The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-02-27
WASHINGTON, d. C. Feb. 21st, 1880
Correspondence Of The True Northerner.

correspondence or Inc True Nortnerner.
Senator Bayard, who was in Europe last
summer and saw some Of the powerful ar
mored vessels OF the European navies, recent
Ky made the remark that, he knew OF no defense,
unless t might be torpedoes, that would pre-
vent the ships OF foreign powers from entering
any United States port and placing our wealth
lest cities under contribution. Notwithstanding
the millions that have recently been expended
in our navy, it is fact well known that our
a single ship OF the class which is not uncom-
mon in the naves OF England, France, Prussia
and Russia.
Torpedoes maybe very effective in defensive
maritime warfare, but they have not vet had
the thorough testing that will enable them to
be relied upon with assurance. The next war
in which ships take part will show startling
novelties in methods and means. The electric
light will play prominent part, and it viii! be
very difficult for the furtve torpedo to creep
up to floating fortress, with the sea for rods
".
the ship protected by an outwork OF wire.
The proposed lnter-oceanic canal makes it
oil the more important that we should look in
time to the protection OF our coast. The canal
completed Will always be on the Atlantic
or the Pacific side n number OF those iron
N onsters with which nothing in our filmsy
navy can cope.
Admiral Porter is the inventor OF marine
ram with sub-marne beak to which torpe-
does are fixed. 1t Was supposed that this
would be terribly destructive vessel, but she
has no more speed than ferry-boat, and one
shot from the heavier guns of a first class
English vessel would disable her,
Admiral Ammen appeared last week. before
the naval committee of,the House and advo-
Gated the construction OF number OF marine
rams, the purpose OF which shall be COLLISION
only they are to carry no guns or torpedoes.
hut to be built with view to irresistible
strength, speed, and facility in maneuvering.
II ID estimated that one of these vessels. with
its steel beak, Will sink any chip with which it
can collide, and while it is eminently prob
able that the ram itself will be sunk in the
collision, still it feels that il can afford it-for
the ram Is supposed to be worth only half a
million of dollars, while the vessel that it has
sent to ocean bottom has cost at least 80. 0O0,-
coo. The result OF war, whether on sea or
land has ceased to be question of science. OF
mathematical and pecunlary forces, and il we
can successfully oppose $2,0O0OOO with $780,
900 it will seem that we have an advantage of
four to one IN defensive maritime warfare.
Admiral Ammen has urged the adoption OF
this ram for the last seven years, ard the truth
OF his theories has since had conclusive and
tragic illustration Ia the instantaneous sinking
Of the Grosser Kurfuret, the most owerful
iron clad OF the Prussan feet from collision
IN the English chanel But whatever may be
the means, it is folly to delay the protective
that will enable us to SIT in securi-
t. amid the great and increasing wealth Of our
coast cities. We are so strong on land that we
have no fear of such armies az the combined
world might bring to attack US on our own soil,
but our weakness is at points where we can
be attacked from the ses-at Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfalk Charles
ton. New Orleans, and San Francisco At
these points we are lamentably weak.