The Republican journal., 1882-01-19
Demand for Small, Swift Cruisers

Demand for Small, Swift Cruisers.
This is not the only country in which
the question, "Have we a navy?" is agi-
tated. We see by an English paper that
Lord Henry LennoX declared in a recent
speech at Chatham that ''instead Of Eng
land being able to cope with the combin-
ed navies of Europe, it was scarcely able
to cope with that of France, and that in
the course of q few months the French
Navy would be stronger than our own"
To be sure, the Portsmouth Chronicle
retorts that "the latter part of this state
ment is absolutely untrue, and the first
part has not been true within the lifetime
of the noble Lord who uttered it :" but as
the newspaper and the nobleman are on
opposite sides of politics, the truth is like
" to be found between the two extremes.
A writer in the Nautical Magazine, how
ever, in part substantiates the statement
Of Lord LennoX, by pointing out weak
place in England's naval force. He says
''At this moment, when England is in the
zenith of her power, there are no ships
amongst that long roll of men-of- war fit
to hunt from the ocean the eXtempor
lied mail steamers Of foreign nations
If this statement should be questioned,
We would ask, Can any one name flying
squadron which can cross the Atlantic in
any definite time \ correspondent of
the London Times, who expresses the
fear that the great iron n-clad InheXiblc,
which cost about $1,000, 900. and took
nearly eight years to get atloat, will prove
a failure, doubts the policy of build
ing any more OF these enormous ships
"Su!ely" continues this writer, ''it would
be in all respects better to possess feet
Of very swift, strongly armed and com
paratively small cruisers" In another
English paper we read that,
1t is satisfactory 10 kl0 thut the Admiralty
has at present list of upW8Ids of 200 ships all Of
which have complied with the conditions oI tbe
department, so far as construction is concerned,
and large number OF Others are bniQiIg al IN"
present time in accordance with the same rules.
and IL Is anticipated that the Admiralty @lit At
an early date secure the uSe u the majority OF
| them 10 case of necessity There is AZ present
armament for 80 vessels ready for shipment al II
| hours notce-an armament consisting OF si& bt-
Founders and four i0's. or ten guns, with Ileu 10
! work hem. The British mercantile marine con
| sists nGw of ten and a9uarcr million tons four
| and hat being steam and FIVE and three quarters
sailing The whole 0f the forelga tonnage
amounts 10 eleven and a half million tons, Of
Fhlch two and Il half millions are steam an nine
millions sailing. showing very clearly the necess
| ty, well aS the opportunity, tor procuring fast
| going cruisers for the defence OF mercantile
| marine, and the necessity will be emphasized by
the fact that the agents of the French, German.
| and Russian Governments are following III the
footsteps of tho Admiralty and collecting in.orma
| ion as to where ships 10 be bought in this
| country that may be turnet ~ account aS fast -
| ing cruisers. arm red With coal in Tatgy ught
compartments, and armed with long range guns
Here We have three different writer's
| who agree that England needs small,
swift cruisers for her navy, one of whom
admits that the costly iron clad ships are
failures. These are timely suggestions for
Cncle Samuel, who need not fool Lis
money away on iron-clads, which the au-
vance made OF late in experimental oTdi-
nance has rendered Vulnerable, and which
are both unweidy and slow. Small,
swift cruisers, carrying the latest improy-
ed ordnance, are what this country needs
| also. and the work Of building a navy, a
| slow process at best, cannot be began TOO
soon. Congress should authorize laying
the kecls for d dozen or twenty ships
this year, and when they are ready for
commission they should carry the stars
and stripes into every sea and port whore
ioats foreign flag. Our naval officers
are rusting out ashore, and should have
an opportunity to see blue water and dis
| tant climes once more.