
shc AS well as torpedoss, nut tho latter are much
| the most dangerous weapon 10 play with. II nus
| been said that torpedo boats WIN spar-torpedoes
! could DO lowered during an engagement, and seat
| but cannot hcp thinking tnat the spar-torpedo
projecting from the side OF the ship. as in the Amsr
| eau men-ot-war, would be stiil better.
| DhFEscE AGAINST ToRPEDoEs
al Will now endcavor ~ give some idca OF what
docs. The Turkish Navy, from want OF proper ap-
| piiancss haa TO use the most simple ana ordinary
melhoas Q. defence For vessels lying ~ ancnor
think the best pien ts II acting against boats armed
with pole or spar torpedoes. Gordon Of boats st
anchor with everything ready for snpping cutting
the cable, ght, buoyant rope connecting sach boat
| wuh It's next IN line. supposing that ono or even
halt dozen spar torpedo boats make
could Sau1 newer saccssa THIS GORDON WERE were
properly placed ana good LOOKOUT kept ny means Of
steam vesseis stationed ahead and oil The
oi-war. Even should torpedo boat, pronting by
| darkness oi the night. mako a dash Though this
Gordon, snc must ioui the and draw the boats
on eIlner side upon her. Thus 1 dismiss the sup
posed danger OF torpedo boats In an attack on a
squadron.
| .'Now wc come to much moro serious question,
the attack on ships by the deadly Whitehead torpedo
| Ships TO defend themselves while at anchor from
| TINS attack should be guarded by good electric
| llgnts that Will show tne boats advancing to the
attack They shoald also have wire nets round them,
| anu last steam launcnes should De lowering about
| ready TO attack on their part the advancing enemy
Much NAV DO done In evading an attack IN THIS way
| by Tnornecraips steam launches armed with White
head torpcdoes. stil tho greatest care ana the
| minute precautions must DO taken.
~ have already mentioned the great danger to
blocKadiDg squadruns that would acruc IRON sudden
attacks made by boats dashing OF the blockade
! harbors ln this case, when ships are under way
cannot be used as protection, that nj ing
lott but tcidrdge oil the horizon aud good LOOKOUT